Interior Design Courses: Course Structure, Eligibility, & Scope

The interior design field currently holds considerable importance. A significant chunk of this can be owed to the rising development of spaces. As various commercial and residential properties are coming up daily, the demand for interior designers has become more common. Hence, you should consider a career in this field, especially if you have a flair for space management and revamping. 

A great way to start is to look for the best interior design courses. Such programmes teach you the different concepts of spatial design. They guide you in making the best use of your imaginative skills and practicality to create functional spaces. The following are course structure, eligibility requirements, and scope for the programme explained briefly:

Course structure

This design course focuses on aspects like spatial planning, project management, 3D rendering, interior styling, etc. However, the course structure depends entirely on the institute you choose. In most cases, universities offer students specific course options. So, it also boils down to the type you select. Here are the programme options you can choose between:

Certificate course

This is a quick course that introduces students to interior design fundamentals. They work on residential projects that present real-world challenges. Upon completion, students get a certificate. 

Part-time diploma course

After completing the certificate course, students can continue with a relatively advanced part-time diploma course. This teaches technical aspects of interior design to expand the students’ experience beyond residential spaces. It covers topics like interior styling & concept design, commercial interior design project, interior design fundamentals, etc. 

Full-time post-graduate diploma course

This immersive programme teaches students the fundamentals and advanced concepts of interior styling, spatial planning, 3D rendering, project management, etc. It also entails practical projects and one-on-one mentoring, allowing students to build an impressive design portfolio. In the first term of the interior design course, students learn concepts like fundamentals of space, residential space design projects, commercial/F&B space design projects, etc. 

The second term covers subjects such as design for retail, concept design for product sales, professional project management, etc. Students also take industry internships for a specific duration for proper training. 

Eligibility

You can opt for such design courses if you have graduated from a recognised board in any discipline. You need not possess prior knowledge or experience in the design field. However, it would be an added advantage if you do.

Scope

An interior design course opens pathways to career opportunities like: 

• Interior designers: They create aesthetically beautiful yet functional spaces for their clients.

• Interior stylists: They design rooms or interiors for photoshoots. They work primarily on commercial or editorial projects.

• Spatial designer: A spatial designer studies how clients move and interact in their spaces. They then design ways to improve the functionality of these spaces accordingly. 

• Exhibition designer: Such designers create display stands and fixtures for business events, art galleries, museums, etc.