Interior Design Module One Short Course
Course description
Course overview
This course is the starting point of the Interior Design Module programme, you do not need any experience of interior design as you will be taught everything you need to start on your interior design journey. Read more about our interior design module programme in our Course Feature: Interior Design Modules 1, 2 and 3.
At the beginning of the course, you will be introduced to a project brief. This brief will form the basis of a residential project that you will undertake during the course. During the course you will gain technical CAD skills delivered via live online teaching elements. Each week your tutor, onsite, will introduce you to new skills and techniques covering all the essentials including concept boards, measuring to scale and bubble diagrams.
This course is available both on campus and online. If you select on campus, the majority of classes will be delivered in person at Chelsea College of Arts, with the CAD lessons being online. This allows you to practice the CAD lessons by rewatching the recordings. The course requires dedication; students should allocate time to work on their projects in their own time. Students will be expected to work on their projects every day including the days that they are not attending class. With a wealth of unrivalled experience and expertise, our tutors' practical approach will prepare you for a future in the interior design profession.
Software: Vectorworks knowledge/teaching is included in this short course. Please see the materials section below for more information.
Who this course is for
This course is suitable for beginners and for anyone who wants to learn to design interiors professionally. Upon completion of Module One, we recommend students progress onto Interior Design Module Two and Interior Design Module Three as further steps towards your career or applying for a full-time course.
Please note: you must ensure that you have the correct immigration permission for the modules you want to study. The Standard Visitor immigration permission allows you to visit the UK for up to 6 months. If you intend to study longer than 6 months you must have a valid immigration permission which has no restrictions on studying and covers the full length of the course(s) you wish to study.
Key information
Topics covered
- You will have lectures on hard finishes, soft furnishings, lighting, colour and sourcing materials.
- As you begin to finalise your designs you will also learn about how to present your designs for your portfolio before presenting your finished project in week 10.
- Concept boards
- Client brief
- CAD Planning at scale 1:50 &1:20 using Vectorworks
- Sections and elevations at scale 1:50 & 1:20 using Vectorworks
- Designing
- Lighting
- Soft furnishings
- Colour
- Bathrooms
- Hard finishes
- Staircases
- CAD Rendering techniques
- Presentation techniques
- Sample boards
Learning outcomes
- Have completed a residential project design brief
- Learned a number of newfound interior design-related skills
- Received lectures about the fundamentals of interior design
- Be able to use design thinking when approaching future projects
- The skills to start work on a straightforward interior design scheme by yourself
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
- Pen and notepad for taking notes
- Tape measure if you have one (any size)
You will need to bring your laptop form lesson 3 onwards:
- Laptop (ideally a minimum of 8GB RAM)
- A computer mouse
- The latest student version of Vectorworks
- USB stick with a good amount of storage so that you can present your work as backup
- Sketchup 3D design software (optional)
Vectorworks
Vectorworks is a powerful design software you'll use throughout your course. You get access to it for the duration of your studies, plus an additional three months after your course ends.
On campus and online students
To use the latest version of Vectorworks, you'll need to set up a student account. Head over to the Vectorworks Student Portal to create yours.
Device requirements
- Chromebooks are not compatible with Vectorworks.
- Computer Mouse: A three-button computer mouse is highly recommended as it's the most effective for using Vectorworks.
- The software's technical specifications are available on the Vectorworks website. Entry-level specifications are perfectly fine for our courses.
- Since Vectorworks is a third-party software, it's always a good idea to contact Vectorworks directly via their Contact Us page to confirm your device is suitable.
Proof of booking for your student account
When signing up for your student account, you'll need to provide proof of your course booking. We recommend one of the following:
- A screenshot of your completed UAL order showing "Order Complete," your name, course name, course dates and payment summary.
- OR if you're taking the course on campus, your student ID.
If you're having trouble providing proof after following these steps, please reach out to our customer service team for assistance or contact Vectorworks directly academicteam@vectorworks.net.
If you're taking this course online, there are a few extra things to consider:
- Check Global Coverage: Before booking your course, it's crucial for online students to verify if Vectorworks is available in your country. The Vectorworks license has specific global coverage areas, and unfortunately, some international students may be in regions where the software license isn't currently extended. You can view the global coverage map here.
If you are taking this course online, please see our Guide to taking online short courses.
Tutor
Gianfrancesco De Falco
Born and raised in Torre Annunziata in the south of Italy, Gianfrancesco De Falco attended his hometown Liceo Classico “Benedetto Croce”, a scientific and humanistic school that proposes Latin, Ancient Greek, Italian, History and Philosophy as principal subjects.
After five years of intense study, he enrolled at the University of Naples, Federico II, where he graduated in Architecture.
Gianfrancesco is a qualified teacher having completed a Certificate in Design and History of Arts in Higher Education, in Italy. He has also gained Qualified Teaching Status in the UK.
During his time at University, he focused on Product Design and the Ready Made, which he later showcased at various International exhibitions.
He has 25 years’ experience in Interior Architecture and Design working on international, residential projects and 15 years’ experience of teaching Interior Design.
He currently lives and works as an Interior Architect and Interior Design Teacher in London.
Lyndall Fernie
Lyndall Fernie is the lead tutor for Interior Design short courses at Chelsea College of Arts.
Lyndall began her career in Italy as a professional fashion designer working with Moschino and Versace; later returning to the UK to work in PR for a record label where she worked with many well-known dance groups such as S'Express, Bomb the Bass and Deee-Lite. She went on to study Interior Design, at Chelsea College of Arts and ran Area Squared Design, a successful interior design company, for 10 years, designing high end residential properties in central London. During this time she also opened two interior design shops in the fashionable area of Islington in London selling beautiful interior products.
Lyndall is currently working as a design consultant for private clients, developers, and interior design companies, specialising in the remodelling of high end residential properties. As well as teaching at Chelsea College of Arts she has also taught at other leading design schools including London College of Communication, The Interior Design School London, KLC and The Design school in both Moscow and St Petersburg.
Jayne Fisher
Jayne Fisher is an interior designer with more than twenty years experience in both domestic and commercial practice. Since 1999, Jayne has been an independent lighting and interior design consultant on both domestic and commercial design projects.
She has worked in retail with responsibility for the design and project management of many high street stores including Virgin and Office Shoes.
Other projects are residential, preparing planning applications, design and decorative schemes along with project management. She has been teaching design students on both Interior Design and Lighting courses for Chelsea College of Arts and London College of Communication since 1998.
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