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The Essential Interior Design Programme ...

The Essential Interior Design Programme (SEG Level 2 Award)

This 30-week course gives you the opportunity to develop sound interior design skills and earn an accredited level 2 qualification from Skills Education Group.

To book your place today, simply click the 'Book Now' button to be taken to AUB's secure online store, where you can complete your booking. You can also sign up to our newsletter for short course updates.

What you need to know

When does it run?

This course runs throughout the autumn, spring, and summer, with breaks for the Christmas holidays.

Autumn term

Monday 2 October – 4 December 2023, including Saturday 9 December 2023

Spring Term

Monday 15 January – 18 March, including Saturday 23 March 2024

Summer Term

Monday 25 March – 28 May, including

Wednesday 3 April (due to campus closure on Monday and Tuesday)

Tuesday 7 and 28 May (to replace Bank Holidays)

Saturday 11 May 2024

Please note, it’s not possible to enrol part-way through this 30-week course.

How long is the course?

30 weeks, made up of 30 weekdays and 3 Saturdays

What time will your classes be?

Weekdays 18.00-21.00

Saturdays 09.00-16.00

Where does it take place?

Classes will take place on AUB's campus.

You'll be taught in AUB's industry-standard studios with access to professional resources.

Who's this course suitable for?

This course has been developed for creatives and aspiring interior designers aged 18+.

Perfect if you have a passion to learn and develop your interior design skills, either as a hobby, to prepare you for future academic study, or for career development/redirection.

It's suitable if you're a beginner or if you've some previous experience with photography and wish to develop your skills further.

Do you need previous experience or qualifications?

No previous knowledge or experience is required.

If you'd like to discuss if this course is suitable for you, get in touch with us: shortcourses@aub.ac.uk or +44 (0) 1202 363222.

How much does this course cost?

£1,249

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes! You can pay for this course in instalments, starting with a deposit of £449.

What's included in this price?

Any additional materials and resources not listed in the 'what to bring' or 'additional costs' section below.

Are there any additional costs?

Please be aware you'll need to bring some art and design equipment with you. This may incur an additional cost on top of your course fee if you need to purchase any equipment. Refer to the 'what to bring' section below for full details.

What should you bring to class?

A2 sketchpad or approximately 12 sheets of A2 cartridge paper 
A portable A2 drawing board with a parallel motion fixed ruler for drawing along (Blundell Harling is recommended, although others are available)  
Selection of pens and pencils
Rubber 
Notebook 
Scissors/craft knife/scalpel 
Pritt stick or paper glue 
Metal ruler 
Coloured pencils 
Set squares – 1x 45 degree and 1x 30 degree or an adjustable one 
A scale ruler for drawing plans (choose one with scales of 1:20, 1:50 and 1:100) 
Paint colour charts and colour mixer cards 
Any fabric, flooring or materials samples 
A selection of design magazines from which to cut images

Your tutor will explain the list of materials during your first class.

Why should you choose this course?

Improve your artistic and design abilities
Gain a level 2 qualification that’ll open the door for future career or academic progression
Come away with enhanced knowledge, skills, and confidence to independently create beautiful interior designs
Enhance your knowledge of what it takes to be a successful interior designer
Enable you to independently conduct a site survey and draw accurate plans and elevations 
Provide you with the skills to draw your interior schemes in 3D 
Develop your understanding of historical and cultural influences and interior design styles 
Give you the chance to work from a brief and run your own interior design project – from concept to 3D 
Provide you with a sound understanding of concept design, mood boards and sample boards 
Enable you to independently space plan, source materials, furniture and finishes for your interior scheme 
Enhance your ability to communicate your design ideas in 2D and 3D and confidently present these to potential clients
Develop your technical skills and unique creative voice
Receive expert support and guidance from your industry professional tutor at every turn
Leave with increased confidence and the skills to continue creating beyond the course
Study in an encouraging and friendly setting alongside 18 like-minded creatives

About this course

This 30-week Skills Education Group level 2 accredited qualification will enable you to develop the skills required to design interior spaces with flair and imagination. You'll develop your awareness of colour, shape and form and explore the necessary skills to choose interior finishes including paint, fabric, wall and flooring materials.

Having a level 2 qualification gives you the opportunity to prepare for progression into employment or further learning.

You'll learn fundamental skills and techniques for surveying rooms, drawing plans and developing your ideas on paper to scale. From these initial sketches, you'll learn how to bring your ideas into reality, developing your 2D and 3D drawing skills. You'll also be guided through introductory sessions to AutoCAD, SketchUp and Adobe Photoshop applications to support your development.   

You'll learn how to collect samples of furniture and materials to create a ‘mood board’ and to effectively use texture and pattern as appropriate to give that wow factor, giving you the experience and confidence to present and explain your ideas to a client.   

You'll research and understand historical and cultural influences and will look at the Bauhaus and how such movements have influenced and impacted contemporary design. You'll investigate how furniture can act both as a design element and practical storage space and develop your spatial awareness.   

Through a variety of projects to help develop your ideas from the drawn form, you'll be taught how to create and use models to further enhance knowledge of materials, spatial abilities and your finished pieces.   

Towards the end of the course, you'll learn about good design practice and how to work to a client brief. There’ll be a short introduction to the use of AutoCAD and Photoshop, enabling you to decide whether to take further courses in computer design.

The use of colour in interior design, colour theory and psychology 
Site surveying, drawing accurate scale plans and elevations 
Learning to draw in 3D 
Historical and cultural influences in design and architecture 
Understanding interior design styles 
Working on a project to a brief 
Concept design, mood boards, sample boards 
Spatial planning, sourcing materials, furniture and finishes 
Turning 2D design ideas to 3D 
Presentation skills

Possess improved artistic skills and have what it takes to be a successful interior designer
Have a strong portfolio of work showcasing your skills developed throughout the course
Be able to demonstrate a wide range of interior design techniques
Have the skills to effectively and efficiently use a range of design equipment to convey your ideas and develop them in both 2D and 3D
Be able to independently space plan, source materials, furniture and finishes for your interior scheme
Have increased confidence in your own skills and feel inspired
Have boosted creativity and imagination
Be encouraged to experiment and explore your ideas, remembering that there's no right or wrong way to be creative
Possess the foundations to continue creating beyond this course

All students with 100% course attendance will be issued with an official AUB Short Course certificate of attendance. To request your certificate contact the short courses team: shortcourses@aub.ac.uk or call 01202 363222.

Once you complete this 30-week course and meet the necessary assessment criteria you’ll be awarded an accredited level 2 Skills Education Group (SEG) qualification and will receive a certificate to confirm this achievement.

After this course, you could:

Consider pursuing further creative academic study; take a look at our Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Further develop your computer aided design skills by studying AutoCAD and SketchUp for Interior Design
Broaden your creative horizons and try your hand at a range of disciplines; explore our full range of evening and weekend courses
Continue to develop your skills at home as a hobby
Consider a change in career

You'll study at a leading specialist university – we know what we're doing when it comes to providing unparalleled courses
Our tutors are industry professionals, so you'll learn from the best
We cater for all abilities and have no formal entry requirements for this course, so there's nothing holding you back
You'll learn in a safe and encouraging environment where there's no right or wrong way to be creative
You'll learn 'by doing' and always feel fully included and supported
Benefit from our incredible campus and its industry-standard studios, and use state-of-the-art equipment and software to unleash your creativity