MA Interior Design (Online) Welcome Guide : Preparing for your course

We're delighted that you've chosen to join our creative community at Arts University Bournemouth. We can't wait to see what you'll create.

Welcome to the MA Interior Design (Online) course

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. We hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you.

A message from your Course Leader

Congratulations on securing a place on the MA Interior Design (Online) course at Arts University Bournemouth. The advanced study of interior design, linking your practice with theory and a developed understanding of what it means to be a professional in the field, is our ultimate aim.

Through pre-recorded lectures, forums, seminars, group discussions and readings you'll explore many aspects of interiority and what it means to you.

Your practical specialist interests are what drive the course forward and you should see your specialism as ‘framing’ your intellectual activity on the MA. Some of you may be interested in particular types of design connected to interiors including, sustainability, wellbeing, inclusive design or regenerative design. Whatever your specific interests or specialism, the idea is to explore it through the intellectual and practical structure of the MA.

We're proud of our community of interior design students at AUB and as an MA student you'll engage with, alongside our industry professional academic team, in an exciting and flexible online environment.

– Sarah Bax, Course Leader, MA Interior Design

Before you join us

The online library here at AUB is extremely well-resourced and includes all key texts that you'll need. It's important to come prepared, but please look at the vast range of readings we have within each unit before purchasing yourself. In preparation for your period of postgraduate study, you may like to take a look at a sample of readings and links to resources we have on the course.

Cline, L.S. (2014). SketchUp for interior design: 3D visualizing, designing, and space planning. Somerset: John Wiley & Sons [online]. Available from: http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/aib/detail.action?docID=1594546.
Coates, M., Brooker, G. and Stone, S. (2009). The visual dictionary of interior architecture and design. Lausanne: AVA [online]. Available from: https://go.openathens.net/redirector/aub.ac.uk?url=http://doi.org/10.5040/9781350088719?locatt=label:secondary_appliedVisualArts.
Grosz, E. (2001). Architecture from the outside: essays on virtual and real space. Cambridge: MIT Press [online]. Available from: https://www.vlebooks.com/product/openreader?id=AUB&accId=8982156&isbn=9780262286749.
Heath, O., Jackson, V. and Goode, E. (2021). Creating positive spaces: designing for cognitive and sensory wellbeing. Atlanta: Interface [online]. Available from: https://interfaceinc.scene7.com/is/content/InterfaceInc/Interface/EMEA/eCatalogs/Brochures/Cognitive%20Sensory%20Design%20Guide/English/ec_eu-cognitivesensorydesignguide-en.pdf.

Brooker and Stone readings:

Brooker, G. (2021). 50|50 words for reuse: a minifesto. London: Canalside Press. Available from: https://contentstore.cla.co.uk/secure/link?id=df162fab-41ad-ed11-ac20-a04a5e5d2f8d. [selected extracts]
Brooker, G. and Stone, S. (2004). Re-readings: interior architecture and the design principles of remodelling existing buildings. London: RIBA. Available from: https://contentstore.cla.co.uk/secure/link?id=094dd1cb-9376-ee11-826a-0050f2f0d45d. [selected extracts]
Brooker, G. and Stone, S. (2010). Anatomy. In What is interior design?. Mies: RotoVision. pp. 60–151. Available from: https://contentstore.cla.co.uk/secure/link?id=1f9e7a9b-c479-ee11-826a-0050f2f0d45d.
Brooker, G. and Stone, S. (2018). Form and structure in interior architecture. 2nd ed. London: Fairchild [online]. Available from: https://www.bloomsburyvisualarts.com/encyclopedia?docid=b-9781474221696.
Brooker, G. and Stone, S. (2018). Re-readings 2: interior architecture and the principles of remodelling existing buildings. London: RIBA [online]. Available from: https://go.openathens.net/redirector/aub.ac.uk?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.taylorfrancis.com%2Fbooks%2F9780367814601.
Brooker, G. and Stone, S. (2018c). Responsive interiors. 2nd ed. In Form and structure in interior architecture. London: Fairchild. pp. 102–123 [online]. Available from: https://www.bloomsburyvisualarts.com/encyclopedia-chapter?docid=b-9781474221696&tocid=b-9781474221696-chapter05&pdfid=9781474221696.ch-005.pdf.

Interface (n.d.). Biophilic design: reconnecting people and nature [online]. Available from: https://www.interface.com/GB/en-GB/design/biophilic-design.html.
Education Design and Build Magazine: Healthier Campuses, more productive students – a new holistic approach.
Oliver Heath Design, projects and research white papers

Software and resources

The software you use is your own choice, training videos are available from Linkedin Learning as a student at AUB.

Generally speaking, a few software companies can offer 'free' apps with an academic email address, which lasts up to a year after graduation when the account closes.

Software4students is a good site for student discounts.

Software that current students include:

Photoshop or Pixlr as a free alternative to Photoshop.
Adobe cloud services: Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat PDF Reader. The editor is expensive, but you can use free software to edit PDFs online.
Canva – monthly subscriptions available.
Rayon Design – really reasonably priced and good for creating floor plans and elevations.
Microsoft SketchUp on an iPad and web
Enscape Twin Motion for rendering. Twin Motion is power-hungry, as is Enscape, so you'll need a decent desktop computer to run these programs.

The software listed is reasonably priced; some are offered with free subscription and if you say you are an AUB student, you can get student discount, with your student email address.

The following software is available to AUB students:

AutoDesk – not technically a licence, as you can sign up yourself with an AUB email (so access up to one year after graduating).
Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
Microsoft – while studying, you have access to the Microsoft 365 suite (including downloadable versions of Microsoft Word etc.)

Groups and societies

Material Bank – the fastest and most sustainable way to search and sample materials.
Kimberly Stone – naturally mindful sensory maps
Dawn Scott: The Colour Code | Edition 01

What to bring on your first day

An MA online course is different than on-campus courses. Your first introduction unit will be released on the Friday before the first week begins. There'll be the student and course hub to look through before you start, and your first online group seminar will be at an arranged time during your first week.

Take advantage of the online discussion forums and the virtual cafés to introduce yourselves to the others in the group.

This will be an exciting and possibly nervous time. Don’t worry – you won't be alone and our dedicated, professional academic team will be there throughout your MA journey.