Interior Design

While earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, you’ll learn how to use creative problem solving and design thinking to explore the function, aesthetic appeal, sustainability, and user experience of interior environments. Through collaborative and individual learning experiences that emphasize place-making and human-centered design, you’ll be immersed in a studio culture that addresses both local and global design challenges through a diverse range of project typologies, including residential, workplace, education, healthcare, and hospitality. At the same time, your explorations will expand your knowledge of design, drawing, color, digital and hand rendering, drafting, and industry software.

You’ll also round your education out with a wide range of general education and art history courses that will stimulate your curiosity, broaden your perspective, and inspire new creative expressions. KCAD’s flexible General Education Pathways model empowers you to direct your learning by exploring subjects you find most engaging and relevant.

You’ll graduate from the Interior Design degree program prepared to identify and implement innovative and creative human-centered design solutions that not only meet clients’ needs but contribute to the advancement of the profession. You’ll build a diverse skill set that blends design fundamentals, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, creative problem solving, industry standard software proficiency, and clear visual and verbal communication skills. By expanding your understanding of the ethical and environmental implications of design, you’ll be able to look at the big picture and develop innovative solutions that respond to the social, physical, and psychological impacts of the built environment.

KCAD’s Interior Design degree program has been continuously accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA - formerly FIDER) since 1974 and has a consistently high professional placement record among its alumni. That means you’ll benefit from a rich history of accreditation and accomplishment that serves as a framework for the comprehensive curriculum offered in the program today.

What’s more, KCAD’s location in the heart of the contract furniture industry has fostered strong industry relationships that enable opportunities for design and research professionals to share their knowledge and experience with you. In addition to your course work, you’ll gain knowledge of the profession through field trips, internships, and educational experiences involving interior design, architecture, and furniture companies.

As a graduate of the Interior Design degree program, your versatile skill set will prepare you for a variety of careers. As a student, you’ll be eligible to take the Interior Design Fundamental Exam (IDFX), the first part of the three-section NCIDQ exam that’s recognized in North America as the qualifying exam for the interior design profession. You’ll emerge from the program well positioned for professional success. Possible careers include:

• Commercial Interior Designer
• Residential Interior Designer
• Hospitality Designer
• Healthcare Designer
• Retail Desginer
• Education Design
• Contract Furniture Design
• Kitchen and Bath Design
• Lighting Designer
• Showroom Designer
• Design Consultant
• Manufacturer/Representative