module specification

By progressing from the scale of the building to that of interior components and materials, this module provides an introduction to technologies, materials and the communication and making practices of designers working with the interior. Students will be asked to investigate historic and contemporary uses and design within a given interior.

It specifically establishes an understanding of key building technology by introducing typical building construction of historic and contemporary buildings. The principles of building services and environmental design in the design of interior spaces will also be introduced. Materials, their properties, selection and application will be considered and tested.

Additionally, students will develop communication techniques appropriate to the diversity of information designers use and audiences targeted. These will include the use of different orthogonal drawing conventions, diagrams and sketches, and a range of model making types and making processes.

The module will use different methods to establish this knowledge; site visits and surveys, case studies, making and drawing workshops, as well as lectures, seminars and the utilisation of a wide variety of published sources.

Role and responsibilities of the Designer
An introduction of the role and responsibilities of the designer within the wider planning and construction team.

Interior Construction. An introduction to simple construction and material technologies, informing the construction of interior spaces and components. The efficient use of construction, materials, sequence and performance are considered as part of the design process and aspects of user comfort, safety, protection and escape are evaluated. LO3

Materials. An introduction to architectural and interior materials through a developed understanding of their sources, processes of production, characteristics and properties. Methods of making appropriate selection and application are introduced and evaluated. LO4

Environment. An introduction to active and passive systems of ventilation, acoustics, thermal performance and their impact on human comfort. LO5

Services. Am introduction to the principles of providing and removing water, air, power and waste using physical, mechanical and electrical systems. LO5

Building Structure and Construction. An outline of historic and contemporary principles and techniques. LO3/ LO6

A series of workshops develop drawing, material and model making techniques to support the testing and communication of knowledge arising from the lectures and seminars and their application to studio projects. LO2

Drawings will include scaled analytical drawings in two and three dimensions, the use of diagrams to summarise ideas or existing conditions and annotated drawings will introduce the use of symbol and the integration of text. The subject of these may be case studies or the studio module project work. LO2 LO6

Models will develop students’ workshop skills by developing familiarity with a range of materials and processes. The models will be used to test material and constructional principles and to test these in the application of the students’ ideas developed in studio practice modules. LO2

Scheduled teaching ensures that independent study is effective and addresses the learning outcomes and assessment tasks. Students are expected to, and have the opportunity to, continue with their studies outside of scheduled classes. There will be a range of learning strategies deployed and individual learning styles will be accommodated. The module’s learning outcomes, its contents and delivery, have been scrutinised and will be regularly reviewed to ensure an inclusive approach to pedagogic practice.

The module and course utilise the University’s blended learning platform to support and reinforce learning, to foster peer-to-peer communication and to facilitate tutorial support for students. Reflective learning is promoted through assessment items and interim formative feedback points that ask students to reflect on their progress, seek help where they identify the opportunity for improvement in learning strategies and outcomes, and make recommendations to themselves for future development. Throughout the module, students build a body of work, including reflections on progress and achievement.

The School’s programme of employability events and embedded work-related learning within the curriculum supports students’ personal development planning. Through these initiatives, students are increasingly able, as they progress from year to year, to understand the professional environment of their disciplines, the various opportunities available to them, and how to shape their learning according to their ambitions.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

Subject Specific Skills
LO1 describe the position of the designer’s practice within the interiors industry;

Transferable Skills
LO2 employ precise and appropriate model making and drawn techniques to communicate design ideas and information in a study of the technology involved in a simple small-scale design proposal;

Knowledge and Understanding
LO3 identify principal historic and contemporary structural and constructional methods functionally and conceptually, and use practical terms of reference to classify different structural, environmental, constructional and material systems;
LO4 .identify materials and their properties to demonstrate methods of appropriate selection and application ;
LO5 identify principal factors of building services and environmental design affecting the interior;

Cognitive Intellectual Abilities
LO6 employ a variety of referencing, research and recording methods to understand the relationship between ideas and built spaces and demonstrate a careful, methodical and imaginative approach to recording knowledge and ideas about the interior.

The Practice Journal records the student’s progress through each element and activity of the module. The understanding and critical enquiry demonstrated in the journal is key to its success. The consistency of the record of learning, the care with which the journal is produced and the consequent effectiveness of its communication of the knowledge and skills acquired will be assessed.

The series of material experiments and models will demonstrate the students’ skill in material understanding and modelmaking and their understanding of the use different techniques to convey ideas and information and to convey particular and appropriate information.

The set of scaled drawings will demonstrate students’ development in using drawings as a tool to analyse an interior through the clarity which they select the subject of the work. The annotated drawings will demonstrate their understanding of the use of different drawing types and the use of symbol and integration of textual information.

Ashby, M.F. and Johnson, K., (2014) Materials and Design: The Art and Science of Material Selection in Product Design, Butterworth-Heinemann

Brown, R. and Farrelly, L., (2012) Materials and Interior Design (Portfolio Skills), Laurence King

Buxton, P. (ed.), (2015) Metric Handbook Planning and Design Data, Routledge

EBook:
BUXTON, P., (2015) Metric handbook: planning and design data, http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=1983462.

Ching, F.D.K., (2014) Architecture: Form Space and Order, John Wiley & Sons

EBook:
https://www.dawsonera.com/abstract/9781118745199

Ching, F.D.K. and Binggelli, C., (2012) Interior Design Illustrated, John Wiley & Sons

EBook:
Ching, F. D. K. and Binggeli, C., (2012) Interior Design Illustrated, Wiley
Available from:<http://www.myilibrary.com?ID=362100> 5 April 2018

Farrelly, L., (2009) Construction and materiality, AVA Academia

Gagg, R., (2011) Texture and materials, AVA Academia

Plunkett, D. (2010) Construction and Detailing for Interior Design (Portfolio Skills), Laurence King
EBooks:
Plunkett, D., (2015) Construction and Detailing for Interior Design, Laurence King https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/londonmet/detail.action?docID=4394137.