module specification

The module provides a link between the completion of their undergraduate studies and interior design practice. It establishes a student’s ability to integrate the key areas of their interior design knowledge within the context of their major design project and through this, their readiness for professional practice.
The coursework records and responds to the process of design development and, using a range of specialist contributions, introduces a range of issues, interests and perspectives. The process is recorded, evaluated, presented and reviewed in relation to the comprehensive design project.
 

DN5001 DESIGN Skills 2.1 and DN5004 Design Details

At the end of their undergraduate studies the module aimsto provide students with the means to demonstrate, through and in relation to their own design work, the extent of their understanding and evaluation of key areas of professional interior design knowledgeinforming a design project.

This modules aims to enable students to demonstrate that within their comprehensive design project they have a knowledge, understanding of and ability to evaluate the following five areas and this is effectively and appropriately communicated:
A. cultural context
B. professional and regulatory requirements
C. environmental and sustainability
D. construction, materials and specification.
E. communication

The syllabus encompasses the range of contexts and considerations an Interior Designer must be aware of, be able to make judgements upon and be confident in interpreting in the development of a complex design project.
The module is delivered principally in the design studio. It is supported by lectures, seminars and workshops, and through the use of specialists and consultants from within the Faculty and externally to support, inform and test the student’s design process.
The five areas of study will typically be focused around the following categories:
A. cultural context
B. professional and regulatory requirements
C. environmentand sustainability
D. construction, materials and specification
E. communication

A. Cultural context:

• The social, political, economic and professional context that guides and supports the design
• The histories and theories of interior design and architecture that have informed the design
• The use of precedent and case studies in the development and resolution of the design.

B. Professional and regulatory requirements

• The relationship between the design and regulatory requirements including the needs of the disabled, health and safety legislation, building control and planning legislation.
• The ways in which a design might be financed, procured and realised in relation to the contemporary design practice.
• The role of the interior designer implied by the design and the management, organisational and practice structures necessary to realise it.

C. Environment and sustainable design:

• The relationship between the design and the wider environment including the life styles promoted by the design and the energy it consumes.
• The strategic use of daylight and artificial light and the products needed to support this
• The visual, thermal and acoustic principles appropriate to the proposed inhabitation of the design
• The provision and integration of building services

D. Construction, materials and specification

• The constructional  and material strategies and principles employed by the design.
• The construction techniques, processes and detailing necessary to realize the design
• The physical properties and characteristics of the materials, components and products used in the design
• The way in which material, environmental and production processes have been integrated into the design in relation to: human well-being, the welfare of future generations, the natural world, the sustainable environment.
• The use of specification documents to articulate the designers decision making in relation to the diverse processes informing affecting the completion of a design project

E. Communication:

• The use of visual, verbal, written, multimedia and participatory methods of communication in
• the development of the design.
• The relationship between the forms of communication used and different stakeholders: lay, professional and academic, involved in the design.
• The composition, editing and production of a digital portfolio

The use of external consultants, the gathering of information and cross disciplinary collaboration simulate the dynamic, interdisciplinary and fast changing nature of contemporary architectural practice giving students an understanding of practice and an ability to work in teams.

The module is delivered principally in the design studio.
It is supported by lectures, seminars and workshops, and through the use of specialists and consultants from within the Faculty and externally to support, inform and test the student’s design process.
Working in parallel to the students final design projects this module will require substantial individual sourcing and researching of relevant information in order to fulfil the assessment criteria.
All three assessed components require the student to evaluate and reflect upon their own work in the context of their peers, current design practice and specialist knowledge appropriate to their work.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to demonstrate an ability to:

1. Show how their understanding of the five key areas of the syllabus have informed their design process and resolution.
2. Gather, process and make use of information, processes and strategies necessary to develop a complex design proposal.
3. Integrate knowledge acquired from taught courses, consultancy, industry, testing, prototyping and participatory processes into a design proposal.
4. Make and communicate clear strategic decisions in relation to the wider political, economic, professional, environmental, industrial and legal context informing their design.
5. Integrate knowledge of sustainability, construction, structures and materials into a coherent architectural design.
6. Show judgement in how to communicate with professional, technical and lay audiences.
    

There are three assessment components.

Each aims to provide the student with the opportunity to show different skills and knowledge:
1. the Diary records the student’s continous design process throughout Level 6 and records the issues and considerations that inform and affect this;
2. the Report enables the student to reflect upon their own design work through a demonstration of their wider understanding of key aspects of practice;. The report is an illustrated document (max. 3000 words) that reviews the previous process in relation to final submission.
3. the Digital Portfolio requires students to edit and present their work concisely for a professional audience.

Bibliographies will be provided by studios and these will be expanded by the student and will be included in the Report.

General/Background reading:

Bell, V.B., 2006. Materials for Architectural Design, London: Laurence King.
Deplazes, A. ed., 2005. Constructing Architecture: Materials, Processes, Structures, a Handbook, Basel : London: Birkhäuser.
Kolarevic, B. & Klinger, K., 2008. Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture, London: Routledge.
Licht, U.B., 2006. Detail Practice: Lighting Design: Principles, Implementation, Case Studies illustrated ed., Basel: Birkhäuser.
Mommertz, E., 2009. Detail Practice: Acoustics and Sound Insulation: Principles, Planning, Examples, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Mori, T., 1999. Immaterial Ultramaterial: Architecture, Design and Materials, New York: George Braziller.
Plunkett, D., 2010. Construction and Detailing for Interior Design annotated ed., London: Laurence King.
Ritter, A., 2006. Smart Materials in Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design: Types, Products, Architecture, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Roaf, S., 2003. Closing the Loop: Benchmarks for Sustainable Buildings, London: RIBA Enterprises.
Schittich, C., 2003. In Detail: Building in Existing Fabric: Refurbishment, Extensions, New Designs (in Detail illustrated ed., Basel: Birkhäuser.
Schittich, C., 2002. In Detail: Interior Spaces: Space, Light, Material (in Detail, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Schittich, C., 2008. In Detail: Interior Surfaces and Materials: Materials for Interiors (in Detail, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Schröpfer, T., 2010. Material Design: Informing Architecture by Materiality, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Ternaux, E., 2011. Material World 3, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Yakeley, S. &Yakeley, D., 2010. The BIID Interior Design Job Book, London: RIBA Publishing.