Higher National Diploma

Unlock your potential in interior design by mastering both the creative and professional aspects of this vibrant field. Dive into the history of design from the Gothic era to the latest contemporary styles, while understanding how factors like social change, globalization, sustainability, and technology are reshaping the industry today. Boost your confidence with essential concepts and terminology, and sharpen your skills in trend forecasting, idea generation, and structured creative processes to elevate your future design projects.

Key learnings:

• Historical Development of Interior Design
• Contemporary Styles and Global Influences
• Research Methods and Reliable Sources
• Trend Forecasting and Idea Generation
• Mind-Mapping and the Design Cycle

Elevate your skills in crafting spaces that perfectly blend function, flow, and aesthetics. This module empowers you with the tools to understand your client's needs through client profiling and project briefs, while the Design Cycle provides a solid framework for development. Dive into the fundamentals of space design—exploring dimensions like size, shape, proportion, and volume—and master the art of harmony, rhythm, balance, and scale to make interiors come alive. With practical tools such as zoning, bubble diagrams, and layout testing, you’ll be equipped to create environments that are both functional and inspiring.

Key learnings:

• Client Profiling and Brief Development
• Defining and Analysing Space
• Principles of Harmony, Balance, Rhythm, and Scale
• Types of Spaces: Open, Enclosed, and Transitional
• Spatial Planning and Functional Zoning

Unleash your creativity and master the art of interior design with our comprehensive module. Dive into the core elements that define successful spaces, such as form, line, light, colour, texture, pattern, and space. Discover how to apply principles like balance, proportion, and contrast to create harmonious and impactful designs. Learn how materials and finishes can elevate any environment and understand the profound influence of colour psychology and lighting in setting the perfect atmosphere. Equip yourself with these foundational skills and transform your design visions into reality.

Key learnings:

• Elements of Interior Design
• Principles of Balance, Contrast, and Proportion
• Introduction to Colour Theory and Psychology
• Role of Lighting in Design
• Understanding Ergonomics and Anthropometrics

Enhance your drawing and sketching skills to effectively communicate your interior design ideas with precision and confidence. This module empowers you with techniques in freehand sketching, shading, and perspective drawing, along with rendering for lifelike visualisation. Master the art of creating architectural drawings—featuring plans, sections, and elevations—using the correct symbols, scales, and annotations. Explore model-making as a versatile tool for problem-solving, allowing you to present your concepts professionally right from the beginning.

Key learnings:

• Sketching and Ideation Techniques
• Shading, Proportion, and Perspective Drawing
• Rendering for Realistic Visualisation
• Architectural Drawings: Plans, Sections, and Elevations
• Manual Drawing Tools and Model-Making

Embark on your design journey with confidence and clarity by mastering the art of launching successful projects. This module empowers you to set precise goals, understand diverse client needs, and explore various project contexts to enhance your design capabilities. Dive into interpreting briefs with expertise, conducting insightful user studies, and utilizing effective research methods like interviews and observations. Compare residential and commercial design landscapes to tailor your approach. Create stunning and professional concept and sample boards while employing reflective techniques to refine and elevate your ideas. Kickstart your project with a robust foundation to ensure a structured, innovative, and impactful outcome.

Key learnings:

• Analysing Briefs and Understanding Stakeholders
• Residential vs. Commercial Design
• User Studies and Data Collection
• Concept, Sample, and Presentation Boards
• Problem-Solving and Reflective Methods

Unlock the power to transform spaces with precision and creativity. Elevate your design capabilities by mastering essential surveying methods and advanced measuring techniques. Dive into capturing and recording site data with accuracy, ensuring your designs are grounded in solid evidence. Engage in iterative design and problem-solving to refine your projects, while testing materials and prototyping solutions to bring your ideas to life. Enhance your reflective writing and reporting skills to make informed, impactful design decisions that resonate with your clients and their needs.

Key learnings:

• Surveying and Measurement Techniques
• Capturing and Recording Site Data
• Iterative Design and Problem-Solving
• Material Testing and Prototyping
• Reflective Writing and Reports

Unlock your potential to transform design ideas into stunning visual realities with our comprehensive module. Dive into both manual and digital visualisation techniques, mastering the art of using CAD and rendering tools to create compelling designs. You'll learn essential skills such as drawing conventions, orthogonal views, and annotation standards, while exploring advanced 2D and 3D rendering methods. Enhance your designs with realistic materials, textures, and lighting, and communicate your design intent clearly from mood boards to digital prototypes.

Key learnings:

• Manual and Digital Visualisation Techniques
• CAD Tools and Workflow Integration
• Technical Drawing Conventions
• 2D and 3D Rendering Techniques
• Digital Mood and Sample Boards

Discover the transformative power of lighting design and visual media to elevate your interior spaces. This module delves into the artistry and technology of both natural and artificial lighting, including fixture types, innovative controls, and sustainable practices. You'll learn to craft professional reflected ceiling plans (RCPs) and harness photography, styling, and digital media to create captivating online narratives. By mastering these skills, you'll enhance design outcomes and enrich user experiences in every project.

Key learnings:

• Lighting Functions, Fixtures, and Controls
• Harnessing Natural Light for Wellbeing
• Creating Professional Reflected Ceiling Plans (RCPs)
• Photography and Visual Storytelling Techniques
• Enhancing Design with UX, UI, and Motion Graphics

Discover how to transform interiors with expert techniques in materials and finishes. This module empowers you to enhance both style and functionality through innovative decorative methods, surface treatments, and window dressings. Learn to select the perfect fabrics and textiles, understand material properties like durability and porosity, and embrace sustainable practices such as refurbishment and reuse. Elevate your projects with finishes that add a touch of professional elegance.

Key learnings:

• Wall Treatments and Surface Finishes
• Textiles and Fabric Manipulation
• Window Treatments: Curtains, Blinds, and Shutters
• Material Properties and Testing
• Sustainable Refurbishment and Repurposing

Elevate your project development by making informed choices in materials and design. This module empowers you to consider sustainability, durability, and aesthetics as crucial elements in your decision-making process, providing tailored guidance for both residential and commercial projects. By engaging in hands-on activities, you will enhance your skills to ensure your design concepts perfectly align with client needs and project goals, resulting in work that is both innovative and strategically sound.

Key learnings:

• Material Selection and Specification
• Sustainability in Design Projects
• Balancing Durability and Aesthetics
• Residential vs. Commercial Applications
• Critical Reflection on Design Choices

Unlock the secrets to successful design projects with our comprehensive module that transforms the way you collaborate. Discover how to navigate the essential roles in design—from creative visionaries to technical experts and construction managers. Enhance your communication skills to effectively engage clients, contractors, and collaborators, ensuring everyone receives the precise information they need. With a deep understanding of workflows and roles, you'll be empowered to confidently drive multidisciplinary design projects to completion.

Key learnings:

• Roles and Responsibilities in Interior Design Projects
• Collaboration Across Creative and Technical Teams
• Tailoring Communication for Different Audiences
• Deliverables and Documentation Standards
• Workflows for Successful Project Completion

Elevate your presentation skills and make a lasting impression with your ideas through impactful and professional communication strategies. This module empowers you to engage effectively across various platforms such as digital portfolios, blogs, and social media, while also mastering physical presentations like sketches and sample boards. You'll discover powerful techniques to adapt your message for clients, collaborators, and broader audiences, ensuring your work captivates and resonates in any setting.

Key learnings:

• Portfolios, Blogs, and Digital Platforms
• Creative Schematics and Visual Storytelling
• Physical Presentations: Sketches and Sample Boards
• Tailoring Communication to Diverse Audiences
• Professional Promotion and Engagement Strategies

Immerse yourself in the essential principles of ethical interior design and elevate your practice to new heights. This module offers a comprehensive exploration of sustainability, recyclability, energy efficiency, and biophilic design, ensuring your projects not only look stunning but also contribute to a healthier planet. Dive into professional ethics, including codes of conduct, intellectual property rights, and contractual obligations, providing you with the confidence to navigate the complexities of the industry. Moreover, stay ahead of the curve by understanding how AI and emerging technologies are revolutionizing ethical standards, empowering you to design responsibly in an ever-evolving landscape.

Key learnings:

• Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility
• Biophilic and Low-Impact Design
• Professional Codes of Conduct
• Intellectual Property and Copyright
• Ethics in Technology and Media Regulation

Elevate your presentation skills and wow your clients with compelling design showcases. This module is tailored to help you craft engaging and memorable presentations by mastering the art of storytelling and visual impact. Learn to captivate your audience with structured narratives, precise timing, and impeccable flow. Discover how to leverage visual hierarchy to emphasize key points and align your work seamlessly with client expectations. With hands-on practice and expert feedback, you'll gain the confidence to present your designs at a professional level that resonates with your audience.

Key learnings:

• Creating Impactful Presentations
• Mastering Timing, Pacing, and Flow
• Utilizing Visual and Textual Hierarchy
• Expressing Mood, Style, and Atmosphere
• Aligning Presentations with Client Briefs

Elevate your design project to new heights with our comprehensive module that ensures your work is completed with excellence and precision. Dive into the essentials of perfecting technical drawings and crafting documentation that aligns with industry standards. Benefit from constructive peer reviews and foster collaboration through interactive meetings to refine your ideas. By the end, you'll be equipped to deliver a project that not only meets your creative goals but also stands up to the highest professional benchmarks.

Key learnings:

• Perfecting Technical Drawings and Documentation
• Adhering to Industry Standards
• Leveraging Peer Reviews for Improvement
• Collaborative Interactive Meetings
• Delivering Professional-Quality Projects

Enhance your interior design expertise by mastering the art of situating your work within a broader cultural, historical, and social context. This module empowers you with critical reflection tools to refine your design approach and achieve outstanding outcomes. Expand your design vocabulary and sharpen your communication skills to effectively present your projects in both academic and professional settings.

Key learnings:

• Historical, Cultural, and Social Contexts in Design
• Critical Reflection Frameworks
• Evaluating Process and Outcomes
• Developing Advanced Design Vocabulary
• Positioning Work in Contemporary Practice

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of contemporary interior design, where philosophical, psychological, and cultural theories come to life. Discover how frameworks like structuralism, feminism, and queer theory can transform spaces into reflections of identity, inclusion, and diversity. By understanding how design can both uphold and challenge cultural narratives, you'll gain the ability to craft environments that are not only visually stunning but also socially conscious and attuned to the diverse needs of all users.

Key learnings:

• Philosophical and Cultural Theories in Design
• Identity, Inclusion, and Diversity in Spaces
• Analyzing Power Dynamics in Design
• Social Behaviour and Spatial Experience
• Building Conceptual Frameworks for Practice

Transform your design expertise by mastering the forces shaping the global design industry today. Dive into the world of globalisation, understand consumer behaviour, and embrace sustainability to elevate your design projects. This module provides you with cutting-edge insights into trend adoption models, innovative material sourcing, and efficient supply chain management, while tackling environmental challenges head-on. Learn how to integrate circular economy principles into your work and make informed decisions that balance creativity with responsibility in a competitive global market.

Key learnings:

• Globalisation and Market Forces
• Trend Adoption and Forecasting
• Supply Chains and Labour Practices
• Circular Economy Principles
• Sustainability Challenges in Design

Unlock the secrets to successful client partnerships and propel your projects to new heights with our comprehensive module on crafting influential design briefs. Dive into strategies for effective client consultation, master stakeholder engagement, and learn to set clear objectives and KPIs that drive results. Perfect for both small independent businesses and large commercial franchises, this module will arm you with the practical skills needed to define deliverables, foster strong relationships, and draft professional service agreements that ensure project success.

Key learnings:

• Client Consultation Techniques
• Engaging Multiple Stakeholders
• Developing Strategic Design Briefs
• KPIs and Measurable Outcomes
• Service Agreements and Client Management

Unlock the potential of your creativity with our cutting-edge design thinking module. Dive into proven frameworks like the Double Diamond model, lateral thinking, and analogical reasoning to create and perfect innovative ideas that truly resonate with your clients. With hands-on practice in experimentation and iteration, you'll gain the skills to navigate complex challenges, confidently align concepts with client needs, and enhance your professional adaptability.

Key learnings:

• Design Thinking Frameworks
• Lateral Thinking and Creative Reasoning
• Iterative Development and Experimentation
• Reflective Evaluation of Ideas
• Aligning Concepts with Client Needs

Unlock the power to transform your design projects with precision and professionalism through advanced technical drawing skills. This module empowers you to master orthogonal views and BIM integration, perfect line types, scales, and annotation standards, and expertly specify materials and finishes. With these skills, you'll ensure your documentation is accurate, clear, and fully compliant with industry standards, paving the way for seamless collaboration and successful project delivery.

Key learnings:

• Advanced Drawing Conventions
• Orthogonal Views and Scale Use
• BIM Integration and Annotations
• Specifications for Materials and Finishes
• Accuracy and Compliance in Documentation

Empower your projects with the ability to confidently evaluate and specify materials. Dive into this comprehensive module that highlights essential performance factors like durability, porosity, elasticity, and environmental impact. Discover effective testing methods, delve into lifecycle considerations, and embrace sustainable strategies such as repurposing and refurbishment. By implementing quality assurance frameworks, you’ll achieve the perfect harmony between functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability in every endeavor.

Key learnings:

• Evaluating Material Properties
• Sustainable Selection and Lifecycle Thinking
• Material Testing Methods
• Refurbishment and Repurposing Practices
• Quality Assurance in Material Specification

Transform your creative visions into stunning realities with our photorealistic digital visualization module. Dive into advanced CAD workflows and master rendering and 3D modeling to bring depth and detail to your projects. Seamlessly integrate your workflow across platforms like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Photoshop, and elevate your sketches with enhanced lighting, textures, and atmospheric elements. Learn the best practices for exporting and storing files to ensure your presentations are polished, professional, and ready to impress your clients.

Key learnings:

• Advanced CAD and Rendering Workflows
• 3D Modeling and Digital Walkthroughs
• Enhancing Drawings with Textures and Lighting
• Workflow Integration Across Platforms
• Best Practices for File Management

Unlock the potential of emerging technologies to redefine your interior spaces. This module is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to incorporate IoT systems, smart lighting, climate control, AR, VR, and AI into your designs. By understanding how these technologies enhance performance, sustainability, and user experience, you'll be ready to deliver innovative solutions tailored for the future. Dive into real-world examples and join critical discussions to master designing for connected environments.

Key learnings:

• Internet of Things (IoT) in Design
• Smart Lighting and Climate Systems
• AR, VR, and AI in Interior Environments
• Impact on Functionality and Sustainability
• Designing for Connected Experiences

Elevate your interior design projects from concept to completion with our comprehensive module, designed to empower you with the skills to lead successful and innovative projects. Dive deep into project life cycles, risk management, budget control, and collaborative workflows to ensure your projects are executed seamlessly. Experience the power of methodologies like Agile and Kanban, and leverage tools such as Gantt charts and RAID logs to tackle real-world scenarios. Master these essential skills and gain the confidence to lead projects that harmoniously blend creativity with the demands of time, cost, and quality.

Key learnings:

• Project Life Cycles and Methodologies
• Risk and Budget Management
• Collaborative Workflows and Team Coordination
• Tools: Gantt Charts, RAID Logs, and Evaluation
• Balancing Creativity with Project Constraints

Unlock the potential to shape commercial spaces that captivate and serve diverse audiences. In this module, you will master the art of designing environments that blend branding, safety, inclusivity, and sustainability while meeting stakeholder needs. Dive into user studies, audience profiling, and traffic flow management, and learn to apply regulatory frameworks to real-world projects. With these skills, you'll be equipped to lead large-scale projects that harmonize aesthetic innovation with commercial success and social responsibility.

Key learnings:

• Commercial Design Principles
• Stakeholder and Audience Profiling
• Traffic Flow and User Studies
• Regulatory and Safety Frameworks
• Balancing Innovation with Functionality

Unlock the power to present your design work with impact and clarity, capturing your audience's attention every time. This module is your key to mastering how to structure compelling content, manage narrative flow, and build strong visual hierarchies. Learn to communicate mood, style, and atmosphere in a way that resonates with diverse audiences—from clients and collaborators to investors and the general public. By the end, you'll have a polished, confident communication style that elevates your design practice.

Key learnings:

• Structuring and Editing Presentations
• Narrative Flow and Visual Hierarchy
• Communicating Mood and Atmosphere
• Tailoring Messages for Clients, Investors, and the Public
• Boosting Confidence in Professional Communication

Elevate your design expertise by mastering the essentials of ethical practices and professional standards. This module is your gateway to understanding crucial legal frameworks, safeguarding intellectual property, managing contractual obligations, and embracing sustainability. Discover the pivotal role of regulators and professional bodies on a global scale. Stay ahead of the curve by diving into contemporary issues like AI ethics, fair labour practices, and environmental accountability. Through engaging real-world scenarios, you will cultivate the insights necessary to make responsible decisions in diverse design contexts.

Key learnings:

• Professional Codes and Legal Frameworks
• Intellectual Property and Contracts
• Ethics in AI and Emerging Technologies
• Fair Labour and Environmental Responsibility
• Global Professional Standards

Transform your passion for interior design into a thriving career with our comprehensive module that focuses on building your professional identity. Dive into diverse career pathways, discover lucrative freelance opportunities, and learn the essentials of entrepreneurship. Elevate your skills with practical knowledge in portfolio development, strategic networking, and effective financial management. Reflect on personal branding and set long-term goals to ensure you’re fully prepared to excel in the dynamic design industry.

Key learnings:

• Career Pathways and Market Trends
• Portfolio and CV Development
• Freelancing and Entrepreneurship
• Networking and Professional Branding
• Resilience and Continuing Professional Development

Elevate your design potential with our capstone module! This is your opportunity to showcase your creativity and technical prowess through a project that you independently develop, refine, and perfect. With dedicated tutor support and valuable peer feedback, you'll create a portfolio-ready masterpiece that captures your distinctive design voice. This experience not only prepares you for the professional world but also instills confidence in your unique abilities.

Key learnings:

• Independent Project Development
• Iterative Design and Critical Reflection
• Peer Review and Tutor Feedback
• Professional Documentation and Presentation
• Portfolio-Ready Final Outcomes