Interior Design uel.ac.uk/ace
Introduction The BSc (Hons) Interior Design programme at UEL provides an educational and creative framework that enables you to become a designer. The idea of ‘designing’ is central to the course’s activities and ethos. Students are taught in small groups by design tutors and professionals. Project work seeks exploratory poetic and imaginative solutions to enhance and develop your creative talents and design skills. Design is taught together with a range of supporting studies including representation and computing, technology, design history and theory & professional studies to prepare you for employment.
What is Interior Design?
The Interior Design programme prepares you for a career in the field of Interior Design including commercial & retail design, residential design, set or exhibition design, communication or furniture design and architectural & design conservation. This course teaches you the specialist skills needed by interior design professionals today as well as purposefully offering you the opportunity to sample a wide range of projects from across the discipline. Located in East London near to contemporary internationally important shopping, transport and trade districts at Excel, London City Airport, Stratford International & the City, you will be visiting these, as well as working alongside other architecture, art and product design students within the School on a range of individual and group competitions, client briefs and live projects. Our teaching balances a respect and understanding of the past and the present, with an inspirational, poetic and innovative stance towards the future. Specialist skills taught include observational and spatial drawing, computer drawing, model making and material investigations. When doing design projects you will be supported by high-profile design professionals to develop your design skills through personal tutorials and by making design presentations. At the core of our teaching philosophy is the relationship developed between staff and students who are taught one to one in small groups in studios, workshops and seminars. We also offer a range of supporting studies in the areas of computing, technology, design history and professional studies to inform and prepare you for entering the industry or onto a Masters Level programme. As you progress through the course, you will begin to strategically form a personal attitude towards interior design that will be reflected in your individual projects and in your personal academic portfolio, firmly preparing you for your chosen career. Because we aim to develop each student's design intuition, creativity and judgement, the programme is highly demanding.
Interior Design at UEL
Our interior design teaching balances a respect and understanding of the past and the present with an inspirational, poetic and innovative stance towards the future. By doing this you can explore the huge range and diversity of interiors practice that’s possible from the very ‘historical’ to the intentionally ‘scenographic’ and work in fields ranging from pop-up event & furniture design to complex regeneration and heritage projects. By building an awareness of the timescales and life spans of interior projects you will encounter the full range of roles and relationships that are required when working with clients and other professionals involved in realizing projects; from ‘art director’ through to detailed designer. The school is located in East London near to contemporary internationally important shopping, transport and trade districts such as Excel, London City Airport, Stratford International & the City. You will be visiting these and using them as sites for commercial and retail orientated projects. Similarly you will also be engaged in local historical sites which require delicate and careful restoration as well as innovative thinking about what could happen next to accommodate and delight their new contemporary occupants.
You will have the opportunity to share in the ethos of an established architecture school that is renowned for its emphasis on ‘hands-on’ making and the study of materiality, its diverse student & staff population and its excellent track record of graduate employment. Our close proximity to the architecture, art and product departments, allows you to test out creative partnerships that mirror those formed in real-life practice. What further defines your experience will be an emphasis on completing ‘live’, group and competition projects when you can develop your abilities in collaborative working, negotiation and interpersonal skills. Through practice visits, the involvement of industry design mentors and the participation of notable practicing designers as design tutors and visiting critics this will expand your access to and connection with the contemporary design industry. ACE currently has links with Design and Architecture Schools abroad, so you will have the possibility of engaging with these in a number of cities including Venice, St Petersburg, Paris and Athens. What also defines this course, is an emphasis on completing ‘live’, group and competition projects when you can develop your abilities in collaborative working, negotiation and interpersonal skills. Through practice visits, the involvement of industry design mentors and the participation of notable practicing designers as design tutors and visiting critics throughout the course, this further increases your access to and connection with the design industry.
Learning Environment
Within ACE our academic programmes strive to develop practice that enhances life in the context of nature and society. Staff and students, from all over the world work on design projects situated locally and internationally. Our core team is supplemented by a number of internationally renowned practitioners who feed their expertise into the School through regular lectures and debates, design reviews and studio teaching. The heart of the academic programme is the design studio where you will learn the strategies of spatial design through active participation in design projects. The Interior Design subject area is based within ACE, located in the A.V.A building, on the UEL Docklands Campus. In carrying out all academic work you are introduced to, and are expected to take the opportunity to use all the available facilities and the IT platforms that are used for sharing communication. These include the extensive wood, metal and digital fabrication workshops, IT labs, photographic darkrooms, printing and computer suites.
Lectures and seminars take place in the AVA building and adjoining buildings. There is a dedicated study library adjoining the AVA building with extensive opening hours. As part of their studies, you will regularly visit study sites and buildings off campus, and in cities in the UK and abroad. You are expected to complement formal teaching and assignments with self-directed research and testing out your skills using a variety of design approaches. Developing skills in time management, being able to make creative decisions, being able to prioritise certain strands of work and becoming more critical and reflective about personal project work are essential attributes of becoming a design professional. At the end of each academic year, students exhibit their work in groups as part of the end of year showcase when they publish an annual catalogue showcasing the best work.
Programme Details
Programme structure The programme is only available in full-time mode and as a Single Honours programme. Entry requirements 220 UCAS tariff points together with two subjects at GCSE level, Grade C or above including English & Maths. Art or art related subjects are also desirable such as: BTEC Art & Design GNVQ Art & Design ACCESS Art & Design FOUNDATION Art & Design The School is situated within ACE and welcomes applicant students with a wide range of academic or professional experience, including equivalent overseas qualifications or work experience in a related field.
We accept students with either humanities or science backgrounds together with arts subjects. We look for potential in spatial design, craft and making, creative imagination and visual or constructive aptitude, together with ability and motivation to successfully complete the course. Candidates are normally required to attend an interview and to present a portfolio of art and design work through which they can demonstrate an interest in, aptitude for and knowledge of the field of Interior Design. We also accept portfolios digitally or by post for assessment. Overseas and other qualifications are individually assessed. Conditions may be relaxed for mature students or if the applicant shows other evidence of being particularly able to benefit from the programme. Direct entry to 2nd year (level 4) or 3rd year (level 5) of the degree is available to students with suitable qualifications and after a successful portfolio interview.
Why study at the University of East London
Going to university is an investment. You are investing your time and your money in a degree that will put you on the right path for a successful career and you need to choose the right course and university for you. We believe in investing in our students both academically and financially. At the University of East London, you will receive: • free textbooks for each module • a progress bursary of up to £1,100 to use to purchase study-related items • a personal tutor to support your learning and progression • an engaging and inspiring academic experience • access to our Going Global scheme – a fund reserved for students to apply to travel internationally to enhance their studies • placement opportunities, mentoring, guest lecturers and internships through our strong industry links • a modern and beautiful campus environment with cutting-edge campus facilities, including a £21 million sports centre and libraries open 24/7 • a dedicated service to equip students for employment, including a graduate internship programme • access to a year’s business incubation space for student entrepreneurs • free study skills workshops and short courses in essential programmes such as Excel, PowerPoint and Word • £3,000+ NSP Bursary is also available for students who live locally or have 300+ UCAS points.
How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses starting in September are made via the Universities and Colleges Admissions System (UCAS). UCAS offers a secure, web-based application system that allows you to track your application. To register for UCAS, please go to www.ucas.com and follow the step-by-step guide. You will need the University of East London institution code which is E28. Applicant Enquiries Tel: +44 (0)20 8223 3333 Email: study@uel.ac.uk
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Š University of East London, November 2013