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ATMOSPHERE
VOLUME 04 I 2020-21
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INTERIOR DESIGN The Interior Design Department at New York Institute of Technology is housed within the School of Architecture and Design. It is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Association (CIDA), the program aims to mentor students to make impactful contribution to the field of interior design and its related disciplines.
Their professionalism, excellence in design, and strong work ethics strategically place graduates from NYIT SoAD - Interior Design in a meaningful journey of exploration, intellectual growth, and dedication to making a healthier, inclusive, and welcoming built environment for all.
The program prepares students for a lifelong engagement of design excellence, entrepreneurship and dedication to a built environment that is sensitive to the cultural needs of all members of society. Our diverse student body and faculty contribute their experiences to raise awareness to the needs of the global community. The curriculum is reflective of our pedagogical values. First-year students enrolled in the program are introduced to fundamentals of design through a series of rigorous analytical and experimental exercises. They explore spatial conditions, shapes, color, and light, blending design studios, visualization, history, theory, and liberal arts courses that provide a solid foundation to critical thinking and the representation of space. Project complexity increases in second and third year as students foster design skills by means of experimentation. Working both in teams and individually, they engage in research, design, fabrication, and emerging technology skills that culminate with a thesis project in the fourth year of academic preparation.
Interior Design at SoAD pushes burgeoning creatives to envision original, new works addressing the challenges of today’s complex world. The program prides itself on having over fifty years of embedded methodologies and frameworks to offer our majors. As a center for new thought, it encourages the use of the imagination to operate both pragmatically—alongside advanced technology—and creatively.
In addition to completing 130 credits required for their BFA in Interior Design, students are exposed to several leadership opportunities that serve as platform to sharpen their professional skills. Student leaders contribute to the studio culture and design community by holding positions in the Interior Design Student Association, American Institute of Architecture Student (AIAS), NYIT SoAD Student Affairs Committee, NYIT Student Government and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). The design skills and knowledge acquired in our program enable students to receive prestigious national recognitions such as the Angelo Donghia Foundation Scholarship and the Metropolis Future 100 awards. Charles A. Matz Director, Interior Design Department, SoAD at NYIT (2019-20)
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The program explores advanced skills in managing the basics: specifications, program, visualizing and constructing 3D virtual models, selecting material strategies, developing lighting schemes— all the while developing profoundly personal design practices. The sensibility gained through innovative design challenges push the boundaries in resolving contemporary issues such as sustainability, the role of new materials, and social redress. Our dedicated studio spaces and virtual forums are crucibles where new professional connections with prestigious organizations are formed. With an in-depth industry focus, the interior design program graduates benefit from hands-on, experiential learning through interactions with leaders, or by solving competition challenges in workshops, and by promoting active collaboration with industry partners.
Trudy Brens, M.Arch, AIA, NOMA Director, Interior Design Department, SoAD at NYIT (2020-21)
