Interior Design BA (Hons)

University of Derby

Explore and develop your own voice and design identity, creating inspiring solutions for spatial environments including residential, commercial, and historical spaces. You will learn in dedicated professional design studios and acquire a range of skills in the design and development of spaces as well as being involved in collaborative opportunities with local and international partners.

The course is for anyone who is inspired and moved by interiors and inquisitive enough to find out how to realise these technically. Studying interior design at Derby will help you develop your design skills to create functional and unique spaces with strong spatial identities. You’ll learn how to best use specific spatial qualities, i.e. forms, texture and materials, lighting, colour, architectural components, objects and placement of these, enabling you to make your ideas become a reality. You’ll be inspired to work in a way that is environmentally responsible, memorable and experiential.

From commercial to residential spaces, BA (Hons) Interior Design opens the doors to a career where you can devise creative, inspiring solutions and develop your own distinctive professional practice.

Why choose this course?

Explore how people relate to the architectural space around them. Gain unique insights into the connection between interior and exterior space. Build your appreciation of the many elements – from user experience to texture and colour – which contribute to effective and appealing interior design.

Is this course for you?

If you want a strong understanding of both traditional and contemporary interior design techniques and approaches, together with the freedom to articulate your own ideas and challenge convention, this is your course.

How you will learn

You’ll learn in well-resourced, professional design studios at Britannia Mill. Resources include ISKN tables, Macbook Pros, large format scanners, drawing boards, as well as the arts and design library.

You will also be able to make full use of the traditional 3D workshop facilities (wood and metal) at Markeaton Street and the latest 3D computer software. You’ll have access to specialist textiles equipment and machinery in the Digital Design Hub such as the laser cutter and digital fabric print facilities in the textiles department. 

We also showcase at Free Range in London along with 50 other Interior Design institutions giving you the opportunity to display your work at one of the largest graduate shows in Europe. This valuable experience will help you to prepare for a career in interior design.

Opportunities and experiences

In addition to your lectures and seminars, you will take part in live projects which build upon your ‘real’ world learning and will contribute to your credibility as an interior designer. Live projects to date include: Repurposing of an old barn to a contemporary wedding venue for Victoria Brown; design of Bohn’s restaurant interior now located in Nottingham; design of 1st Crack coffee shop and the design of S.H.E.D. a mobile transforming shed that is travelling the country for the next two years. You will also be able to obtain Building Information Modelling (BIM) training by your second year and construct an online portfolio in readiness for DPP and/or final year and graduation.

Careers and employability

You could advance not only to interior design roles but also to careers in styling, retail display or set design for film, TV and stage. Some graduates set up their own consultancy practices or work on a freelance basis, building on the entrepreneurial instincts they develop on this course.

Accredited by The Society of British and International Interior Design for the purposes of preparing the student for a career in professional interior design. Students on a SBID accredited course receive free student membership for 3 years leading to a 1 year professional membership post-graduation.