Course Overview
Interior design is simply the art, act or process of designing the interior decoration of a room or building to make it aesthetically pleasing and functional. As a profession, interior design involves a range of related projects and activities that are involved in making any interior space into an effective setting for whatever variety of human activities that are to take place thereof. It involves the design and construction of building interiors including homes, retail office space, hospitals, commercial, hotel and resort developments, theatres, museums, computing areas, restaurants, laboratories, gallery exhibitions and displays among many other areas. Professionals in this field may be referred to as interior designers among other titles. The work of interior designers encompasses the design and conversion of interior spaces to make them beautiful, safe and functional by determining space requirements and selecting decorative items such as design materials, colours and lighting among others.
The Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, With IT is a four year course whose curriculum emphasizes on the design process, problem solving, technical skills development, and the management skills needed to work in collaboration with the allied design professions within the built environment. Students are expected to integrate aesthetic values into the spaces they design and consider aspirations of the world in which they live. The goal is to create quality environments compatible for human use. The curriculum coursework coverage includes; history of art and design, apparel design and construction, design communication and aesthetics, graphic design and illustrations, interior design materials and components, environmental design and psychology, interior architecture, space design & planning, flowers and plants for interiors, furniture design and construction, lighting and acoustics for interior design and computer aided design for interiors among other crucial topics.
Upon successful completion of the course, graduates will have the skills, knowledge and attitudes that can enable them offer creative solutions to problems relating to the function and quality of people’s interior environment and integrate aesthetic values into the spaces built for human use through understanding the current interior design issues of concern to the society. In addition, the graduates will have the capacity to investigate, analyze and present research findings on interior design projects, be able to synthesize and express original ideas on design styles and procedures that contribute to their imaginative growth and aesthetic wellbeing as well as having a thorough understanding of varied materials, media and designs that are available in our society all with a goal of creating quality interior environments for human use. Graduates can find work within the interior design industry and allied profession or start their own businesses.
Entry Qualifications
For self sponsored students, at least a mean grade of C+ in KCSE. For Government sponsored students, the minimum cut point which is announced annually applies. The students should in addition have good performance in the following cluster subjects; Subject 1 CHE, Subject 2 MAT A or PHY, Subject 3 BIO or HSC, Subject 4 ENG/KIS or any GROUP III or a GROUP IV or any GROUP V.
Becoming an interior designer
If you are passionate about design and decorating spaces and want to help people in creating beautiful working and living environments or spaces, then a career in interior design may be good choice for you. In addition you should be prepared to develop skills that can enable you grow and succeed in this profession.
Interior designers have excellent artistic ability enabling them to use their sense of style to develop designs that look great and are aesthetically pleasing. They also have high sense of creativity that enable them to select fabrics and furnishings in creating spaces that serve the client’s needs and fit lifestyle. Good interpersonal skills go hand in hand with this profession as these professionals work closely with other professionals such as architects, engineers, designers and general building contractors and should be able to relate well with all these people. Computer aided design skill is also important as modern interior design embraces use of this technology.
Interior designers are excellent problem solvers able to address interior design challenges such as construction delays and the high cost or sudden unavailability of selected materials while keeping the project on time and within budget. These professionals must also have a great sense of visualization to be able them understand how pieces of a design will fit together to create the intended interior environment. Interior designers must also have a high degree of precision towards measuring interior spaces and making drawings to ensure that interior equipments, furnishings and furniture will fit correctly and create the appropriate environment.
Work environment.
Interior designers’ work mostly in offices with frequent visits to projects sites to oversee interior construction progress.
Career opportunities
Graduates of this course can find work in areas such as interior design firms, architectural firms, furniture and home furnishing stores, building material and supplies dealers, building construction companies, landscape architectural firms among other related areas. Graduates can also start their own interior design businesses.
You may explore these courses
Bachelor of Science in Clothing Textile & Interior Design
Bachelor of Arts in Design
Bachelor of Technology in Design
Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Bachelor of Architectural Technology
Bachelor of Architecture
Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art & Design
Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design & Marketing
Bachelor of Science in Graphic, Communication and Advertising
Bachelor of Arts in Textiles, Apparel Design and Fashion Merchandising, With IT