Information for new Interior Architecture students

Interior Architecture: A Career choice for the twenty first century

What is Interior Architecture?

Interior Architecture is the specialised area of building design encompassing the architectural and furniture content of the interiors of buildings. A professional Interior Designer is one who is qualified by education, and experience, to identify, research, and creatively solve problems relative to the function and quality of people's built environment.

The competency of the Interior Designer includes fundamental design, design analysis, space planning and programming, the design of all interior space and the understanding of related aspects of environmental design.

The technical development of the Interior Designer includes knowledge of structure with emphasis on interior construction, knowledge of building systems and all related codes, equipment and components, abilities in communication, quantitative and administrative skills.

The spectrum of activities which are categorised in the professional Interior Architecture realm includes the planning, conceptual spatial design, design development, construction documentation and contract administration of the following:

• public spaces and individual "tenancies" within most types of office, commercial and retail buildings both government and privately owned; a diverse range of complex interiors for the hospitality industry, including resorts and hotel developments, convention centres, restaurants, theatres and other entertainment facilities;
• retail environments, ranging from fashion boutiques and shopping arcades to supermarkets;
  the restoration and conservation of the interiors of historic buildings, including their furnishings and fittings;
• the interiors of public transport facilities such as airports and train stations; display design including trade fairs, museums, galleries and exhibitions.
• an increasingly diverse range of complex interiors for education and health care,
  including facilities such as laboratories, computing areas, micro-surgical units and intensive care units;
• residential developments including retirement centres and housing for the disabled.
• planning and aesthetic design of individual homes
• the interiors of trains, planes, ships and other marine craft;
• the planning and design of large scale work places such as factories, offices, etc.

In addition to the above large scale environments, Interior Designers are involved in the design of the following:

• furniture and building fittings including both traditional furniture and systematised office furniture, partitioning and work stations which often involve a high degree of human/machine interaction, ie, banking, information processing and exchange facilities;
• Individual and mass produced light fittings.
• systematised domestic and commercial kitchens;
• "integrated" floor, ceiling and partition systems for office environments;
• the printed, woven and tufted textiles used for interiors.

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Is Interior Architecture A Suitable Career For You?

To become an Interior Designer you must have an intense interest in the quality of human life and the built environment. Artistic ability, capability to think laterally and a creative mind would be an advantage. The profession has a need for people who are both practical and creative. An Interior Designer must possess the mental ability and tenacity to be able to recognise and solve complex problems.

Interior Design Practices

Roles within a practice for educated Interior Designers range from the Principle managing, marketing and administering the firm; designers running and working on the planning and design of diverse projects; project managers managing schedules, budgets, construction administration and technical aspects of the job. The tendency is to get involved in the profession, build expertise in areas of strength and interest and decide what role you would like to develop.

The typical Interior Design practice in Australia ranges from 7-20 staff. Practices world wide range from 1 person to hundreds of staff. many interdisciplinary design practices include Interior Designers; along with Graphic Designers, Industrial Designers, Architects and Engineers.

Professional Recognition

Our course meets the Academic requirements for admission into professional membership for the Design Institute of Australia. (DIA)

Aim Of The Course

The course provides a comprehensive education and training for students wishing to pursue a career in the professional practice of Interior Architecture. Graduates of the course are able to:

• demonstrate innovation in design within a framework of properly researched needs and clearly understood technologies and manufacturing processes
  understand human needs and attitudes in the general context of environmental design and in particular context of interior environments
• understand the behavioural, environmental, economic and technological considerations influencing design
  understand the nature of change in society and to encourage an adaptable, flexible, creative and humanitarian approach to the solving of problems required by such change.
• demonstrate skills of critical appraisal.
• understand the professional role and responsibilities of the Interior Designer in practice and in the community at large.
• understand the relationship of Interior Architecture with other disciplines such as architecture, graphic and product design.
• demonstrate an awareness of new developments in design, design education and career opportunities both nationally and internationally
• function as professional Interior Designers who have developed qualities of leadership and the social skills necessary for team work and client interaction.

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Department Interior Architecture

The Interior Architecture course forms part of the Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture. The Department has 20 full-time academic staff members of whom a proportion teach on an interdisciplinary basis, as well as specifically within their area of interest. Part-time and guest lecturers are also employed when special expertise is required.

Department Resources

Audio-visual laboratory provides audio-visual services to staff for lectures and loans of photographic and video equipment for students.
Computing laboratories contains micro-computers and graphic workstations with CAD and 3-D modelling for student use.
Acoustics laboratory provides measuring and testing facilities for assessing acoustics and materials / construction performance in buildings.
Materials library houses catalogues and samples of materials, fixtures and furniture commonly used in Architecture and Interior Architecture.
Resource Centre houses literature, records and materials relevant to the building industry.

BACHELOR OF ARTS (INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE)
153799 v.3 Bachelor of Arts (Interior Architecture) details
Approximate Places Available 65
PRE-REQUISITES: No pre-requisites

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Enrolments into Interior Architecture

The application process for mature age entry into interior architecture

Applying for semester 1 You need to apply to Curtin through the Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) . TISC processes applications for places in undergraduate courses in all four of Western Australia's public universities.

You may only apply once for university entry in any one year. You can choose up to six courses in order of preference. TISC will ensure that you are offered a place for your highest preference in which there is a place available and for which you are qualified.

You can add new preferences and change the order of your preferences, subject to closing dates. For the exact closing dates for changing your preferences, check the current TISC guide, visit the TISC website or phone +61 8 9318 8000.

Closing Dates for TISC Applications

• To avoid incurring a late fee: December 1st.
• Final closing date for applications to the Bentley campus: Late November.
• Final closing date for rural Curtin campuses: Mid January.
• For the exact closing dates for applications, check the current TISC guide, visit the TISC website or phone +61 8 9318 8000.

Offers of Admission

Normally, most offers of admission are made in mid-January. Some further offers are made at the beginning of February. You must accept or defer within the period of time specified in your letter of offer. Failure to do so could result in losing the offer.

Semester 2 entry is not available into interior architecture
Also see the University Guidelines for the Certification of Documents[.pdf - 104kb]

Alternative entry pathways for mature age applicants

Students enrolling as mature age students will need to apply for an interview with the Course Coordinator of Interior Architecture. All application to be directed to admin support officer. Building 201, School of Built Environment, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia, 6845, no later than the 30th September. Mature age students are require to submit a portfolio at the time of the interview. The Portfolio requirements are as follows:

Portfolio Requirements

1. 1.Select two buildings with interiors that you believe are aesthetically noteworthy in some way or ways (for example the use of material, colour, light)
2. Photographically record each interior at three scales: distant, middle and close-up (detail) view
3. Take two photographs at each scale for each building, a total of 12 images in all
4. Present your images in A4 format The format should be consistent (in other words all sheets should be either landscape or portrait format but not a combination of the two)
5. Each building should be presented on three pages. Identify the building on the first sheet of images with some accompanying text describing the particular qualities of the space. Your text must exceed no more than 100 words for each building
6. We recommend that you take many photographs and then select the 12 most successful images from them
7. Consider composition, material, colour, light and texture when composing your shots
8. Originals should not be submitted. The submission should consist of six A4 colour pages copied onto good quality paper (three pages per building)
9. Carefully consider the composition of each page and the selection of your photographs. You can manipulate the size of the images if you wish to give them greater or lesser emphasis on the page. You may use creative ways to present your images, for example collage, overlaying images and (if your images are digital) computer manipulation
10. The portfolio must be bound along one margin and must have a cover sheet identifying yourself

Please bring this portfolio with you to your interview with Nancy Spanbroek, Course Coordinator, Department of Architecture and Interior Architecture.

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