Interior Design: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio

The interior design program at Georgia State University prepares students for successful careers in the rapidly growing and changing field of interior design. The program strives to reflect the values of contemporary interior design practice as it prepares graduates who are adept at providing provocative aesthetic solutions which respond to a multitude of real-world constraints, client needs, program, schedule, and budget. The NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design) accredited program at Georgia State prepares students for careers as licensed professional interior designers who:

• address human physical needs, aesthetic concerns, and sociological dynamics through design
• work well as a member of a multi-disciplined high-performance team, and
• interact responsibly, meaningfully, and successfully with clients and other professionals.

Student Profile

• Design oriented with exceptional communication and drawing skills 
• Interested in and aware of environmental issues affecting the design and creation of both interior and exterior spaces
• Capable of integrating both functional and aesthetic demands required by the interior design profession
• Highly self-disciplined and able to complete tasks on schedule
• Able to clearly articulate a design problem and conceive of an appropriate design solution

Program Description
GSU’s interior design program is highly competitive and requires submission of a portfolio for admission into the concentration. All first-year School of Art & Design students learn humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, art history, and art foundations. ID applicants take three introductory ID classes in the fall of their sophomore year before they can qualify to submit application portfolios for admission into the concentration. These initial ID 3000 level courses:

• are open to all potential ID majors who have completed the first-year Art & Design foundations
• introduce students to the varied practical aspects of current interior design practice
• provide an introduction to the critical analysis and discussion of current and historical interior spaces
• introduce students to the basic architectural drawing (drafting) and communication skills necessary for entering ID majors.

Portfolio review for admission into the Interior Design program takes place at the end of the fall semester of the sophomore year, following the completion of the initial ID 3000 level courses. Once accepted into the program, majors are immediately introduced to computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling, building and life safety codes and regulations, building systems and construction methods. Students gain further experience in architectural drawing and communication, spatial analysis and design, space planning and furniture layout, and an introduction to the characteristics and use of hard and soft materials in interior environments. Sophomore studios are focused on strong interior space conceptualization and the production of successful design solutions responsive to program and context.

At the junior level students commence a rigorous two-semester design studio sequence focused on the conceptualization and development of a variety of project types. Student projects are presented graphically and orally and critiqued in open studio settings by both faculty and guest jurors from Atlanta’s professional interior design community. This part of the curriculum is focused on excellence and innovation in design. Upon completion of the junior year, students are eligible to complete professional internship experience for credit.

In their final year students complete coursework aimed at preparing them for transition to professional practice. Seniors complete advanced design studios leading to a comprehensive capstone project in the spring semester. Specialized interior design practice area labs, seminars and lectures (e.g., furniture design, advanced 3D computer modeling and animation, rendering) are regularly offered and may be taken for elective credit at this level.