SPECIALISATION
Interior Design

DEPARTMENT
Design and Applied Arts

INSTITUTION
NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti - Milan Campus

ACCREDITED BY
Italian Ministry of Education and Research

TITLE AWARDED
Second Level Academic Degree

CFA
120

LANGUAGE OF TUITION
Italian or English

COURSE DURATION
2 years

In the contemporary world, inhabited by over seven billion people, interiors play an increasingly important role in defining the quality of ordinary and extraordinary experiences in our lives. Interiors are built-up matter: relating to these spaces is by no means like taking a step into emptiness. In fact, it’s becoming part of a complex physical, bodily and narrative system. Interior design can “activate” public and private spaces of contemporary cities: it is the tool that gives both physical and mental places a meaning and a soul.

In these places, human life is defined. Interior designers create new stories and new meanings, within existing structures. That’s an ability that human societies have always longed for in the past, and that will always need in the future. The two-year course in Interior Design, thoroughly explores themes and methods related to interiors to develop all-round professional profiles, knowledgeable, reliable and versatile, that can successfully express themselves on the global marketplace. This course exposes its students to a mixture of different project experiences lead by highly skilled, international professionals, in the wider educational scope of one of the most important cities in the world of contemporary design, in a Country that is clearly marked by its rich culture and history.

Ideal candidate students have a background of architectural studies, interior design or product design, are highly motivated and are fascinated by everything related to designing spaces, beside a strong aptitude for working, and an openness to question their ideas. Basic competence in architectural design is required, but it is not necessary to be acquainted with 3D modelling techniques.

For admission procedures, please refer to the Academic Regulations.

This Master of Arts Degree course aims at providing the students with advanced training to fully master the methods and artistic techniques leading to the acquisition of high professional competences. The course supports the development of sound professional figures in interior design, based on:

• Sensible and mindful understanding of a methodological approach which enables the future professional to deal with any project complexity through a consistent vision, as well as to successfully manage all parameters, variables and technical competences needed to develop interior design projects.

• The ability to use personal competences in a flexible way, to grant adaptability and efficacy in any professional context both locally and globally. Also, the ability to confidently deal with any unforeseen development of the professional scenario over time.

• The investigation of limits and boundaries in interior design projects thanks to critical awareness, understanding of meanings, creative and experimental thinking, inclusive and multidisciplinary approach, as well as self-expression through the project.

During the course, students are engaged in different kinds of activities, according to the specific learning goals. Those activities may include:

• Class lectures

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools

• Development of individual or group projects

• Individual study or research

• Debates and presentations during classes

• Exercises and revisions

• Workshops

• Classroom demonstrations

• Visits to companies and organizations in the specific professional field

• Seminars and workshops with industry professionals or visiting lecturers

• Intensive workshops on specific subjects

• Individual sessions and tutoring

The achievement of learning goals is generally assessed at the end of the term, although intermediate evaluations may occur. Assessment methods vary according to the learning goals being assessed and may include:

• Oral exams

• Written exams

• Practical demonstrations

• Graded exercises

• Graded revisions

• Papers

• Complete projects

• Submission of papers, projects or research works

The two-year course in Design - with a specialisation in Interior Design, is divided into 4 semesters of didactic activities, followed by a period dedicated to extra-didactic activities (internship, study abroad) and research for the dissertation work. Each semester revolves around a design workshop, which faces research and project themes in a cross-disciplinary way.

The course in Design 1 develops interior design projects on the scale of private or semi-public spaces, with an integrative module focused on learning materials and technologies. Design 2 deals with public spaces, and goes in-depth in the design of furniture or small installations. Design 3 focuses on exhibition design and temporary staging, beside exploring the contemporary project culture. Design 4 wraps up the acquisition of awareness and of professional skills of the students, through a comprehensive project focusing on complex public spaces in a context of high historic value.

To integrate and complete the design workshops activity, the program includes courses and/or didactic modules focused on the development of specific approach methods and technical skills, with regard to both interior design and the visual communication of the project. Project methodology guides the students through an interior design project starting from purely theoretical and abstract preconditions, with the support of a module where the students will learn Modelling 3D and rendering techniques and skills. Brand design investigates the relation between interior design and the companies and brands’ representation needs, with particular reference to the fashion world - a crucial topic in a context such as the city of Milan - and to Experience design. The course in Light design provides theoretical and design tools in the field of lighting engineering in interiors and, more generally, of light as a fundamental element in any interior design project.

All theoretical courses guide the students towards the understanding of historic and contemporary cultural references, starting from the Italian History of art and History of design, to the acquisition of specific skills in visual and multimedia Art direction, together with a research experience in the field of innovation culture and of the possible business models related to Design management. With an eye to the understanding of the past and the anticipation of the future, our theoretical courses provide the students with conceptual and operational skills for their designing and professional activity. Moreover, the plan of this Two year specialisation course is completed by a wide range of opportunities for extra-curricular experiences, both in design and in vocational training (workshops, collaboration with companies, etc.), that can be carried out starting from the third semester. Also, starting from the fourth semester, the students are bound to individually and independently develop a research project on themes of personal interest. The research can involve abroad studies aimed at the completion of the dissertation for their Master of Arts Degree.

According to NABA’s academic calendar, the students have about 10 months time from the end of the didactic activities to write their thesis and defend their final dissertation. Over the same period of time, the students can complete their training with professional experience (internship) by designing studios or companies, or through NABA’s partnership projects (work experience).

Students who graduate from the two-year course in Interior Design, hold all the theoretical, technical and designing skills to start a professional career in different scopes of space design, both within a studio or office, or as freelance professionals, such as:

• Interior designer

• Exhibition designer

• Furniture designer

• Temporary events or installation designer

• 3D modeling specialist

• Space representation specialist (rendering, etc.)

• Project illustrator

• Editor for design-related publications

• Stylist

• Interior decorator

• Lighting designer

• Brand designer

• Interior design consultant by a company or showroom

• Interior design consultant by resellers of design products

• Teacher at higher education institutes or universities

Students who graduate from the two-year course in Design - with a specialisation in Interior Design, can undertake Doctoral studies in the fields of design, interior design, interior architecture.

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Prove their knowledge and understanding at a deeper level than what typically associated to lower courses of study, as well as their ability to devise and/or apply original ideas, even in research contexts.

• Acquire comprehensive knowledge of the historic, artistic, cultural, social and economic roots of interior design and of its aesthetic models.

• Acquire comprehensive knowledge of digital and analogic tools for interior design.

• Acquire comprehensive knowledge of materials, techniques and technologies used in interior design.

• Check the individual learning skills that may allow for further self-guided or independent study.

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Organize their interior design projects, as individual or team work, by means of applying the most efficient methods.

• Develop and carry out different kinds of projects in the fields of interior design, exhibition design and design in its broader sense.

• Apply the most efficient 3D modelling and rendering techniques and strategies, in order to develop and verify their projects.

• Apply the most efficient visual and multimedia communication strategies to represent their projects.

• Apply the most efficient strategies to promote their projects and/or personal profiles.

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

Successfully work individually and as a group, interacting with different professional figures.

Efficiently communicate their ideas, in a clear and straightforward fashion, as well as the knowledge and ratio related to them, to specialized and non specialized people, verbally or on graphic and multimedia supports.

Identify and properly address their professional aspirations, also evaluating the necessary tools and strategies to develop an independent professional career.

Assess their own competence and identify, if any, further training paths in the academic or professional environment.

At the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

• Apply their knowledge, understanding skills and problem solving ability to new or unfamiliar situations, in wider (or cross-disciplinary) contexts related to their scope of study.

• Integrate knowledge and manage complexities, as well as be able to evaluate the scenario even when information is limited or incomplete, also assessing the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgment.

• Analyze contemporary design scenarios through mindful interpretation.

• Understand the evolution and new phenomena of the contemporary societies.

• Understand project briefs within a wide and complex range of social and cultural references, and take into account the multiple instances that are at the centre of a project.

• Assess tools and strategies to research and innovate in the design field, in order to conceive and anticipate new strategic visions and new project scenarios.

• Develop a personal and mindful approach to projects, based on a strict method and on the consistent use of critical thinking about the values and meanings of the project.

• Develop an innovative and experimental approach to projects, by identifying new possible relations and links among the project itself and its socio-cultural context.

• Develop an aptitude to be flexible and adaptable in their design duties.