DesignIntelligence

Deans’ Insights — Interior Design

Most admired architecture and design schools
Changes in course offerings
Most admired architecture and design schools
Future of design education

Deans, program chairs, and department heads in interior design schools lead faculty in developing programs of study that shape interior design education. They strive for excellence in teaching students the art and science of interior design, and to best prepare graduates for professional practice and other career paths. DesignIntelligence asked deans, program chairs, and department heads about the changes in interior design course offerings that affect the shape of interior design education. They were asked:

  • What significant changes have been made to your interior design course offerings in the past three years? See the results
  •  
  • Rate the following areas impacting the future of design education. Response options include acceleration in detrimental climate change, changing complexity of professional practice, competition from non-traditional education options, declining enrollment, growing awareness of social responsibility, impact of AI on construction processes and labor, impact of AI on design processes and labor, impact of technology on construction processes and labor, impact of technology on design processes and labor, public attitudes about design professionals and expertise, quality of available applicants and State funding levels. See the results
 

What significant changes have been made to your interior design course offerings in the past three years?

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Focus:
Rating
1
Increased emphasis on sustainable/healthy design
76%
100%
2
Increased focus on design technologies (e.g. BIM, AI, VR, AR, etc.)
71%
100%
3
Increased focus on community involvement (emphasis on becoming involved in the community - e.g. mentorship programs, volunteering, civic opportunities, etc.)
57%
100%
4
Greater concentration on interdisciplinary studies (awareness of, and collaboration with, multiple disciplines impacting the built environment)
57%
100%
5
Greater emphasis on communication and presentation skills
46%
100%
6
Deeper concentration on research methodologies
46%
100%
7
Expanded focus on global issues/international practice
32%
100%
8
Greater concentration on design theory and practice
29%
100%
9
Expanded opportunities for study abroad
26%
100%
10
Greater emphasis on construction materials and methods
25%
100%
11
More focus on planning/project methodologies
15%
100%
12
More emphasis on the impacts of urbanization on design
15%
100%
13
Mandatory graduation project with interdisciplinary students/teams
10%
100%
14
Greater emphasis on practice management
9%
100%
15
More emphasis on engineering fundamentals
   1%
100%
16
Greater emphasis on construction materials, means and methods
0%
100%
17
More emphasis on engineering fundamentals (MEP and structural)
0%
100%
 

Rate the following areas impacting the future of design education

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100%
12%
37%
51%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
48%
28%
25%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
79%
8%
14%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
45%
21%
30%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
12%
27%
59%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
46%
31%
23%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
38%
38%
23%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
32%
32%
35%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
36%
27%
36%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
25%
22%
54%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
61%
18%
20%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern
100%
21%
26%
47%
Some or little concern
Clear Concern
High or critical concern