Term One

Design Project 1 - Pavillion Design (understanding space and form)
Reflective Report 1 - Building research report

The BA Degree starts with the fundamental aspects of interior design training, with students exploring how to research design, draw inspiration from their surroundings and record their ideas within their sketchbooks. During live webinars, students investigate how to use various research techniques and live peer feedback to one another. Through pre-recorded lessons, they cover more theoretical topics such as reflective writing, research and analysis. They explore practical subjects on a scale, surveying a space, sketching and model making. Design development, channelling creativity and design principles, such as ergonomics and anthropometrics, are covered as part of the design process before students learn how to draft floor plans, sections and elevations.

Term Two

Design Project 2 - Container Living

Students focus strongly on visual communication and presentation skills this term, with technical drawing skills advancing to sketch one and two-point perspective drawings. Whilst they continue developing freehand sketching skills, new topics include hand colour rendering. Lectures on digital finishes and furnishings are also taught this term, which leads to a peer feedback webinar session. The completion of the second residential project sees the introduction of lessons and a webinar on how to use the computer software SketchUp.

Term Three

Assessed Debate - Live Online Debate in Contemporary Interior Design Practice
Group Research Project - ‘Design Evolution and Trends’ Reference Book
Contextual Essay 1 - Historical Essay

Focusing on the history of interior design, this term starts with students working in groups in preparation for a live online debate on Contemporary Interior Design Practices. Following the debate, a series of lectures and webinars assist students in their journey through design evolution from 1660 to the modern day. This term, students can look forward to the introduction of Professional Practice and the critical skills they will need to develop as practising Interior Designers, such as design fees, invoices, contracts and estimating quantities.

Term Four

Design Project 3 - Medium Residential Design (focusing on kitchen and bathroom design and planning)

Practical knowledge continues to develop this term as students are introduced to kitchen and bathroom design, colour theory and lighting. These core skills are applied within the third residential design project, which also aims to enhance students’ sourcing skills before they receive lessons on material presentation techniques. This term sees the introduction of the design software Photoshop which enhances students’ digital rendering skills. Live webinars include the Power of Branding, Creative Bathroom and Kitchen Planning, and a Sample Board critique.

Term Five

Design Project 4 - Residential / Commercial (complex design and planning)

The final term of Level 4 sees the introduction of AutoCAD software, which aims to develop new computer skills alongside SketchUp and Photoshop, to generate slick technical drawings and visuals. As part of their project, students cross over from residential design to commercial, aiming at challenging existing skills and pushing their creativity. Through lectures and webinars, students explore lighting design at a higher level and are introduced to a conceptual approach to developing their spatial strategies. Further insight into graphic design enhances students’ presentations and their project brochure/portfolio submitted at the end of the term.

Level Five- Term Six

Design Project 5 - Conceptual Exhibition/Pop-Up Design

The second half of the course opens with teaching on advanced traffic flow and site analysis within a commercial environment, as well as advanced conceptual development, which leads into the fifth design project for an exhibition or pop-up space design. Students will learn about building regulations and construction alongside the process of realising their concepts into designs.

Term Seven

Research Project - Textiles Research & Application
Design Project 6 - Detailed Working Drawings
Contextual Essay 2 - Materials Report

This term focuses solely on materials in the design industry – introducing students to detailed materials-based research and their specialised use within interiors, including wood, stone, textiles, man-made materials, new materials and contemporary processes. Projects this term will focus on product design using different materials and advanced detailed technical drawing and sketching skills. Students also explore issues around sustainability and the responsibility of designers, and they are introduced to InDesign, which helps advance their presentation and graphic skills.

Term Eight

Design Project 7 - Large Commercial Project

Teaching on commercial design is the sole focus for this term, with lectures on current trends and commercial design imperatives, as well as important legislation, regulations and environmental policies relating to commercial design. Students will examine design vs function, accessibility and inclusive design alongside specialist design for bars, hotels, retail spaces and offices. Lighting skills are revisited from a commercial perspective, and new software EstiPC is introduced. The live project leads to working with structural engineers and contractors and project coordination skills.

Term Nine

Design Project 7 - Group Project
Design Project 8 - Final Major Project

The group projects at KLC always have a social focus, working with the Design Changes Lives Foundation to contribute to some community development. This will involve analysing complex interior spaces, looking at specialised areas of design interest, developing research summaries & rationales and presenting professional documentation. Working within a design team helps students to develop their interpersonal skills and learn about professional practice within a design team.

Term Ten

Design Project 8 - Final Major Project (continued)

Finishing the course with additional professional skills for the industry, students will look at developing design ideas into a professional dossier, advanced visual communication of a project, advanced budgeting and creating a professional portfolio of work. Understanding business skills such as marketing for interior designers and setting up your studio are also included. At the end of the BA Degree course, the KLC Careers Service also offers 121 sessions for portfolio and CV advice, internships and interviews.

Level Six - Terms Eleven and Twelve

Design Project 9 - Commercial Design
Dissertation - 5,000 Word Historical and Critical Dissertation
Report 1 - Professional Practice & Business Administration
Report 2 - Construction, Technology and Environment

The course begins with a refresher on using essential software and communication techniques in interior design.  Lectures and workshops on professional practice and construction techniques provide insight into working as a designer.  The first term also covers topics designing for business, advanced space planning, sustainability and environmental concerns for the design industry. Projects and exercises are designed to challenge students’ creative thinking and mode of communication. The first design project will also feature Revit instruction, the newest drawing package utilised within the design industry. This design software package will enable the students to model their design proposals three-dimensionally and will assist them in producing relevant working drawing packages.  By gaining competency with Revit in the first design project, students can advance their skills through practice in their final design project.

Terms Thirteen and Fourteen

Design Project 10 - Commercial design
Dissertation/Reports - (continued)

To develop students’ knowledge of the opportunities in this industry, lectures and seminars will be devoted to various professions utilising interior design skills and how to complete compelling and competitive CVs and Portfolios.  The absorbing and challenging design project in terms three, four, and five will be about social change, visualising how the design of a space can make a genuine difference.  Design challenges will increase students’ skills, during which design solutions will evolve by demonstrating high levels of design literacy and critical thinking.   Students will present work professionally through sketches, diagrams, visuals, drawings etc., using creative techniques coherent with the design proposal.

Term Fifteen

Design Project 11 - Commercial design (continued)

Alongside the continuation and completion of their final sizeable commercial project, the Careers Service offers CV and portfolio advice with access to the KLC Online Jobs Board. The course culminates in a final, celebratory online Exhibition which will be live on the KLC website for 11 months.

The commitment to a minimum of 20 hours per week of study time

The standard entry requirements for this course are as follows:

• 5 GCSEs at grade C or above
• A-Levels: UCAS tariff: CCC (96 UCAS tariff points) or equivalent
• or BTEC: National Diploma: MMM (112-96 points)

No prior art and design experience is required. 

We can also accept applications from mature students who do not hold the above qualifications but have sufficient prior learning experience. In this instance, the School will review any short courses, internships or work experience undertaken.

English language requirements

• IELTS score of 6.5