Student Spotlight Penelope Ware
Our Diploma in Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making is the ideal course if you want to design your own projects, help your friends and family
Enrol at any time & choose your start date. No term times or semesters.
Three years
flexible online study
No exams — Tutor assessment
of design projects & moderation
by De Montfort University
Low fees, and monthly payments for all self paying students (student loans available for UK students)
This course is the perfect progression for students who have already successfully completed the Diploma in Professional Interior Design with the National Design Academy or a UK or international equivalent qualification in a relevant design subject. This is also ideal for those with a portfolio of interior design industry experience wishing to specialise in the heritage sector. Direct entry students, transferring students from other institutions, and international students are all welcome. There are no term times – so you can apply and start at any time.
Successful students completing this BA (Hons) will be offered a guaranteed place on the NDA online M.A Interior Design with a generous progression scholarship.
It will allow students to build on their existing knowledge of interior design whilst specialising in the design of heritage and period properties. These skills are rare and much in demand within the global design industry and NDA offers the only degree course available covering this specialist area.
Study flexibly online through our bespoke virtual learning studio (VLS)
The VLS is our exclusive, online resource which replaces the normal lectures given in Colleges and Universities. This provides links to other online resources and may contain videos, images, quizzes and lectures.
Students can rewind and re-watch until they are sure they have understood. No frantic note taking and no missing an important lecture! Study when and where it suits you!
The majority of NDA students will complete their BA (Hons) Degree online in approximately 3 years, others may take a little longer and a few may need the maximum study time of 8 years.
Personal Tutors
Every NDA student has a Personal Tutor to guide them through their qualification. You have unlimited access to your tutor and can contact them by email, telephone, Skype or in-person as often as you wish.
Student Support Team
We also have a dedicated Student Support and Administration Team to help deal with any other queries such as payments, student loans advice and anything else you may need a helping hand with.
Our Student Helpline is available Monday–Friday from 9am–5pm.
You will not have to take an exam! Your tutor will assess your design projects as you submit them throughout the course and your portfolio is moderated by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) who will award your degree.
The BA (Hons) Heritage Interior Design degree is awarded by our academic partner, De Montfort University Leicester (DMU).
You will study eleven modules for the BA (Hons) Heritage Interior Design
Interior design is a vibrant and exciting industry, and within this module you will be introduced to world leaders in both residential and commercial design. Research underpins all good design projects therefore this module will introduce you to the skills and methods needed to undertake this research. You will gain a comprehensive knowledge of interior design and its history through the ages; knowledge which you will be able to apply to future modules.
However beautiful a space, if it is not functional it will not work for the user. Form and function is essential for good design. In this module you will learn how to design a space to meet the requirements of its function. You will learn how to plan and design an efficient, comfortable and safe space within a number of different briefs for both residential and commercial interiors. You will also start to learn the importance of development work at the initial stages of a project and how a concept will aid the design process.
To understand the present, you need to understanding the past, and in this module you will be encouraged to activity research heritage buildings within your local area, utilising some of the skills developed in the research module. This module examines the factors which have played a part in the development of interior design since the Renaissance and gives you the opportunity to recreate some of the most fascinating design styles throughout history.
When working with heritage properties it is important not only to be sympathetic but authentic; in this module you will explore the specialist techniques and finishes used when restoring or recreating historic interiors, and learn how these can be applied. You will also learn about the modern techniques used to recreate historic interiors, when the original materials are unavailable or unsafe.
There are a range of constraints, procedures and processes involved in the restoration of heritage interiors, however after completing this module you will have a better understanding of these and be able to apply this knowledge to your own design work. You will be introduced to the criteria used to assess a listed building, and organisations who are ultimately responsible for the welfare of heritage buildings.
Walls, floors and window treatments are integral to any interior scheme, and in this module you will discover how these three elements can help you to create a scheme specifically for a heritage interior. Throughout this module you will be introduced to techniques used in different periods, however the module will culminate in the creation of a Georgian interior scheme, giving you a range of visuals to add to your portfolio.
In this module you will be given the tools you need to create your own design practice and a marketing plan specifically tailored to you and your chosen career path. You will also explore the importance of branding to a business, and be given the opportunity to develop your own brand, which can form part of your portfolio and used to develop your future career prospects. You will also have the skills required to work within an existing practice at a professional level.
This project will draw on all the skills you will have developed in the specialist modules. You will work with a brief from concept, to development, through to completion, producing a great range of work to include within your portfolio. For this module you will also complete 40 hours of work experience which will give you a unique insight into the industry.
Using what you have learnt so far, in this module you will be tasked with finding a heritage building in your local area and producing a concept that converts this into a usable and authentic space which is reflective of the property’s history. You will explore the importance of protecting and enhancing a buildings history whilst developing a space which is style and appropriate for contemporary living.
It is at this stage of the course that you will truly get to choose the direction of the work you produce, starting with the research of a topic close to your heart. If there is an area of design that you are passionate about, then this is an exciting opportunity to incorporate this into your degree. Within this module you will write a dissertation, with the support and guidance of your tutor, who by now will have a great understanding of you and how you study. This dissertation will then feed into your final module; the independent study.
Building on the topic you have developed in the Research Study module, with the support of your tutor, you will be given double the amount of time of the previous modules, to focus on your chosen design based project. This will be the culmination of three years of hard work and will bring together all the skills you have learnt along the way. This module will provide you with visuals, presentation boards, development sketches and technical drawings to add to your portfolio.
A sample of work completed by our talented interior design students
Qualifications
Applicants should hold one of the following:
English Language
The course is taught in English, so international students will require a good standard of written English to study. IELTS average 6.5 or TOEFL score of 550 is usually required, however all students are considered on an individual basis as we are aware that many international students have already been taught in English at school, college or university.
Don’t Meet the Requirements?
No problem! If you do not have the required qualifications to study a degree you can study an NDA Diploma either online or in-studio, for a guaranteed place on one of our online Bachelor’s Degrees afterwards. Please view our Diploma course guide for more information about NDA Diploma courses.
Progression
Take your career to the next level!
Career
The interior design industry is growing year on year and the demand for specialist heritage interior designers is on the rise globally. Have a look through our Student Spotlights to see what they have achieved.
Our Diploma in Professional Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making is the ideal course if you want to design your own projects, help your friends and family
At the National Design Academy, many of our graduates decide that they want to go it alone and start their own practice. Because of this,
I understand that good designs shape people’s lives, influences their behavior and must always have a purpose. Because of this, everything that I do has the
* Fee per level/year subject to change after 1st August each year.
* Monthly payments include admin fee.
Hear what past and present students have to say about studying at the NDA
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