DE4001 - Introduction to Interior and Spatial Design

‘Introduction to Interior and Spatial Design’ is a project-based experiential learning module. You will learn in design studios, CAD labs and, where appropriate, workshops and virtual spaces in order to create a professional design-studio approach. The aim is to encourage the interaction of the student body, through peer learning, which is regarded as a critically important factor in the learning process and will be facilitated through staff-led group tutorials, one-to-one sessions and reviews. We refer to this subject delivery approach as follows;

Northumbria X-Studio (Extended Studio):
The School of Design operates an extended studio approach (X-Studio) that embraces our physical studios and making workshops as well as our virtual spaces to create a flexible and rich environment that is responsive to our learners’ needs.
This dedicated approach has been developed over many years of continuous teaching innovation, research and industry collaboration. It has created a supportive extended studio culture that encourages our students to learn flexibly, dynamically blending their learning and University experience between physical and digital interactions both in real-time and online at their own pace.
We believe that this extended studio culture not only helps our students to become more confident autonomous learners but also prepares them for a dynamic design industry in which an extended studio philosophy is current practice.

Project brief/s will be introduced through a briefing session/s where the brief will be fully explained and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. The module is delivered via a combination of studio teaching, weekly seminars, tutor guided independent learning and student independent learning. Informal studio-based feedback will support your progress through the module. Where appropriate, external site visits will support design briefs and your understanding of the interior design process and site enquiry. This approach will allow you to develop an understanding at both a theoretical and practical level prior to summative assessment.

You will take part in a final review presentation of your design project work where you will receive final feedback from staff, which you will be required to document and process to advance future design projects and define your own learning. Summative assessment is through the submission of a design portfolio, which will enable you to learn through an enquiry-based/problem-solving learning methodologies approach and reflect the accumulation and integration of knowledge accrued over the module.

Support and feedback will be provided by a variety of methods throughout design projects, starting at the briefing and concluding upon submission of each design project. Support includes;

Staff Contact
• Module tutors who provide academic support based upon industrial experience.
• Individual staff-student tutorials inform design project direction.
• Group tutorials enable staff to interact with students and encourage peer learning and support.
• Project briefs are normally introduced via a briefing session, where the brief is fully explained and explored by both staff and students.
• The eLearning Portal will be utilised to communicate all relevant module information.

Studio Contact Time
• Modules are delivered through a combination of lecture supported group tutorials and studio activity, practical demonstrations, studio teaching, guided and independent learning new skills are delivered through workshop activities.
• Studio feedback takes place to facilitate students’ development in the areas being studied, to allow formative feedback and the identification of examples of good practice and development areas to be considered.
• Independent study hours will be utilised to continue the development and progression of studio activity.

Peer and Independent Support
• Students are encouraged and expected to maintain a personal development plan (PDP) and are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning.
• Studio based activity also supports the development of appreciation and evaluation of peers work.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:
• (R+D) 2 - Demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of Interior Design research methodologies through research and experimental design development work.

• (COMM) 3 – Evidence your elementary knowledge of representational techniques through interior design communication.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• (FLEXI) 2 - Apply analysis in the translation of ideas into practical solutions.

• (DESIGN) 2 - Analyse the design process; recognize design issues or problems and identify solutions through commercial interior design proposals.


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• (PERSONAL) 3 - Form independent judgement from the views of others and begin to articulate reasoned arguments in response to their feedback.

A series of design projects will be carried out sequentially and grades given at the submission of each project. At the end of the module grades will be collated to provide a final mark for the module, which is 100% design project portfolio, incorporating 2D and 3D design work.

The assessment and feedback strategy is;

a. Formative Assessment
Project tutorials and staged reviews with tutors and peers will provide an opportunity for critique and formative direction. This will allow students to reflect upon their own work and act upon feedback prior to final submission. Verbal feedback is designed to help students to identify areas of success and/or further development to be considered.

b. Summative assessment
The project brief/s driving the module will identify the assessment criteria and submission requirements (deliverables) appropriate to the topic of the project. The assessable elements will consist of a project portfolio, which will enable students to demonstrate the process and technical skills developed throughout the module. In addition studio contact, observations and presentations will ensure tutors are able to assess the learners’ overall performance holistically against the learning outcomes for the module. A single grade will then be aligned to the submission based upon multiple deliverables.

c. Feedback strategy
Feedback will be delivered verbally at the point of each tutorial, where discussion will clarify future direction. Upon receiving summative assessment students will receive a grade reflecting achievement against the learning outcomes of the module. Students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning by recording verbal feedback in order to reflect upon it as they engage in subsequent learning.

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‘Introduction to Interior and Spatial Design’ introduces you to the fundamentals of the interior design process, from design brief through to final interior design realisation. You will be encouraged to push boundaries and take risks in your creative approach and offer solutions to increasingly challenging interior design briefs. Design projects will be set in the context of existing or new build architecture and will ask you to engage with the exciting spatial challenges that interior design poses. You will also be introduced to a diverse range of topics relevant to the interior designer.

Learning will be based in our industry standard design studios, cad lab, photography studio, workshops and virtual studios to give you the practical and observational skills and subject knowledge required for placement or employability in industry.