DE5014 - Critical Issues in Interior Design

‘Critical Issues in Interior Design’ is taught through weekly lectures supported by seminars and other interactive activities. Your participation in seminars will help you to develop and communicate your ideas. Each session will involve presentations by the tutor to establish key terms of reference, followed by group discussion of the issues raised. Hands-on workshops and blended learning activities will help you to develop study skills relevant to interior design practice, including archival research, fieldwork, online research, visual analysis and presentation skills. Off-campus learning will be delivered through field trips to historic buildings and townscapes. Directed learning and reading will encourage independent research, visual analysis of designed interiors and critical reflection on design theory and practice. You will be supported in the skills of academic essay writing though the use of formative and summative learning and through the use of Turnitin.

Academic support will be provided through seminars, individual tutorials and use of the eLearning Portal;

• Seminars and tutorials will give you the opportunity to develop and discuss assessment criteria, both at the planning stage and as you engage with tasks. Tutorials will offer you support with any specific issues or concerns.
• Sample student work will be provided via the eLearning Portal to guide you in your preparation.
• Study skills sessions will ensure good practice for everyone following the module.
• Formative feedback will be ongoing in group learning sessions.
• Written feedback will be provided upon assignment submission.

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:
• 1 - Demonstrate a critical awareness of historical, cultural and contemporary issues through the investigation of interior design in relation to current debates.
• 1 - Demonstrate your ability to critically analyse and reflect in the evaluation of research evidence or material through seminar discussion and essay writing.
• 2 - Recognise the importance of ethical and responsible design practice through critical analysis of interior design practice.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
? 1 - Demonstrate critical analysis in the selection and evaluation of research evidence or source material in order to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of interior design in relation to current debates.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• 3 - Demonstrate your ability to form independent judgement or articulate reasoned arguments through the written essay.

Semester One
Summative Assessment #1 (submitted during assessment period following semester 1): an essay (1500 words), worth 50% of the mark for the module.

The first assignment requires you to produce an essay that relates the interior design example of your choice to one of the critical issues covered by the module. The essay must be referenced correctly and submitted to Turnitin. This assessment develops written and IT skills.

Semester Two
Summative Assessment #2 (submitted during assessment period following semester 2): an essay (1500 words), worth 50% of the mark for the module.

This second assignment requires you to analyse your own design practice in comparison to other examples of design and wider debates affecting interior design. The essay will assist you in articulating the ideas and concerns which may lead to a better understanding of where your practice is situated and to use this knowledge to constructively inform your creative and intellectual progression.

Level 4 or Equivalent

N/A

‘Critical Issues in Interior Design’ builds on the stylistic and contextual understanding of historical and contemporary interior design that you gained in year one by immersing you in the most current debates and critical issues around interior design practice. You will explore topics such as the relationship of interior design to the complex ecological, ethical, social and technological issues of modern society through the close critical visual analysis of examples of design practice. The critical investigation of these topics will relate directly to studio project briefs from your other Level 5 modules. By familiarising yourself with these debates in relationship to interior design practice, you will develop the critical thinking and the cultural and ethical awareness vital for academic success and a successful career in interior design.