Australian accredited Diploma In Interior Design
Self Paced Online Interior Design Course
You need a great portfolio, not necessarily a degree in interior design to become a professional interior designer. This is exactly what our International Certificate Course focuses on – providing you with the practical skills and technical knowledge to build a professional portfolio and launch a rewarding freelance interior design career or an exciting new hobby.
This is a course of very high standards, that is very competitively priced. The course materials are used internationally, and the delivery and format are identical to the Australian Accredited Diploma version of the course. The only difference is that the International Certificate course is less rigorous.
Tutors do not have to be Government accredited but have all been handpicked for their industry expertise and ability to impart knowledge to students.
The Interior Design Courses are delivered online and consists of 12 modules and 12 interactive assignments. You can study in your own time and at your own pace. Students studying the Australian Accredited Diploma Course are provided up to 18 months to complete their studies. Extensions are available if required.The modules are designed to be read sequentially and will help build your knowledge to enable you to design a residential space.
There are exercises at the end of each module, which will require you to participate in the design experience. It is through participation and interaction that you will learn to feel confident and find your creative voice. The exercises are designed to help you build your first professional portfolio.
Each student will be given the same residential renovation tasks that will require them to upload new floor and lighting plans, suggest furnishings, fabrics, window treatments, lighting, upholstery and accessories, explore decoration and various design styles, provide colour schemes, upload mood boards, write quotations, prepare newspaper ads, write a scope of works for your contractors, provide a preliminary costing for your clients, etc.
As these are online courses, we understand that some of our students do not have access to real life renovations or clients, so each project completed throughout our course will be hypothetical.
Experience the transformation as your thoughts and opinions evolve while gaining more knowledge and skills. Enjoy the process of gaining skills that will enable you to communicate your untapped, creative potential.
The Interior Design Institute is owned and operated by Online Education Pty Ltd, a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), enabling us to offer you the Australian Accredited Diploma Course of Interior Design (MSF50218).
Below are some of the key components of our Australian Accredited Diploma course:
Accredited with the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
ASQA accreditation requires an extensive and thorough process to verify accredited courses are compliant with current government standards.
More In-depth
The Australian Accredited Diploma modules and their corresponding assignments meet ASQA criteria, are more in-depth (80% different) and better prepare you for entering the workforce at the end of the course.
Approved Assessors
All of the Australian Accredited Diploma tutors are ASQA approved assessors.
Units are integrated through a 12 module course
The authors have covered the knowledge and performance evidence for all of the units required to be covered by ASQA. These units have been integrated into our 12 module course in a unique and interactive way that allows the student a cohesive and enjoyable journey.
Flexible Payment Options Available
Visual Language of Design
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID5022 – Explore and Apply Creative Design Methodology to Interior Space
BSBDES303 – Explore and Apply the Creative Design Process to 3D Forms
Summary
The first module is an introduction to the creative and exciting world of interior design.
You will:
• Be introduced to the elements and principles of design that are used to create harmonious and balanced interiors.
• Learn how to observe, evaluate and form opinions of different design styles by analysing interior spaces.
• Develop your ‘designer’s eye’ and understand how to apply the knowledge and create inspirational designs for home and work environments.
• Work through ‘The Design Process’, learning how to design a space expressed in a client brief.
Module Content:
History of Style, Decoration and Architecture
Unit/s covered in this module:
CUADES305 – Source and Apply Information on the History and Theory of Design
MSFFDT4012 – Research Furniture Styles and Movements
Summary
This comprehensive module takes you on a fascinating journey, beginning with the origins of decorative finishes seen in cave paintings and ancient dwellings and leads you through the history of design and architecture to the present day.
Full of visual images and information, Module 2 will convey the meanings and messages behind the styles and decorative images you encounter.
You will:
• Learn to recognise architectural and decorative details influenced by ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian architecture, Neo-Classicism and more recent design styles.
• Incorporate these ideas into your designs, adding originality and creativity to your work.
• Gain an appreciation of art and design history and how it will continue to be an influence both in the present and the future.
• Look at the different style of furniture throughout the eras.
• Learn how to create ‘Research Information Folders’, to store the myriad of product available.
Module Content:
Design Styles
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID4019 – Research Interior Decoration and Design Influences
BSBDES401 – Generate Design Solutions
BSBDES302 – Explore and Apply the Creative Design Process to 2D Forms
Summary
In this module, you will learn how to make strategic and conceptual decisions for your design projects based on the desired function, style and mood of the space.
You will:
• Explore some of the most common interior decorating styles, including traditional, country, eclectic and contemporary.
• Develop your knowledge of different structures, common problems and their solutions so that you can communicate clearly with clients, suppliers and tradespeople.
• Evaluate a site and assess existing structures in order to create a master plan and implement your ideas.
• Build your confidence by establishing a framework for completing a project in a professional manner that will ensure a consistent and high-quality result.
• Explore the 2D elements and principles of ‘Visual Art of Communication’. Learn both listening and communication skills to articulate how you will meet the client’s brief.
• Learn how to visually present ideas to your client by creating mood boards.
Module Content:
Space Planning
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID4012 – Decorate Residential Interiors
BSBDES502 – Establish, Negotiate and Refine a Design Brief
MSFID5020 – Design Residential Interiors
Summary
Now you will discover how to apply the design elements to your spatial planning and design concepts, considering different furniture layouts to suit the intended function of the space.
You will:
• Learn how to draw a floor plan, rearrange an existing space and plan a new layout for a renovation project.
• Study the different architectural elements that will be included in your floor plan, such as doors, windows, fireplaces and lighting fixtures.
• Become familiar with the functionality of different rooms and understand the role that furniture plays in the design process.
• Extend this project in subsequent assignments and develop a lighting plan, colour scheme and finishes.
• Build your first professional portfolio as you complete these exercises.
• Learn SketchUp for Interior Designers. SketchUp is a modelling program that can be used to create 2D floor plans and 3D models. This SketchUp course is suitable for beginners and includes over 30 video tutorials + downloadable reading material.
Module Content:
Lighting
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID4013 – Design Residential Interior Lighting
Summary
This module will enable you to discover the sources and properties of light, types of lighting and how the orientation of a space affects natural lighting.
You will:
• Learn how light affects the selection of colours on different surfaces, finishes and fabrics.
• Understand how to communicate your ideas clearly to electricians, builders and suppliers by specifying the correct products suitable for the intended purpose.
• Turn your creative vision into reality by using natural and artificial lighting to create a stunning effect in your interior design projects.
• Incorporate these ideas into your plan as you continue with the renovation project that started in Module 4.
• Understand energy efficiency and electricity supply to a home.
Module Content:
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID4016 – Design Colour Schemes for Interior and Exterior Spaces
MSFID5027 – Research and Recommend Colour Applications and Finishes
Summary
This module will introduce you to the power and psychology of colour and how it can be used as a pivotal design tool in your projects.
You will:
• Learn about the properties of colour and understand how it can change the mood of a space, alter perceptions and create the intended style. Discover the effect of natural and artificial light on colour and surface textures.
• Use the colour wheel as inspiration and guidance to develop harmonious schemes and gain the confidence to use it effectively. Discover that there are no bad colours, only bad combinations.
• Experience the power of using colour in all aspects of your design projects to trigger different responses, such as vibrant and uplifting or muted and restful.
• Familiarise yourself with paint systems, products and specifications.
• Put together multiple colour schemes to accompany the renovation project from Module 4.
• Find out how to work with wallpaper, specialty paint finishes and trend forecasting.
Module Content:
Interior Finishes
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID4018 – Research and Recommend Hard Materials and Finishes for Interiors
Summary
You will learn how to apply the concepts of three-dimensional design to the reality of a finished space.
You will:
• Discover the importance of ensuring quality finishes on the floor, walls and ceiling to create a striking and functional backdrop for furnishings and window treatments.
• Gain the product knowledge required to select and specify cost-effective finishes suitable for the intended end use to create a professional and enduring interior space.
• Find out how to plan and project manage the sequence of floor, wall and ceiling finishes required at different stages of a project.
• Create finish schedules for each room from the renovation project that began in Module 4.
• Discover new emerging hard material and finishes.
Module Content:
Decorative Textiles and Fabrics
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID4021 – Design Soft Furnishing Solutions for Interior Spaces
Summary
This informative module introduces you to the history, beauty and luxury of decorative textiles and fabrics.
You will:
• Be shown how to appreciate the importance of including items with luxurious and aesthetic appeal as essential components in your design, regardless of the available budget.
• Discover the endless possibilities for using fabrics with style and flair to create eye-catching interior spaces. Gain the confidence needed to apply the elements of design and transform spaces by using textiles, fabrics and other decorative accessories.
• Learn about the technical properties of fabrics and their suitability for different end uses. Understand the functional and aesthetic properties required for bed linen, rugs and decorative textiles.
• Explore fabrics and how to select and apply them to different design styles.
• Create fabric selections for each room from the renovation project that began in Module 4.
Module Content:
Furniture, Art and Accessories
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID5028 – Research and Recommend Artwork
MSFID4015 – Prepare Materials and Finishes Boards for Client Presentation
MSFID4017 – Research and Recommend Furniture and Accessories
Summary
The pinnacle of great design is working with beautiful objects, furniture and art. With reference to Module 2 and the history of interior design, you will learn how furniture styles have been developed over the years for specific uses and applications.
You will:
• Apply your knowledge of design elements to the reality of placing beautiful objects into perfectly planned and well thought out spaces.
• Experience the sense of achievement when your space planning and elevations come to life.
• Showcase your creative potential with coordinated, harmonious interiors.
• Learn about Indigenous art and the legal obligations surrounding it.
• You will be instructed on how to correctly frame, position and mount artwork.
Module Content:
Working With Clients
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID5021 – Evaluate Site Structure and Services for Interior Spaces
MSFID4022 – Prepare Quotation and Contract Documentation for Design Projects
MSFID5025 – Develop Residential Interior Design Project Documentation
MSFID5018 – Provide Interior Styling Service
Summary
This module teaches you the work practices of professional designers. You will be shown the vital procedures and thought processes that bring a design to completion in the real world.
You will:
• Learn how to support your creative knowledge with the practical application that ensures success from the start of a project through to completion.
• Ensure that your proposals and management skills will bring work in on schedule and budget for any design project, whether for yourself or for a client.
• Gain the confidence needed to work professionally in the design industry.
• Learn how to conduct a site evaluation.
Module Content:
Visual Communication
Unit/s covered in this module:
MSFID4014 – Produce Digital Models and Documentation for Interior Design Projects
CUAANM303 – Create 3D Digital Models
CUADIG304 – Create Visual Design Components
Summary
In this module, you will be taught how to document your ideas and designs for clients, contractors and your own reference.
You will:
• Learn how to easily create a three-dimensional drawing from floor plans to help visualize the space and make more informed design choices.
• Find out how these drawings can help you win business and then manage the design process.
• Support your documentation with a clear set of drawings to ensure your ideas are interpreted correctly.
• Experience the pleasure of seeing your design concepts spring to life as projects are completed.
• Be shown how to create a materials board.
Module Content:
Setting Up an Interior Design Business
Unit/s covered in this module:
BSBDES403 – Develop and Extend Design Skills and Practice
CUAPPR503 – Present a Body of Own Creative Work
Summary
If you are considering making design your career, this may be the decisive chapter that is the stepping stone to your future success.
You will:
• See yourself in the context of the design industry.
• Take professional advice from outstanding business consultants who work with creative, respected and successful interior designers.
• Benefit from this valuable information regarding business development, business practice and market positioning.
• Learn how to put together a professional portfolio and receive an insight on setting up your own website and social media networks.
• Put what you have learnt throughout the course into practice by designing an office space for your new business.
Module Content:
For each enrollment to our partner course $5.00 goes to UNICEF to help children in Syria crisis. This money will help to provide a safe education to the children in war torn Syria. UNICEF’s aim this year is to assist in providing a formal and safe education for 1.2 million children in Syria. This includes the provision of facilities, school furniture, qualified teachers, rehabilitation, safe learning environments and learning materials. We are very privileged to be working with UNICEF towards this goal.
Course Fees
Flexible Payment Options
The Interior Design Institute offers you the most advanced and comprehensive online solution to learning available today. We offer the most thorough home study courses in Interior Design using the very latest online learning techniques. Our commitment to providing the highest quality training program has resulted in unique teaching and student support systems, which produce unparalleled results.
CONTRIBUTORS
Vicki is excited to share her wealth of knowledge gained from her diverse background in graphic design and interior design with the students of The Interior Design Institute.
Wendi had a 25 year career in theatre working in costume and set design, which took her around the world where she educated herself in architecture and interior design. During this time, she qualified with a real estate license and worked on many interior design projects for theatrical personalities.
Jasmine is the brains behind the design of our course materials and social media platforms and has worked together with Vicki and Wendi to deliver the course modules to our students.
Under her company name, form and colour, Wende Reid practices architectural, interior and furniture design and fine art consulting. She began her career in New York and now practices in Sydney.
OUR TUTORS
Our handpicked tutors are not only great teachers, but experts in their fields.
Savitri’s passion for teaching grew from more than 10 years of experience, where she has successfully developed an extensive expertise in teaching Interior Design.
Linda has over 20 years experience in teaching interior design at TAFE, as coordinator of the interior design department and in curriculum design and development.
Vicki is excited to share her wealth of knowledge gained from her diverse background in graphic design and interior design with the students of The Interior Design Institute.
Robert Parisi began to develop his interest and passion for architecture and interior design as a young child.
Accreditation
We are accredited and recognised by
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The courses are designed to be self-paced. For the Certificate Course, you would expect to be dedicating on average about 6-8 hours per week for 24 weeks. For the Diploma Course, you would expect to dedicate, as per AQF standards, approximately 18 hours per week of structured training over an 18 month period. Students studying the Certificate Course are provided up to 12 months to complete their studies. Students studying the Diploma Course are provided up to 18 months to complete their studies.
The courses are completed online. This means there are no classes to attend. You can study in your own time and at your own pace.
Our course is compatible with both PC and Mac devices, and basic computer knowledge is required. You will need:
– Microsoft Office with Excel, PowerPoint and Word (or similar software)
– Internet access
– Printer
– Scanner or digital camera
Our courses are compatible with both PC and MAC computers, tablet and smartphone devices.
Your tutor’s role is to assess your assignments and provide you with personalised feedback. They are also available to answer any questions you may have about your course. You can communicate with your personal tutor at any time through your secure student site, which you will be given access to once you enrol.
No. The courses are designed to allow for students who have had little or no experience in interior design.
As the courses are provided online, you have the flexibility to start when and where suits you. If you enrolled today, for example, you could start straight away.
All the learning is done online in that when you enrol, you receive a username and password, which enables you to log onto our secure student site. From there, you can download your first module, which you could liken to your textbook as it contains all the information you will need to complete assignment one. Each module is approximately 90 pages in length and is full of detailed, technical information delivered in a friendly, conversational manner that is easy to understand. The concepts are further explained by way of diagrams, images and examples. Once you have completed your assignment (some are just theoretical, but the majority of assignments combine both theory and fun practical tasks), you then upload it onto our site for your tutor to mark. The tutors will give you a grade (out of 10) and a comprehensive evaluation of your work and ideas. Their feedback will help nurture and improve your skills each step of the way.-