After the successful completion of your Diploma in interior design, in pursuing your career further, you may want to consider going for an HND in Interior design education by attending a distance learning class off campus.

Getting an HND in interior design education qualifies and enables you:

• To offer both residential and commercial interior design services while practicing as an interior designer or an interior architect.
• To control and design all the factors of internal spacing and layout.
• To have the ability to strip apart and then rebuild an interior.
• To offer interior design project management techniques and skills.
• To be able to learn marketing and other business skills to compliment design skills.

Attending college on campus normally takes 2 full years, but when you attend an online class in interior design study to obtain an HND, you can work at your existing employment and still graduate in as little as 2 years.

HND COURSE IN INTERIOR DESIGN

In interior design education, the HND course is divided into 2 stages. Student have up to a maximum of 3 years in total for the HND course.

In this study, you will learn about historical influences over the centuries on design developments and movements.

1. Stage 1 - The Diploma course in Interior design and decoration which forms the first part of this course study.

Interior Design Education - Get a Diploma

2. Stage 2 - The 2nd stage, the HND course (which this hub is all about). This can be completed within 12 months of consistent and dedicated study.

• History of Design and Period Décor
• Construction and Structural Renovation
• Design Communication
• Design Materials and Furnishings
• Commercial Design
• Professional Practice

All course materials and learning tools will be delivered to you, and you will be assigned a personal tutor who will interact with you online and sometimes by telephone. Materials will be delivered to you by post. Your assigned tutor works with you and reviews all your works and assignments. These are one of the benefits of a distance learning class. Every course study is the same as being on-campus, somewhere far from daily responsibilities. The difference? You choose your own time and place to study. You can even do a bit of study on the trains, on your way to work!

You will get practical and technical information, including audio-visual tools on CD's in languages and illustrations that is quite simple to understand and fast to learn.

It is inevitable that throughout the career of an interior designer, there will be times when you may have a project whereby you have to recreate period interiors to various degrees of authenticity. You will be taught about historical styles and designs and their relevance today in interior design.

You will become familiar with those who have 'moved' the design world, and you will be able to carry out research and critically analyse design styles of the past era.

 During your interior design education to attain an HND certificate, you will review the main historical events of the past. You will also discover history's influence on design developments and movements.

Topics covered in this class includes, but may not be limited to:

• Critical Analysis

You will be taught how political and social circumstances in the past have influenced styles of today's interior design.

• Early design Styles

All design styles, ranging from Egyptian to the Gothic, Victorian and Rococo styles will be covered in this class.

• Turning points in History of Design

Learning about the turning points in history such as the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, the Dark Ages and the Information Age, and how it  has an great impact and influence on the way we live.

• Global Design Styles

The development of regional variations around the world, looking at western and non-western design styles.

• Review of Design Styles throughout history

Design styles from the Baroque to the Victorian ages and onwards will be covered in this topic.

• Modernism

Learning about design styles of the 21st century, and the futuristic  designs that will be with us in no time.

This aspect of the HND interior design education explores construction in detail as it relates to an interior architect. You must be able to communicate professionally with architects and contractors after this class topic. You will at the end of this course be able to basically tear open (gut) and rebuild almost any structure to interpret your interior design ideas.

Topic covered in this class includes:

• Principles of Building Design

Learning about building construction and understanding how things are done, and why thy are done, from foundation to roof construction.

• Renovations of Interiors

You will learn how to alter or make major structural changes to an existing structure, which is referred to as renovations. You will also be taught about how to meet legal and building requirements.

• Planning Building Layouts

Working on commercial project layouts,  and how to plan the interior space and partitioning of such structures.

• Staircases and Disabled Aspects of Design

Learn how to incorporate staircases into your interior design creations, and know  how to develop access for the disabled.

• Building Services

Learn how to plan electricals, plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) including the way to do full specifications for all building services.

• Lighting and Security

Learn how to design commercial lightings systems and the required security regulations.

• Whole Building Design

In order to improve the quality of life of the intending occupants of a building, you will have to learn how to plan your building interiors so that layout, finishes and systems work together in synchronisation and effectively.

In this class of the HND interior design education -design communications, you get taught          specialist techniques on how to produce professional drawings, clear and detailed specifications, and contractual agreements. This ensures that projects are executed correctly without unnecessary and therefore costly mistakes.

Drawings and illustrations cross all language barriers and therefore can be used to illustrate design concepts and ideas at the early stages of any project. With this, and at this stage, you get the all important feedback and the necessary approvals before commencement of any construction works.

Topics to be covered include:

• Advanced Drawing Techniques

Learn how to achieve clarity, precision and accuracy in working drawings

• Detailed Drawings

Preparing detailed drawings to help in communicating construction and installation methods.

• Methods of Re-production

All the recommended ways of printing drawings, including paper types, sizes and textures.

• Design Briefs and Specifications

Learn how to create templates for specifications and how to prepare schedules of works for contractors.

• 3-Dimensional Representations

Learn how to do axonometric, isometric and perspective drawings. Step by step instructions on how to do this.

• Rendering

Techniques on how to produce visually stunning drawings or sketches with great impact, but simple efforts.

Interior architects have a wider choice when it comes to materials available for structural designs and how they can or should be used within a design concept. The design materials available range vastly and include materials such as stainless steel, granite, marble, glass blocks, mirrors and concrete.

In this class, you are taught how to examine the main materials available and know the advantages and disadvantages of their individual use, and to discover how these materials can be used creatively and effectively in design ideas and concepts.

Topics covered in this class include:

• Designing the Environment

Learn about how design choices affect our environment, and learn all about 'designing green'.

• Consumer Response

What people choose and believe in, and the psychological associations attached to individual client choices.

• Design Methods

Learn how design decisions are based on production, installations and general maintenance.

• Performance versus Cost

How well and for how long and how suitable the choice of materials are in the long term.

• Mass Production

How the scale of projects and the demand of consumers has an influence on design approaches.

• Regulation and Standards

Legal standards and ethical standards, and how they should conform with the selections of materials made.

Helping your clients to choose a design style and image that is relevant and appropriate to their corporate identity and business strategies is required in the commercial design area. You need to achieve a theme that will create an impact on clients corporate staff and customers, and helping their business profits.

The many stages in commercial design is identified in this class, and you will be able to produce effective results for your clients without compromising on your creativity.

You will learn about the latest in neuroscience and architectural fields and know how these can be incorporated to produce more beneficial designs.

Topics covered include:

• Ergonomics and Universal Designs

You learn how to create great designs for individuals and the community at large.

• Business and Design Psychology

Finding out what works and why. Learning the hard facts.

• Designing for Industries

Learn about designing for industries and identifying the common design requirements of the various sectors

• Establishing Goals

Your clients will have goals that you have to design around.

• Commercial Design Cycle

Learning how to create effective designs for  medium and large scale projects

• Teamwork

How do you work as a team member to achieve success in a design project? Learn how to identify your role and co-ordinate with fellow team members. 

• Effective Selling

Creating designs that sell you and your clients products or services.

As a professional, you have to have the ability to plan and implement your projects successfully. You will need project management skills including the ability to organise and schedule your works. The important techniques to use, clear examples and templates are taught in the context in which they'll be used.

In this course, you will discover the various ways you can utilise your talents, either as an employer or an employee. You will be able to market yourself as a professional interior designer and go out to the world, confidently pursuing your chosen career.

Topic covered in this class includes:

• Define your Role

Identify the services you wish to provide and how to implement turn-key projects.

• Project Management

Schedules, work orders and time management of projects. Learn how to use all the effective templates and techniques required for designers.

• Budgeting

Learn how to prepare a workable budget, making sure to prevent unwanted cost hikes.

• Project Monitoring

Overseeing a successful design execution, with progress reports and amendments.

• Marketing

Learn to research simple ways to help you get the clients.

• Contracts and Pricing

How to use documents and work with agreements to protect yourself and your clients

• Professional Responsibilities

Establishing code of ethics, and meeting ethical and legal obligations

• Career Paths

The various options available to you as a designer.

• Presentations

How to have a good portfolio that sells you and presents your works to a variety of audiences

• Building Contacts and Resources

Building up a good database of a core team of contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers.

The duration of the HND interior design education as a distance learning class student is 36 months. However,  the course can be completed in as little as 2 years online.

In some schools, the course may be deferred and time extensions given, but only in extreme or special cases such as illness.

Remember you can manage your time effectively, and work extra hours at it if you so wish. But if you need more time, this can be worked out amicably depending on the college you enrol with.

If you can commit as much as 10 to 12 hours every week, consistently, you can complete the program within 24 months. As a home student, you can create a schedule to fit snugly into your lifestyle.

The projects that you work on throughout your HND course provides a way to demonstrate all the skills and knowledge you have acquired throughout the course. They simulate similar design projects you will be faced with in the interior design industry.

Finding the time to attend college may be a problem for you, but a distance learning class is a good alternative, especially if you want to pursue an enjoyable career that guarantees a better future. Interior design is a highly profitable, glamorous, and certainly, a lucrative industry.

Interior design is a fun and exciting profession, so be well aware that study in the general sense doesn't apply to these assignments.

Most works are very practical and even though you'll need great commitment, there is the excitement factor which you can't afford to miss.

And to top it all, you will discover that you will have great pride and a sense of accomplishment pursuing this course.

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