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In-Studio Diploma
Professional
Interior Design (UK)

As a not-for-profit foundation, we are so confident in the price of our Diploma’s that if you can find the same level of education for less, we will match it!

Course Summary

As an alternative to flexible online study our live ‘In-Studio’ Course Diploma in Professional Interior Design allows you to join other like-minded design enthusiasts for a more hands-on and collaborative approach to learning. Working with a client brief, you will work on an array of skills to take you from concept stage, through to design development and final proposal stage for a residential project.

What Will You Learn?

You will learn the skills to be able to tackle your own projects more professionally, start your own business or enter the interior design industry with the practical knowledge required to work with potential clients. You can also progress to the next level with a guaranteed place on one of our online BA (Hons). You’ll also learn how to establish industry contacts, where to source materials, samples, furniture, lighting and start to build a design community with your peers.

Whilst receiving hands-on advice directly from our highly experienced NDA Tutors, the In-studio course brings together a fantastic mix of students, helping to create an exciting, friendly and dynamic class and the chance to share ideas with fellow up and coming designers.

Course Duration

The Diploma course consists of a first week (5 days) in-studio followed by 5 weeks home study, then a second week (5 days) in-studio with up to an additional 5 weeks to complete any project work for submission.

We are passionate about delivering high-quality courses to our students, and we believe that students learn faster in smaller groups, which is why we cap the number of students who can attend each course.

Available Course Dates

2 weeks In-Studio + Up to 10 weeks home study – 12 weeks total

*NEW* 2025 Dates

January to March Course

Week 1: 20th – 24th January
Week 2: 3rd - 7th March

March to April Course

Week 1: 17th – 21st March
Week 2: 28th April - 2nd May

May to June Course

Week 1: 12th – 16th May
Week 2: 16th - 20th June

June to July Course

Week 1: 2nd – 6th June
Week 2: 14th - 18th July

September to October Course

Week 1: 8th – 12th September
Week 2: 20th - 24th October

October to November Course

Week 1: 6th - 10th October
Week 2: 24th - 28th November

What Will I Study?

You will study eight dedicated units during this Professional Diploma

Interior Design & the Role of the Designer

This unit introduces you to the fundamental elements and principles that are common within a successful design scheme and how they are adopted by Professional Interior Designers today. You’ll learn how and why interior design has changed over time and to identify key interior design trends. What you learn in this unit will provide an essential foundation to underpin your future designs. This unit also includes:-

The 7 design elements of good design
Interior Design history and contemporary practice
The role of an Interior Designer and different project types
Professional presentation boards
How to write a short design report

Using Colour in Interior Design

This unit will spark your creativity by giving you the opportunity to play with colour. You’ll explore practical colour theory to enable you to design both historical and contemporary colour schemes. This unit also includes:-

Basic colour principles and terminology
The impact of colour in a design scheme
The psychological importance of colour in an interior space
Historical and contemporary colour trends
Creating a successful interior design colour scheme

Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design

This unit covers the wide and exciting range of surface finishes now available to create fabulous interiors. You’ll explore the versatility and impact of materials for walls, floors and soft furnishings and how to use them to create an effective design scheme. This unit also includes:-

The characteristics and suitability of different materials
Sourcing and using materials to develop a design scheme
Practical skills to represent colour, pattern and texture
How to visually present your design ideas

Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context

This unit shows you how to plan the space for a room design. From initial sketches to final layouts, you will visualise and present design solutions to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

Understanding the space and the client brief
Traffic flow and zoning of space
Developing floor plans by hand
Creating elevations by hand
Practical sketching and hand drawing techniques

Furniture & Accessories in Interior Design

This unit focusses on the limitless range of furniture and accessories available to the Interior Designer. You’ll learn to recognise key styles in furniture and accessory design and how to select and source appropriate furniture and accessories to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

Understanding of different furniture and accessory styles, historical and contemporary
Influential practitioners and design movements
The characteristics and suitability of furniture and accessories
Choosing and sourcing items
Producing furniture layouts

Creative Lighting in Interior Design

This unit explores the potential of creative lighting in interiors and develops your knowledge of lighting design, including traditional and contemporary products. You’ll learn how to choose lighting for your schemes and how to deal with suppliers. This unit also includes:-

Understanding different lighting products and lamps
Task, ambient and decorative lighting
Lighting levels for room design
Cool and warm lighting
Creating a lighting scheme for a furniture layout
Applying symbols appropriate to industry lighting plans
Developing a lighting plan to meet a client brief

Professional Practice in Interior Design

This unit explores the diverse possibilities for a career in the Interior design industry and helps prepare you to work successfully in the professional environment, whether this be in an established practice or setting up an interior design business. With a focus on your personal and professional development, you will consider the steps you should take to achieve your own progression ambitions. This unit also includes:-

Being employed, self-employed and setting up an interior design service
Portfolio development
Working with others in a professional environment
Effective marketing and promotion
How to charge for your design service
Studying for a degree

Professional Interior Design Project

For this final unit of the course, you bring together all your newly learned skill by producing conceptual designs to create a wonderful interior design scheme for a new client. When complete, your work will form an asset to your developing portfolio to show future clients. This unit also includes:-

Developing a design concept
Creating a colour scheme
Selecting surface finishes
Space planning, including furniture and accessory arrangements
Creating a lighting plan
Professional presentation techniques

Unit 1

Interior Design & the Role of the Designer

The 7 design elements of good design
Interior Design history and contemporary practice
The role of an Interior Designer and different project types
Professional presentation boards
How to write a short design report

Unit 2

Using Colour in Interior Design

Basic colour principles and terminology
The impact of colour in a design scheme
The psychological importance of colour in an interior space
Historical and contemporary colour trends
Creating a successful interior design colour scheme

Unit 3

Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design

The characteristics and suitability of different materials
Sourcing and using materials to develop a design scheme
Practical skills to represent colour, pattern and texture
How to visually present your design ideas

Unit 4

Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context

This unit shows you how to plan the space for a room design. From initial sketches to final layouts, you will visualise and present design solutions to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:-

Understanding the space and the client brief
Traffic flow and zoning of space
Developing floor plans by hand
Creating elevations by hand
Practical sketching and hand drawing techniques

Unit 5

Furniture & Accessories in Interior Design

Understanding of different furniture and accessory styles, historical and contemporary
Influential practitioners and design movements
The characteristics and suitability of furniture and accessories
Choosing and sourcing items
Producing furniture layouts

Unit 6

Creative Lighting in Interior Design

Understanding different lighting products and lamps
Task, ambient and decorative lighting
Lighting levels for room design
Cool and warm lighting
Creating a lighting scheme for a furniture layout
Applying symbols appropriate to industry lighting plans
Developing a lighting plan to meet a client brief

Unit 7

Professional Practice in Interior Design

Being employed, self-employed and setting up an interior design service
Portfolio development
Working with others in a professional environment
Effective marketing and promotion
How to charge for your design service
Studying for a degree

Unit 8

Professional Interior Design Project

Developing a design concept
Creating a colour scheme
Selecting surface finishes
Space planning, including furniture and accessory arrangements
Creating a lighting plan
Professional presentation techniques

In-Studio Gallery

Images of our talented Diploma students hard at work in our In-Studio sessions

Fees & Funding...

UK residents pay approximately 50% course fees and funding from the UK government will pay the rest.

No up front fees to pay! If you are aged 19+ and have lived in England for 3+ years you are eligible.

Accreditation

All NDA Professional Diplomas are accredited by AIM Qualifications. NDA is the only design school to be able to offer funding & student loans because our Diplomas are fully accredited.

What Will I Need To Study?

In-Studio Study – All required design equipment and resources will be provided during your time In-Studio, however you will need access to a laptop computer to view course material and the online learning resources.

Home Study – Alongside a computer and an internet connection, there is also essential and recommended design equipment required to complete your NDA Course, all available through the NDA Art Shop at student prices! Throughout home study, you have full online access to our resources and your Personal Tutor.

What's Next?

Higher Education

Successful completion of your NDA Diploma provides a guaranteed place on one of our online BA (Hons) degrees with a generous Progression Scholarship. Degrees are validated by De Montfort University (DMU).

For those who wish to continue their study at an on campus university, all NDA Professional Diplomas carry a UCAS tariff point value. You can top up any existing UCAS points you may have with points from an NDA Diploma.

Diploma in Professional Interior Design = 24 UCAS tariff points.

Careers

The NDA Diploma in Professional Interior Design is designed to help you start your own Interior Design business. Like the Diploma course itself, you can work flexibly for your clients around your family commitments and gradually expand your business.

Many of our Diploma students start their own business and study for their degree flexibly alongside their client projects.

Student Success Stories...

Student Spotlight: Kim Bunce, Professional Interior Design

Pursuing her Passion Meet Interior Designer Kim Bunce. Based in Buckinghamshire, Kim is passionate about bringing spaces together that transform a house into a home. She

Student Spotlight: Laura Ruddy, Professional Interior Design

A Creative With Many Hats Say hello to Interior Designer Laura Ruddy. A creative with many hats, Laura pursued her passion for interior design when she

Student Spotlight: Ashley Dawkins, Professional Interior Design

Career Crossroads Say hello to Professional Interior Designer and Decorator Ashley Luke Dawkins. Ashley decided to study at the National Design Academy in the Professional Interior

Ready to pursue your passion for Interior Design?

What Our Students Say...

Hear what past and present students have to say about studying In-Studio at the NDA

I have massively enjoyed the week. Such a great way to learn both in respect of the different tutors and also meeting such a lovely variety of people. The help in drawing techniques has been superb. Looking forward to week 2!

The studio course gave me an opportunity to meet my fellow peers, and the tutors. Working as a home student would have suited my work commitments, but attending the studio helped me feel more connected to the school...

Studying In-Studio with the NDA has really opened my eyes to the exciting world of interior design. The course content is structured and in-depth with hands-on practical experience applied on a continuous basis.

Need Help?

From course information to application support, our support team are always here to help.

National Design Academy

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The National Design Academy is part of the NDA Foundation.

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In-Studio DiplomaProfessionalInterior Design (UK)

In-Studio DiplomaProfessionalInterior Design (UK)

Entry Requirements

Course Duration

Course Summary

What Will You Learn?

Course Duration

Available Course Dates

What Will I Study?

Interior Design & the Role of the Designer

Using Colour in Interior Design

Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design

Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context

Furniture & Accessories in Interior Design

Creative Lighting in Interior Design

Professional Practice in Interior Design

Professional Interior Design Project

Interior Design & the Role of the Designer

Using Colour in Interior Design

Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design

Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context

Furniture & Accessories in Interior Design

Creative Lighting in Interior Design

Professional Practice in Interior Design

Professional Interior Design Project

In-Studio Gallery

Fees & Funding...

Accreditation

What Will I Need To Study?

What's Next?

Higher Education

Careers

Student Success Stories...

Ready to pursue your passion for Interior Design?

What Our Students Say...

Need Help?

National Design Academy

Social Media Links

Quick Links

Join Our Mailing List

Join Our Mailing List

Social Media Links

UK Students

Student Loan

One Payment

3 x Monthly Payments*

International Students

One Payment

3 x Monthly Payments

In-Studio Diploma
Professional
Interior Design (UK)

In-Studio Diploma
Professional
Interior Design (UK)