Can you please tell me a little about the Interior Design program, what it offers and how its delivered?
Interior Design involves thinking about the design elements which make buildings places people want to inhabit: the qualities of the space or the proportions of a room; how the lighting works and the materials and colours that have been chosen. And so, understanding the specific requirements of a project is very important. Things like the activities the building is being designed for, acknowledging the specific demands of the client and physical aspects of the site. For example, where do we place our windows to take advantage of the Winter sun, while minimizing the Summer heat?
Interior Design at the Faculty of Design is a three-year degree with an optional fourth-year for Honours. This Honours year is typically undertaken by students who participate in Industry Placement or Study Abroad opportunities, or who want to best prepare themselves for the increasingly competitive workplace or continue their education with post-graduate studies.
At the Faculty of Design we engage in experiential learning: learning about design via the job at hand. Most of our teaching occurs in 3-hour studios, with traditional 1-hour lectures for imparting specific Interior Design information. Amongst these are drawing and communication skills. In recent years, computer skills using both digital drafting programs and also more complex software for 3D renders have become ‘standard skills’ for Interior Design graduates.

What makes the Interior Design program stand out from similar programs at other universities?
As well as specific Interior Design skills listed above, practising Interior Designers also spend much of their professional lives working with clients and other design professionals, including architects, engineers and building surveyors and so teamwork and communication are very important. You will be taught how to present your ideas to a client verbally, in written Report from, and through drawing, computer renderings and physical scale models so that your client understands how your ideas will be translated into an actual interior space.
We encourage students from all programs to mix and learn from each other. Swinburne degrees begin with the Design Lab trans-disciplinary year giving all students access to a wide array of skills. Other shared studios occur in second, third and fourth years.
Other unique experiences include Industry Placements and the opportunity to Study Abroad.

Can you tell me what career opportunities await graduates of the Interior Design program?
Our graduates have found employment within a wide diversity of design providers, often with the Industry Placement contacts they met while students. Swinburne graduates can also apply for further study at our National Institute for Design Research and other Universities in Australia and abroad and enrol in MDes, DDes and PhD programs. Research underpins everything we do at the Faculty of Design and so Design projects are always situated within a broader cultural context.

Can you give me examples of some outstanding graduates/staff from the program?
A number of our graduates work for high-profile practices. Andrea Mancuso works for Allan Powell Architects and has worked on projects such as the interiors for the widely-acclaimed Tarra Warra Museum of Art in the Yarra Valley. She has recently returned to the Faculty as a part-time Lecturer to pass on her skills. Kristin Morris and Martine Bonich graduated last year and are now working for Bates Smart Interiors. Specialist interior design consultancies have also employed Swinburne graduates, for instance, Lisa Fong is at Insite Design in Prahran. Other graduates have specialized as Exhibition Designers gaining employment with the National Gallery of Victoria.

What do you look for in a potential student?
All designers draw, so both hand and computer-based drawing and other forms of image making are essential skills. In recent years, computer skills using both digital drafting programs and also more complex software for 3D renders have become ‘standard skills’ for Interior Design graduates.
Then, once the project has been designed, there is a whole series of technical and management issues that must be resolved before building can start on site. While some consultancies specialise in design work, almost all designers also spend much of their time on project development and management.
A strong understanding of building construction, particularly as it relates to interior finishes, materials and fittings (such as the lighting) is essential as an Interior Designer develop his or her initial ideas into more concrete proposals that can actually be built. Communicating (or documenting) design intentions so that a construction team can actually build the project, is also a crucial skill for practising Interior Designers.
So, there is a lot to learn and a quite demanding range of skills that graduates need as they move from University into professional practice. Potential students would need to be excited about these skills.

Are there pathways one can take to better their chances into the Interior Design program?
The Interior Design program at Swinburne is based on the philosophy that both design skills and an understanding of the culture of design are crucially important.
Given this, ‘pure design’ is not the only activity Interior Designers are involved in. A successful Interior Designer is also a good communicator, enjoys contributing to a project which involves a team of other people, and is also committed to resolving a wide range of technical issues so that the promise of the design initial idea is not lost when it comes to actually constructing the building. They need to ensure that the building works from a functional point of view and that it is every bit as exciting to be in as it looked in the design drawings (or maybe even more exciting).
Many TAFE Art and design programs can help students gain entry into the degree program.

How are students selected and what advice would you give to someone applying?
Gain a realistic understanding of the design profession by immersing yourself in the local design culture - meet with designers, read about design in books and magazines, attend design events at galleries and museums.
Students are selected by their VCE ENTER score, with some mandatory subjects and a pass in English. See the most recent VTAC guide for further information.

How is the course regarded and supported by the local/International industry?
Very well. Our Industry Placement mentors this year include larger multi-discipline practices, Woods Bagot, Darryl Jackson Interiors, Lyons Interior Design along with specialist interior Design consultancies, Tonya Hinde Interior Design and Hunter Richards.

What's the best advice you would give someone contemplating a career in Design?
The Swinburne program is designed to equip graduates with the crucial analytical, conceptual and creative skills they need as designers. At the same time there is also a strong emphasis on the communications skills and understanding of construction technology that are essential for graduates as they seek entry-level employment and as they start their careers working with more senior, experienced designers. Or, indeed if they are to successfully run their own design business which many Swinburne graduates end up doing.
Good luck with your plans!