University Of Florida
At the University of Florida, interior design is considered an art as well as a science. Successful interior design melds a variety of influences – social, cultural, psychological, economic – with expressions of taste and image to create functional, aesthetically pleasing environments that fulfill the needs of individuals or groups. UF’s Department of Interior Design produces successful designers who know how to reshape a space so that it serves the needs of its end user. Future designers take into account the sustainability of materials used, and always keep in the forefront of their thinking the sense of place created by a design. This competency is achieved through a series of undergraduate design studios that underpin the major. Students understand basic architectural and design principles first and then shift their thinking to people and spaces. Coursework focuses on developing skills for critical analysis, programming, and creative design. At the upper-level, teams of students who in design studios and focus on the interactions between people and space in residential, commercial, retail, institutional, healthcare and hospitality facilities, developing proficiency in one specific area. Also offered are a Master of Interior Design and a Ph.D. Program. Recent topics for advanced study have included: design for special populations; historic preservation of important interior spaces and materials; visualization and interior design applications for computers; lighting and acoustics; indoor environmental quality issues; action research and design theory; and education.
