IED – Istituto Europeo di Design Rome

BA in Interior Design

The Undergraduate programme in Interior Design at IED Rome is designed for all those who have a strong curiosity and interest in improving the spaces where people live, designing safe, practical, beautiful and environmentally friendly indoor spaces. This programme is not just an answer to the question: “what is the story behind an everyday setting?” but rather it prompts questions in anyone who enjoys looking around all the time, asking questions about why things are the way they are.

It is intended for all those who want to explore design topics, concepts and the role of light and furnishings, while also paying close attention to environmental issues. To join this programme we do not require any prerequisites: it could be your first time drawing with a pencil or with the latest digital representation technologies, you may have classical studies behind you or start from scratch with no prior project design background. The key factor will be your curiosity.

This way you will discover a variety of career perspectives beyond the common understanding of what an Interior Designer does. You will become familiar with some new professional roles, ranging from Exhibit and Cultural Designer, to Retail Designer, Hospitality Designer, Personal Designer or Concept Designer.

Methodology and Structure

This Three-year course supports students in building a strategic vision and developing awareness of all the dynamics and variables affecting their activity.

The course structure is finalized to getting a balanced knowledge of space structure. It’s articulated in 4 main goals: Know your time, through the study of art history and architecture, sociology and anthropology; Investigate new possibilities thanks to labs; Get the tools to use materials, colors, shapes, and technologies; Tell the project through advanced skills of space representation.

First-year is dedicated to getting a basic education, cultural references, tools, and design methodology.

Students learn free-hand sketch and CAD - useful to make models using basic materials - subsequently, 3D printers and laser cut machines.

Later on, students get design consciousness and complete their skill set such as 3D modeling and production (render) of realistic images by the application of materials and lights to virtual settings.

By the third year, students gain creative autonomy by experiencing the latest technologies of simulation and interaction applied to design, facing with real projects thanks to the collaborations with partner companies and institutions as MAXXI and MACRO exhibit spaces, cultural spaces as Teatro Eliseo, or associations as la Fondazione Montessori and l’ONG Intersos.

IED strives to build a supportive environment and collaborative relationship with partners. That’s why IED delivers the necessary tools to support prospects students in exploring opportunities, making informed decisions, and designing their future. Thanks to the innovative methodology and the professional success of IED students, the Ministries of Education and Research of the countries where IED operates directly – Italy, Spain and Brazil – have officially accredited the majority of IED Undergraduate and Master courses.

IED is an international network of education with a 100% Italian DNA. IED has been operating in the fields of training and research, in the disciplines of Design, Fashion, Visual Arts, Communication and Management of the creative industries for over 50 years. IED mission is to offer young talents a thorough training – both theoretical and practical – and hand them the ‘Design Knowledge and Mindset’ that will be the key success factor in their careers.

According to the IED philosophy interaction between cultures generates creativity, which turns into innovation: paying attention to the continuous changes happening in the ways we think, communicate, build. This is why the IED education represents an opportunity to approach a more conscious future. IED is far more than a school: thanks to its unwavering commitment to innovation, it is the melting pot where new generations of professionalism are constantly unfolded. IED forms a truly unique network of encounters, experiences, people and cultures. Our students develop a deep sense of belonging and their drive to innovate and share resources, ideas and contacts forges a tight-knit Alumni community

The Interior Design degree programme at IED Roma provides cross-disciplinary knowledge and deep awareness of the professional world, based on a practical learning approach. Over the three years, you will be covering a wide range of subjects such as three-dimensional modelling and production of photorealistic images, until you achieve complete mastery of the whole creative process. You will develop your own design thinking approach, with a human-centred working method that you will be practising across research, analysis, synthesis and concept development. The training provided has multiple goals to achieve. You will develop cross-sector and multidisciplinary skills, with the ability to analyse how market trends and styles evolve. Special emphasis will be placed on what is regarded as the most important part of Interior Design: a curious approach to new, never-before-seen forms of project design scenarios. You will also gain a deep understanding of the role of light, sounds, materials, finishes, colours and furnishings, and you will be able to work independently designing industrial products, space systems and services -public and private as well. Technical lab sessions provided as part of your Interior Design degree programme will give you the opportunity to test yourself with hands-on real life work experience, as you experiment with the latest technologies applied to project design, improving your knowledge of software tools and digital prototyping techniques.

Career opportunities – Interior Designer, Exhibit and Cultural Designer, Retail Designer, Hospitality Designer, Personal Designer, Concept Designer.

One of the main reasons to take the Interior Design Undergraduate Programme at IED Rome is that you have a strong interest in project sustainability: your aim is indeed to create spaces specifically designed for the people and the planet we live on. This is the baseline we will build on to design experiences that bring spaces and services together, with people getting involved in inspiring stories.

With its thousand-year-old multifaceted history, Rome is like an open-air classroom where tradition and contemporary life come together to create a unique environment. You will feel inspired when creating, and the environment around you will open your eyes to the future. Indeed, the approach to Interior Design at IED Rome focuses on such areas as cultural heritage and tourism, both of which have made Rome recognised and envied worldwide.

Strong partnerships with such institutions as the National Museum of XXI Century Arts -also known as MAXXI-, the Capitoline Museums, the Lazio Regional Authority and the Municipality of Rome, but also close cooperation with firms like Enel, Poste Italiane, Faber and Venchi, will give you a great opportunity to work on real projects with real impact on your background and professional experience over the years.

This programme provides a deep insight into market trends and developments. You will acquire an in-depth understanding of the whole process of project design, using our laboratories (FabLab and Model Making Lab) where 3D scanners, 3D printers and laser cutting machines are available to assist you in rendering and presenting your work.