Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial)

Design with a purpose...

"I knew I enjoyed utilising spaces for art, but found myself wanting to be able to create the spaces. When I heard about this course I knew I would learn to create and design unique spaces and interiors with purpose. "

Dan Simon | Graduate

Study a Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial) and help brands connect with their customers by creating immersive and unique environments.

The Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial) gives you the skills and creativity to respond and adapt to the ever-changing drivers of commercial environments such as retail stores and exhibitions, hotels, bars, restaurants, night clubs, workspaces and even the design of online virtual commercial environments.

Throughout your study, you will engage with the theoretical and practical elements of commercial interiors – branding, lighting, sustainability and materiality. You will discover how commercial interior design strategies are developed and assessed and explore how commercial interiors can engage an audience. You will make commercial environments a reality through documentation, contract management, professional design practice and cross-disciplinary interaction. You will also have the opportunity to apply theory to practice by creating a range of commercial interior design solutions for real clients.

Graduate with the valuable skills to create state-of-the art commercial interiors. Digital technology is a strong focus of this course, as not only will you will engage with contemporary theory, but also learn how to represent spatial environments, and communicate information relevant to designing, costing, evaluating, and constructing commercial interiors using industry standard software. You can also apply for an internship with one of our industry partners giving you real-world experience, key contacts in the interior design industry and material for your professional portfolio.

This course is available as full-time or part-time study on our campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

CRICOS CODE
090301G

Key Study Outcomes:

  • Skills to work with the ever-changing drivers of commercial environments
  • Theoretical and practical elements of commercial interiors
  • Make commercial environments a reality
  • Understanding of spatial environments
  • Industry standard software skills
  • Industry standard software skills

About the School

Billy Blue College of Design courses are delivered by Torrens University Australia Ltd, ABN 99 154 937 005, RTO 41343, CRICOS 03389E.

Read more about Billy Blue College of Design

Billy Blue College of Design

Course Delivery

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Workload and Assessment

No. of timetabled hours per week:

Each subject involves 10 hours of study per week, comprising 3 timetabled study hours and 7 personal study hours (which may include a facilitated online component).

Typical assessment includes:

  • Practical assignments

  • Research projects

  • Presentations

Subject Information

Design Studio 2 offers an introduction to the building blocks of creating and developing brands and is designed to give students a broad understanding of the stages and methodologies adopted in the brand development process. The subject draws on the theory and practice that sits behind brand creation. It covers the broad spectrum of brand development, values, trends and branding techniques, as well as fundamentals such as brand positioning and brand architecture. The subject also explores the relationship between branding and audiences, cross-cultural influences and shifts in consumer behaviour. Students must first understand and apply the fundamentals of branding and then go on to use that knowledge as the basis for developing and progressing a brand. This theoretical and practical subject will equip students with the knowledge and insight with which to build their own branding expertise.

The subject introduces the student to various aspects of the elements of design, e.g. materiality, form and shape, colour, positive and negative space etc. utilised in creative problem solving. Initially students are introduced to a design development process, from the tangible to the digital; through paper model making with its inherent skills development and risk taking, then on to further digital development using newly introduced software. Concurrent, weekly, individual homework tasks focus on understanding and appreciation of materials, their many varied uses, properties and the manufacturing processes related to them. Students will make incremental progress towards choosing a material in which their individual design can be realised. The submission will include a material and colour folio. The final submission will be a model executed in an appropriate material with its function/usage contextualised with all relevant information gleaned throughout the trimester.

This introductory subject places design process and practice within the context of a chronological survey of major historical eras of influence. Students are encouraged to engage with the historical socio-political movements influencing design trends of each era through research and reflection. Academic skills (research, referencing, essay writing, and sentence structure) and design software skills are taught in weekly lessons. Students use the academic and software skills to document historical research and generate creative responses to the themes of historical eras.

Systems and Documentation 1 introduces students to the different construction systems applicable to the design of nominated interiors, and how design solutions are communicated to stakeholders (contract managers, consultants and contractors) through contract documentation. Students will develop a series of documentation drawings for a small scale nominated environment.

This subject investigates the evolution of interior design, post 1800. It explores major art and architectural movements throughout history and the development of contemporary design and interior design by investigating significant turning points and milestones in Interior Design. This subject will focus on developing the students’ understanding of the complexities of designing an area (e.g. bathing, sleeping, food preparation, reception desk, workspace etc.) within a spatial environment whilst identifying and incorporating sustainable design practice- not only in materials and technologies but also in the longevity and adaptability of the final design solution. Students will integrate their research and knowledge of environments, identifying design related and environmental imperatives in the realisation of design briefs.

This subject examines perspectives on models of practice relevant to Interior Design. It examines design practice in response to changing needs and requirements of clients and design briefs. It also explores the strategies used for expressing ideas, and the design skills required to communicate them. The purpose of the subject is for students to gain knowledge in foundation level design practice relevant to Interior Design. The design process workflow from original idea to review of work in progress, revision, presentation and reflection is explored.

The study of the history of major design and art movements and their practices enables the students to identify important and significant turning points and milestones influencing Interior Design, in addition it informs and augments their own design practice and outcomes. In this subject students will study and critically analyse milestones in art and design that have significantly influenced applied design as a profession and as a discipline. This study will help them develop their understanding that ideas, events and visual techniques are interrelated in the context of history and current practice.

This subject examines the way design ideas are generated. Students will explore concepts of assimilation, synthesis and transformation and will develop an understanding of reflective design practice. A foundation language of experimentation, risk-taking and problem solving is introduced, combined with theories of ideas generation and their transformation into a design outcome. In addition, students will investigate a variety of methods and techniques to understand design innovation through individual and group exploration and analysis.

Emerging Design Technologies: Commercial examines the technology focused theories affecting the experiential nature of design for commercial and public environments in both the physical and digital arena. It examines how technology is influencing the experience of retail, exhibition, workplace, hospitality and any activity associated with the commercial experience. It also examines a global context of changing perceptions of ‘commerce’ and how the commercial environment is being redefined by environmental and technological trends. This subject also explores the emerging factors influencing the experience of virtual worlds, film and animation.

Contemporary design practice has evolved a culture that applies a range of research methodologies to investigate design processes that are appropriate and relevant to creative problem solving. This subject explores the notion of designer as a generator of need and purpose and how research practice underpins these roles. The purpose of this subject is to expand the student’s knowledge of the research processes that inform emerging design practice and how this affects the designer/client/project relationship. Students will expand their skills in identifying research methods and the application of analysis to a design project. Students will also be introduced to legal and ethical issues in design research.

The purpose of this subject is to introduce the fundamental theories, practices, and methods for developing digital three-dimensional design. The subject covers 3D concepts and techniques, as well as practice in contemporary industry software. The subject investigates the integration of modelling, texture and light in three-dimensional space. Concept development is practised in a range of areas, including character development and/or environment modelling and investigating these relationships of these to a target audience. Development in professional work disciplines and collaboration are integral to the delivery of this subject.

The subject content for Digital Worlds is concerned with two major themes:
1. The development of digital communication strategies for Interior environments.
Students will be required to analyse the role digital media plays in the representation and communication of spatial design environments. This includes the role of digital renderings, animated fly through, graphic composition and branding, representation of materiality and light. Students will also examine the historical development of the communication of design proposals. The subject will also investigate the role of the computer in tracking environmental and construction systems.
2. The experiential nature of commercial digital environments such as game design, virtual worlds and film.
Students will study and critically analyse the representation of spatial environments in digital media. This includes an examination of areas within the digital realm where simulated spatial environments play a critical role in communication, including areas such as game design, virtual worlds, animation and film. It examines the influence of the history of architectural and spatial design processes on contemporary attitudes to designed environments in a digital realm as well as investigating temporal understandings, Interface and Application, and psycho-cognitive perceptions of and responses to digital environments.

The theoretical base of this subject will focus on developing the students’ understanding of the impact of commercial environment on the consumer, and its relationship to the quality of the consumer’s experience.
Students will explore the theoretical and practical elements of branding through case studies, research and creative investigation. Contemporary commercial environments will be analysed in accordance with design principles and the relationship of the environment to merchandise and planning systems.
Students will also be introduced to the role of storytelling in the design, strategy and marketing of brand.
The use of materials and the elements of sound and lighting will also be explored. This knowledge will then be applied in the creative design of nominated environments. Students will use tutorial time to develop and communicate their design proposals

The theoretical base of this subject will focus on developing the students’ understanding of the complexities of designing a retail environment whilst appreciating the growing demand for the application of sustainable design practices – not only in materials and technologies but also in the longevity and adaptability of the final design solution. Students will integrate their knowledge of a retail space, identity design and environmental imperatives into the creative realisation of a project brief. Students will further develop their research skills and apply these to the design of an ‘eco- friendly’ retail project.

The theoretical base of this subject will focus on developing the students’ ability to work with 2D and 3D spatial organisation. It introduces students to the processes of interpreting functionality and planning within a 3D space. The subject is designed and delivered from an interior designer’s perspective and draws on the students’ experience of such spaces and their understanding of visual communication in spatial environments.

This subject focuses on developing the students’ understanding of the fundamental theories of brand management, and the critical relationship of the branded environment to this strategy. Students will explore the application of brand management strategies through a range of case studies, applying this knowledge to the development of an environment that meets the objectives of a brand management strategy.

This subject aims to cultivate a broader understanding of portfolios and presentations for the design industry within a professional context. It explores contemporary styles and methods of presentation.
The identification and analysis of employment target markets is introduced to students. This is enhanced through self-directed research that aims to help students gain an understanding of the specific needs and preferences of the Interior Design industry. Students build relationships with Interior Design industry through possible internship or design studio project or on campus live brief. This industry engagement exposes students to rigors of the real world design practice whilst adding valuable experience to student CV.

Systems and Documentation 3 -Nominated extends the student’s learning and communication of different construction systems for environments into larger more complex commercial environments. Students develop their understanding of building systems to include those appropriate for nominated commercial spaces. Students are expected to use their understanding of the documentation process to communicate t heir design solution to builders, contract managers, consultants and contractors.

Scheduling Interiors 2: Commercial introduces the student to the practical knowledge required to construct nominated commercial environments. It recognises the importance of nominating appropriate and sustainable finishes, furniture and fit tings for nominated commercial environments. Students learn the following: types, styles and suitability of materiality and finishes; application of lighting types and styles; fixtures and fittings and selection of joinery items. This subject will also educates students in specification writing, preparation of schedules and what role they play in contract administration, as well as the principles of quality assurance in the design and documentation process. The principles of Building Management Systems are also introduced.

The theoretical base of this subject will focus on developing the students’ understanding of the complexities of designing nominated commercial environments whilst appreciating the growing demand for the application of sustainable design practices- not only in materials and technologies but also in the longevity and adaptability of the final design solution. Students will integrate their knowledge of identity design and environmental imperatives into the creative realisation of a nominated commercial project brief. Students will be required to work with real sites for their environment, carry out complete site analyses, develop concept proposals and carry this through to completed design proposals. Students will also be required to understand Australian standards, liquor licensing laws, building code requirements/regulations, and approval process for nominated commercial environments.

Systems and Documentation 2: Commercial extends the student’s learning and communication of different construction systems for a nominated commercial design proposal. In the case of physical environments, the students are required to complete a full documentation package for their nominated design proposal. In the case of digital environment proposal students are required to extend the communication of their design proposals through additional digital representation techniques: e.g. fly-through, animation, interactive components.

This subject provides students with the opportunity to develop their understanding of relevant design history and theories and their application to change and innovation within contemporary practice.
Central to this subject will be the application of contemporary design thinking in the critical reflection of their own, and their peers, creative output. Students will also gain insight into evaluating design outcomes in response to user feedback. The subject is designed and delivered from an interior designer perspective and draws on the student’s knowledge of design history and innovation.
This subject also draws on the student’s own experience as a design consumer.

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