In the 21st century, the definition of ‘interior’ can no longer be simply equated to the inside of a building. Conditions of interior and interiority are increasingly affected and transformed by contemporary technologies as well as social and cultural forces and relationships.

Focused on the dynamic relations between people and the surrounding environment, this ideas-led design course explores the potential and future of interior design as a practice. This degree will challenge your assumptions about interior design. You will learn to think and operate like a designer you will learn from distinguished design practitioners. 

You will build design skills through responding to a range of design briefs, from the conceptual to real-life situations. You will be provided with technical and communication tools such as Rhino, Revit, 3D imaging, hand-drawing, film production and model making, as well as verbal presentation skills. You will also have the opportunity to travel and engage with industry through workshops and projects that allow you to respond to complex design challenges.

Students in third and fourth year have the opportunity to undertake internships and gain valuable experience with leading design practices in Melbourne and internationally.

Four years of ideas-led designing

Working in a highly creative studio setting, you will develop rich experiential sensibilities and a sophisticated array of approaches to the design of interior environments. These could range from detailed, material-focused projects including furniture and joinery, to event-based situations like exhibitions, installations and performances, or large-scale complex projects, such as commercial spaces, retail precincts and public or community centres.

Different interiors are considered, from architectural, retail, exhibition and urban environments to digital and filmic spaces, performance and theatre design, art installations and more.

Your studies conclude with the highly-celebrated graduate exhibition INDEX. This event brings together industry, staff and students to celebrate the discipline of Interior Design and its future through the work of these emerging designers.

Career Outcomes

Many graduates work in interior design and architectural practices where commissions may range from residential, retail and entertainment, to hospitality, corporate office and public building design. These practices vary in scale, from large corporate offices to teams of two or three.

As an interior designer, you may also work in film and television design, set design for theatre, furniture design, exhibition design and curating, event planning and design journalism.

Design practices are becoming increasingly multidisciplinary, with interior designers, landscape architects, architects, industrial designers and graphic designers collaborating on large-scale projects. Graduates have gone on to work at Woods Bagot, the National Gallery of Victoria, and in their own design practices.

Professional recognition and accreditation

Graduates are eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA).

This RMIT degree participates in a local and global conversation and network through membership of:

• Interior Design/Interior Architecture Educators Association (IDEA)
• Design Institute of Australia (DIA)
• International Federation of Interior Architects and Interior Designers (IFI)