Design Intelligence Rankings for Undergrad Interior Design

Balthezar · 11-08-2012, 01:47 PM

Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) is already touting the fact that DI has ranked their Undergrad and Grad Interior Design programs as #1 for two years in a row now. Does anyone have the top 5 or so programs from DI? If history holds true that would mean UC DAAP, Pratt, Cornell should still be ranked pretty high. Just wondering what the ranking is this year.

Thanks in advance.

Balthezar · 11-09-2012, 08:08 AM

Called UC DAAP, which said they were #2, RISD 3, and Pratt was 4th. Hrrrm, come to think of it, he didn't specify grad or undergrad. Bah! Gotta call back.

taxguy · 11-09-2012, 02:59 PM

Here are the top 5 undergrad ranked programs for Interior Design:

1 Savannah College of Art and Design
2 University of Cincinnati
2 Rhode Island School of Design
4 Pratt Institute
5 Auburn University

Honestly, I don't think that the quality between number 1 to 5 will differ much. I would visit the schools, check out the costs and scholarship opportunities and other factors. For example, UC has one of the best coop programs in the US and certainly among these five. Other schools may have other advantages such as location, better scholarships etc. For example, I would imagine that Pratt, being in NY, will have more connections and opportunities for internships than going to SCAD in Savannah. You need to check them out and ask pointed questions.
Also, all schools have their own culture. This is important for suitability for your personal needs. You really should try to get a feel for that school's culture.

Balthezar · 11-11-2012, 10:23 AM

Thanks taxguy. I did call back and ask, and, as you detailed, he was referring to undergrad rankings. My daughter has already visited SCAD, UC DAAP, and Pratt. Trying to arrange RISD before she begins to apply summer/fall 2013. Not sure about visiting Auburn although I did visit their website and they don't admit directly to the program, but to the university as a whole where prospective students then compete for the 34 spots in the program. I'm not sure I like the uncertainty involved in qualifying for that program. While I'm fairly certain my daughter would do fine, given her accomplishments in high school, I was hoping we would at least be afforded the luxury of evaluating all the Interior Design program offerings directly, and be able to make an informed decision come May 1st of 2014.

I should add that she's already done a summer program at SCAD, loves Savannah where we have friends, and whose son is currently attending SCAD in their film program, but she is less than infatuated with the dorms whose rooms open on to an outside decking.

She also plans to enroll in DAAP's DAAPCamp 2013 next summer. For a variety of reasons, she's leaning towards DAAP's Interior Design program, not the least of which is direct entry into DAAP, their reknowned Co-Op program, the <300 mile (read driveable) distance from Chicago, the complete college experience (beautiful campus (I could do without the hilly climbs around campus), and a greater variety of students, as well as the possibility of scholarships.

taxguy · 11-12-2012, 05:49 PM

Balthezar,my daughter attended DAAP , although as a digital design major. We saw the Interior Design work at the senior project fair. It was fantastic! I am sure that your daughter will benefit from attending DAAP. Be advised. DAAP is the design school equivalent of a music conservatory. They work their kids to death during all four years! Have your daughter take vitamins and eat well.

Balthezar · 11-12-2012, 07:56 PM

Thanks Taxguy. I know they work'em heavily. She was just tonight trying to do a project that required India Ink, which she'd never used before. She was trying to create a "Day of the Dead" drawing of a skull with, oh I don't know, thick "beams" eminating from the skull outward; very straight edges required. Needless to say, the india ink did not cooperate, bleeding into the paper at several points, basically ruining the work concept. Instead of trying to make due, she grabs the car keys and my debit card, running out into some quite wintery weather, to get some new paper stock and start all over, changing the concept, when I suggested that maybe the stipulation to use india ink doesn't fit well with a precise straight line concept...but, what do I know; I'm in IT, not art. The point is, she doesn't settle for mediocrity, and has the motivation to always do her best. I marvel at her work ethic at her age, when so many around her settle for "good enough".