<p>We’re trying to understand the differences between various interior design programs that my daughter is considering. The University of Wisconsin’s ID program is located in the School of Human Ecology and includes courses in architecture and mechanical engineering as well as a few art classes, ID classes and liberal arts. Miami University’s ID major is located in the architecture school and seems to combine the ID students and archit. students in some of the beginning classes, and also has liberal arts requirements. Miami says it is an advantage to study interior design as part of an architecture school because the ID students have a chance to work on projects with the architecture students. The third school she is considering for ID is Syracuse, where the major is located in the School of Art and Design. At Syracuse, the program is more art focused, with a full year of freshman foundation art classes, and not as many liberal arts requirements. It also offers some architecture courses as well. Does anyone know which approach is best to prepare for a career in interior design? Does it matter if your degree is a BS (Wisconsin) or a BFA (Miami and Syracuse)? What other factors would be important to consider?</p>
<p>Where does your D want to work?</p>
<p>A great interior designer can see colour at a higher level. Many of the best interior designers have architecture degrees–Peter Marion, Mark Hampton etc. Your daughter should do as many colour and design exercises as possible to build up her skill and her portfolio. Give mech engineering a pass.</p>
<p>My D will most likely work on the east coast, since we live close to New York. Interior design initially appealed to her as a career because she loves art and design and also is interested in psychology. Many of the programs, such as Wisc. in human ecology, include behavior and environment classes. The programs in each school (Wisc., Miami, and Syracuse) are very different, but all offer courses in color theory and technology, as well as sketching and rendering. The biggest difference I see is that Syracuse involves a freshman year foundation art program (including drawing, 2D, dimensional arts, etc.). Since Wisc. program offers a BS, it involves many more general studies requirements. She is very torn because she loves the campus and environment at Wisconsin, but the program at Syracuse probably is better for her. We haven’t visited Miami yet but will go in April. We know very little about it, except that it involved a very selective admissions process in which she submitted a portfolio, and they only take 20 ID majors and 45 architecture majors each year.</p>
<p>I would recommend a school that has a foundation program instead of random courses. The teaching/learning of design should be done in a methodically way.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.risd.edu/interiorarch.cfm[/url]”>http://www.risd.edu/interiorarch.cfm</a></p>
<p>Interior design in and around New York is for snobs. Really. It’s all about rich clients and who knows who. Successful interior designers hit the charity scene to meet clients. Hard. They have to.</p>
<p>Interior designers who work for architects don’t get to use the super sexy, super expensive materials. They mostly do offices and lobbies. They also don’t earn nearly the amounts that independent designers earn.</p>
<p>With that in mind, I’m going to say that, in New York, Syracuse and Miami offer more ‘brand’ and ‘connection’ power than UWis. In Milwaukee, UWis offers more ‘brand’ and ‘connection’ power. It’s a regional thing.</p>
<p>Does SCAD have an interiors program? SCAD is another out-of-region school that has name power in New York.</p>
<p>Right now my D is not sure exactly what aspect of interior design she would like. The idea of designing restaurants or hotels appeals to her now, but I think she needs to be in the program first to decide what direction she wants to go in. I was referring to Miami U in Ohio, not U of Miami. You seem to feel that getting a job on the east coast will be hard if my D attends a midwestern school. Isn’t getting a job primarily based on the portfolio?</p>