University of Arkansas, Interior Design Program

From Interior Design Schools

The Interior Design program is accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER), and is the only FIDER accredited program in the state of Arkansas.

The professional interior designer is qualified by education, experience and examination to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces.

1 Career Opportunities
2 Residential Design
3 Contract Design
4 Specialized Design
5 Reference
6 Interior Design Schools in Arkansas

Career Opportunities

This curriculum prepares students for careers in the fields of contract and residential Interior Design. The curriculum provides a broad general foundation of academic courses and specialization in Interior Design, including courses in textiles, life sciences, art, architecture, and business. Instruction and experiences foster an attitude of inquiry and learning leading to the ability to solve problems, which in itself is a definition of design. Intellectual development of the students is stimulated and leadership qualities enhanced.

Residential Design

Residential interior design is concerned with a wide variety of client needs, resources, expected outcomes, level of design awareness, and is a close one-on-one working arrangement. Residential work requires patience and a desire to work with details. Being a successful residential designer requires a rapport with diverse clients and a strong dedication to client privacy and professional ethics. Residential work requires unique, creative, and financiallysound design decisions.

Contract Design

Contract, or commercial interior design, is a highly competitive area of professional work that requires extensive knowledge of business principles, codes, specifications, materials and resources, product information and professional ethics as well as aesthetics and creativity.

A list of some specific contract job types are:

Office Design - Ranging from a small office *Government and Public Buildings - City halls, Court Houses, Post Offices, Police and Fire Stations, Libraries, and Museums.
Retail Design - Shopping Malls, Stores, Galleries, and Showrooms.
Health Care - Hospitals, Clinics, Long-Term *Entertainment Design - Theaters, Concert Halls, Auditoriums, and Convention Centers.
Financial Institutions - Banks, Stock Exchange, Credit Unions, and Savings and Loan Facilities.
Recreation - Health and Spa centers, Swimming Pools, Bowling Alleys, and other sports facilities.
Institutional Design - Public and Private Universities, Colleges, and Schools.
Transportation - Airports, Aircraft, Train Interiors and Terminals, Motor Homes, Boats and Ships, and other transportation vehicles and facilities.

Specialized Design

A designer may focus on specific design-related projects that stress expertise or interest in the following:

Rendering, Perspective and Model Building
Set Design, Stage Lighting, Window Display, Trade and Exposition Design
Adaptive Re-use
Historic Preservation and Restoration
Kitchen and Bath Design
Lighting Specialist - Residential or Commercial
Color Consultant or Color Forecaster
Interior Design Educator
Interior Design Journalist
Sales Representative, Product Showrooms, Market Personnel
Special Population such as: children, the elderly, the physically challenged, correctional institutions, international/Culturally diverse