major

Interior Design

Major structure

Overview

Your course structure

In your first and second years, you’ll complete foundational design subjects that introduce spatial thinking, representation and material exploration. You’ll also undertake design studios and core Bachelor of Design subjects, along with electives and breadth studies that expand your creative and technical knowledge.

In your third year, you’ll complete 50 points (usually four subjects) of deep, specialised study in interior design. Studio subjects will challenge you to design for a range of spatial contexts from intimate interiors to complex public environments- developing skills in lighting, acoustics, detailing and inclusive design.

Double major options

You can combine Interior Design with another Bachelor of Design major to broaden your creative expertise. Popular double major options include:

Breadth studies

As part of the Melbourne curriculum, you’ll take up to 25% of your subjects outside your core studies. This could include topics such as psychology, sociology, fine arts, or business – giving you new ways to understand human experience and apply it to your design practice. Breadth studies allow you to develop a well-rounded perspective and collaborate across disciplines, just as you will in professional practice.

Sample course plan

View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this major.

Interior Design Major
Accordion

Year 1

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Design History & Theory in the Making – major – ARCH10004 – 12.5 pts
  • Foundations of Design: Representation – major – ARCH10001 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Alpha – major – ARCH10003 – 12.5 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 1: Place – major – ABPL10007 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 2

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Beta – major – ARCH20001 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 2: Analyse – major – ABPL20033 – 12.5 pts
  • Design Processes and Techniques – major – ARCH20004 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 3

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Interior Design Studio: Materials – major – ABPL30072 – 12.5 pts
  • Professional Design Practice – major – ABPL30073 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Interior Design Capstone Studio-Retrofit – major – ABPL30074 – 25 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Interior Design and Graphic Design Double Major
Accordion

Year 1

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Design History & Theory in the Making – major – ARCH10004 – 12.5 pts
  • Foundations of Design: Representation – major – ARCH10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 1: Image & Text – major – GDES10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 1 – major – FINA10026 – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Alpha – major – ARCH10003 – 12.5 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 1: Place – major – ABPL10007 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 2 – major – FINA10032 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 2

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Beta – major – ARCH20001 – 12.5 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 2: Image & Media – major – GDES20001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 3 – major – FINA20029 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 2: Analyse – major – ABPL20033 – 12.5 pts
  • Design Processes and Techniques – major – ARCH20004 – 12.5 pts
  • Colour Studio – major – GDES20002 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 3

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Interior Design Studio: Materials – major – ABPL30072 – 12.5 pts
  • Professional Design Practice – major – ABPL30073 – 12.5 pts
  • Branding – major – GDES30002 – 12.5 pts
  • Interactive Media – major – GDES30008 – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Interior Design Capstone Studio-Retrofit – major – ABPL30074 – 25 pts
  • Graphic Design Studio 3 – major – GDES30003 – 25 pts
Interior Design and Architecture Double Major
Accordion

Year 1

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Design History & Theory in the Making – major – ARCH10004 – 12.5 pts
  • Foundations of Design: Representation – major – ARCH10001 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Alpha – major – ARCH10003 – 12.5 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 1: Place – major – ABPL10007 – 12.5 pts
  • Natural History for Design – major – LARC10001 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 2

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Beta – major – ARCH20001 – 12.5 pts
  • Design Processes and Techniques – major – ARCH20004 – 12.5 pts
  • Global Foundations of Design – major – ABPL20055 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Gamma – major – ARCH20002 – 12.5 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 2: Analyse – major – ABPL20033 – 12.5 pts
  • Modern Architecture: MoMo to PoMo – major – ARCH20003 – 12.5 pts
  • Designing Living Systems – major – LARC20001 – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 3

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Interior Design Studio: Materials – major – ABPL30072 – 12.5 pts
  • Professional Design Practice – major – ABPL30073 – 12.5 pts
  • Design Studio Delta – major – ARCH30001 – 12.5 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 3: Implement – major – ABPL30041 – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Interior Design Capstone Studio-Retrofit – major – ABPL30074 – 25 pts
  • Design Studio Epsilon – major – ARCH30002 – 25 pts
Interior Design and Performance Design Double Major
Accordion

Year 1

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Design History & Theory in the Making – major – ARCH10004 – 12.5 pts
  • Foundations of Design: Representation – major – ARCH10001 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 1 – major – FINA10026 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Alpha – major – ARCH10003 – 12.5 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 1: Place – major – ABPL10007 – 12.5 pts
  • Sound in Performance – major – MUSI10223 – 12.5 pts
  • Critical and Theoretical Studies 2 – major – FINA10032 – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 2

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Design Studio Beta – major – ARCH20001 – 12.5 pts
  • elective – 12.5 pts
  • Light in Performance – major – FINA20043 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Architectural Technologies 2: Analyse – major – ABPL20033 – 12.5 pts
  • Design Processes and Techniques – major – ARCH20004 – 12.5 pts
  • The Figure in Performance – major – FINA20041 – 12.5 pts
  • breadth – 12.5 pts
Accordion

Year 3

100 pts
Semester 1 · 50 pts
  • Interior Design Studio: Materials – major – ABPL30072 – 12.5 pts
  • Professional Design Practice – major – ABPL30073 – 12.5 pts
  • Space Studio – major – FINA30022 – 12.5 pts
  • Space in Performance – major – FINA30023 – 12.5 pts
Semester 2 · 50 pts
  • Interior Design Capstone Studio-Retrofit – major – ABPL30074 – 25 pts
  • Performance Design Studio – major – FINA30024 – 25 pts

Explore this major

Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this major.

Core

Students must complete all of the following subjects

Accordion
Design Studio Beta · 12.5 pts

Underlying the undergraduate design course is the development of both design thinking and dexterity with tools and techniques. The focus of this design subject will be on generating design ideas, translating them into architectural forms, spaces, materials and programs. Students will learn how to refine architecture through consideration of spatial organisation, environmental context and structural necessity. Students will also learn how to communicate comprehensive architectural propositions through 2D- and 3D-modelling (physical and digital), visual and written media and oral presentations.

The focus in the design studio shifts to technologies and techniques in architectural practice. The studio assignments create an accretive conceptual investigation of fundamental principles into the making of buildings, including structure, enclosure, circulation, program, site, and light. An essential aspect of the design process is the incorporation of abstract thinking and abstraction within architectural production.

Critical use of diagramming, conceptual mapping, narratives, animations and performative expositions join with conventional techniques (plan, section, elevation, axonometric projections and perspectives) to generate and document design ideas.

The design studio focuses on singular, medium-scale programs on prototypical sites, with the development scope of up to 1000m2.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Design Processes and Techniques · 12.5 pts

This subject builds on the knowledge and skills learnt through its prerequisite “Foundations of Design: Representation” by introducing students to contemporary design-enabling approaches and techniques.

Students will be exposed to various architectural design processes and workflows through a set of exercises focused on the diagramming, computing and prototyping of design precedents. Such exercises will require the students to apply an iterative design thinking approach based on the abstraction, formulation, evaluation and transformation of ideas, which is an essential component of any design studio activity. Students will learn how to communicate design ideas, processes and outcomes using architectural drawings, and a variety of visual media and techniques.

The lectures will present and discuss a range of processes and techniques in both the analogue and digital domains, with particular attention given to the most recent development in performance-oriented computational design and fabrication. The lectures will support the students in developing a critical awareness of the relationship between design tools and outcomes. Such an understanding of how parametric modelling and fabrication strategies affect the design process will be developed and tested through reflective writing.

Costs to Students:

Students will be required to purchase modelling and drawing materials to complete this subject, including costs to purchase 3D modelling software and cover laser cutting and 3d printing activities; the overall cost is estimated to be approx. $300 to $400 per person.

Prescribed software programs with a cost
McNeel Rhino

Prescribed software tools
Image editing software (e.g. Affinity Photo)
Vector editing software (e.g. Affinity Designer)
Layout software (e.g. Affinity Publisher)

Details of software availability and pricing are captured at https://msd.unimelb.edu.au/graduate-research/resources/it-support#software

View detailed information in the Handbook
Colour Studio · 12.5 pts

This studio subject assists students to develop an understanding of the optical, perceptual and expressive possibilities of the use of colour in the design process. Studio activities encourage sensibility and provide experience in the manipulation and strategic application of colour in design.

Supported by guided feedback, students are inspired to develop considered conceptual approaches to applying colour in their practical work, drawing on a range of colour theories and cultural influences from contemporary art and design history. Studio exercises build skills across a range of mediums including paint, print, collage and digital colour spectrums.

Students will research and create both in the studio and in the computer lab to produce critical, informed designs that respond to and explore colour in creative, commercial, and exhibition contexts.

Materials and SoftwareAdobe CC is required software for this subject. Please note that Adobe CC software is available in the labs on campus for all Breadth and Graphic Design students.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Interior Design Studio: Materials · 12.5 pts

This subject explores the properties, applications and expressive qualities of materials in interior spaces, and examines the interplay between material choices, design intent, and user experience. This subject has a focus on sustainability and ethical material choices and the innovative use of emerging materials, and will provide student with knowledge and skills to make informed material choices balancing functionality, aesthetics and sustainability in interior design.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Professional Design Practice · 12.5 pts

This subject bridges the gap between academic training and professional practice. It emphasises the development of industry relevant skills, ethical practice, client interaction and project management. At the conclusion of the subject, students will have created an industry standard professional design portfolio that highlights their unique skills and vision.

View detailed information in the Handbook
Interior Design Capstone Studio-Retrofit · 25 pts

This capstone studio for the Interior Design major challenges students to design innovative, sustainable, and functional retrofit solutions for existing interior spaces. Students will integrate theoretical knowledge, technical skills, and creative thinking to address real-world interior design challenges. Emphasis will be placed on adaptive reuse, sustainability, accessibility, and client-driven problem-solving in alignment with contemporary interior design practices.

View detailed information in the Handbook