About this course

Interior Design Module One Handbook

Before starting, please review the Learning Outcomes to understand what you’ll gain from this course.

How to Use This Handbook:

• Set aside 15 minutes before the course starts to familiarise yourself with this handbook and check your materials.
• Use the arrows to navigate through pages.
• Refer to the 'Table of Contents' for specific sections. 👉

Access

Learner Access

Enrolled learners have Learner Access to the entire course via the Short Courses VLE after booking:

Duration

Access is available for one year after purchase, even after you finish the course.

License

Course Information

This course introduces essential interior design skills for residential projects, combining concept development, Vectorworks CAD training, and professional presentation. It is suitable for beginners, aspiring interior designers, or creative professionals exploring interiors.

What you'll do

• Develop concept boards and design briefs
• Plan interiors at scale using Vectorworks CAD
• Create sections, elevations, and sample boards
• Explore colour, lighting, soft furnishings, hard finishes, bathrooms, and staircases
• Present designs professionally for portfolio use
• Receive tutor feedback at key project stages

Why Choose This Course?

• Flexible learning: On campus or online, with recorded CAD lessons
• Project-based tasks for hands-on experience
• Expert tutors with professional experience
• Portfolio-ready final project
• Professional preparation for independent work

Visual Timeline

• Weeks 1–2: Introduction, concept development, initial Vectorworks setup
• Weeks 3–4: Technical skills, hard finishes, one-to-one tutorials
• Weeks 5–6: Colour, rendering, halfway project presentation
• Weeks 7–8: Advanced Vectorworks techniques, lighting, soft furnishings
• Weeks 9–10: Final project refinement, presentations, next module promotion

Tip: Use this timeline and weekly overview alongside your course calendarto track progress and stay on top of project submissions and tutorials.

Course Engagement

This course is designed as a hybrid experience, blending on-campus studio work with online technical development. Support is available at every stage through your Tutor (academic lead) and Coordinator (operational support).

1. Ongoing Engagement (Around Lessons)

These touchpoints keep you connected to the community and help Tutors tailor their support to your needs.

• Discussion Forum: Your hub for peer learning. Tutors provide prompts and guidance, while Coordinators ensure the space remains active.

• Student Profiles: Personalise your profile to help Tutors contextualise their feedback based on your specific background and goals.

2. The Learning Journey (During Lessons)

Your progress is tracked through weekly sessions and key milestones.

3. Roles and Responsibilities

To ensure a smooth experience, different teams manage different aspects of your course:

• Tutors: Your primary academic point of contact. They deliver lessons, provide briefs, and offer feedback. Please use the VLE exclusively for all tutor communications and file sharing.

• Coordinators: The "engine room" of the course. They manage the calendar, forum settings, stickers/badges, and course reminders alongside the campus experience.

• Managers: Oversee the strategic quality and marketing of the modules.

• Learners (You): Responsible for setting up your VLE profile, exporting the course calendar, and engaging actively in both online and on-campus sessions.

4. Stay Informed: Notifications & Marketing

We use a multi-channel approach to ensure you never miss a deadline or an opportunity to progress to Module Two.

• In-Person: Your Tutor will provide a briefing during the final lesson regarding progression.

• VLE Activity: Look out for "Sticker" messages (triggered by your progress) and promotional links embedded in lesson subheaders.

• Automation: The VLE calendar will automatically notify you of upcoming deadlines from Week 0 through Week 10.

Your Notification Settings

By default, the system is set up to keep you informed without overwhelming your inbox:

• Forum Subscriptions: You are automatically subscribed to discussions (you can toggle this in settings).

• Daily Digest: You will receive one email per day summarising all new forum activity.

5. Progression to Module Two

As you approach the end of the term, your Tutor will provide guidance on next steps. Check your VLE Course Calendar and Timed Forum Posts starting from the Midpoint for enrollment dates and module highlights.

Learning Overview

Course Calendar

Click here for your live timetable and export it to your own calendar for automatic reminders.

Weekly Overview

Introduction Video

 TBC 

Required Materials

• Mandatory: Laptop & mouse, Vectorworks setup, sketching tools, notebook/sketchbook
• Optional: Fabrics, sewing tools, digital design software (Adobe Illustrator, Procreate, Canva), camera/smartphone
• Documentation: PDF creation tools, journaling or reflection materials
• VLE Access: Ensure profile setup, access to course lessons, forums etc.

Pre-Course Setup

• Set up your VLE profile
• Export course calendar for reminders (optional)
• Prepare Vectorworks before Session 1
• Check all required materials and software

Climate, Social and Racial Justice

This course is dedicated to embedding UAL’s Principles for Climate, Social and Racial Justice, inspiring students to approach menswear design with a strong commitment to cultural, environmental, and social responsibility. It is designed for learners who aspire to create designs for sustainable and equitable futures. 

We value creativity and encourage our students to be imaginative while grounding their practice in ethical considerations. By sourcing sustainable materials and fostering awareness of global impacts, we aim to cultivate innovative thinking and responsible design practices that contribute positively to the world. 

Project Requirements

• Client profile / brief
• Bubble diagram
• Concept board
• Floor plan in Vectorworks (1:50)
• Rendered section in Vectorworks (1:50)
• Plan + four bathroom sections (1:20)
• Sample board for bathroom and one other area
• Colour palette (optional)

Assessment and Feedback

Learning is supported through formative assessment. Tutors provide individual, constructive feedback at key project stages. Discussion forums allow additional guidance, peer learning, and idea sharing. Focus is on learning and skill-building rather than grading.

Completion and Certification

This course is designed to help you develop a practical understanding of interior design through structured studio activities and tutor-supported feedback. To receive a Certificate of Completion, you’ll need to actively engage with the course content and submit the required project work at key stages throughout Interior Design Module One.

To Complete the Course and Receive Your Certificate:

You must:

• Complete Tutor Review & Feedback

OR

• Have your certificate manually issued by a course coordinator

Upon completion, learners receive a Certificate of Completion and digital badge via email.

Stickers

As you progress through the course, you’ll have the opportunity to earn stickers that celebrate your achievements and help plan your next steps. These stickers are designed to acknowledge creative milestones, helping you track your journey and showcase your learning.

Here, you'll find a list of the course stickers along with links to their images, descriptions, and the criteria for earning them. 

Need Help?

Post questions in the FAQs & General Questions forum for support throughout the course. Tutors and coordinators monitor this forum regularly.

Change log

Change Log:
All course updates will be documented here.

Date: [Insert Date]
Course Title: Interior Design Module One
Version: 1.0
Status: Live

Changes implemented

• Course Published: The course is now live and accessible to enrolled learners.
• Content Finalised: All lessons, resources, and activities have been reviewed and uploaded.
• Support Channels Established: Customer service, online support, and tutor guidance are in place.