Undergraduate Course: Interior Theory: Design Narratives (ARCH10064)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides students with an interpretive framework within which students will learn to make connections between theoretical knowledge and interior design practice. Through exploration of a range of design narratives presented in different media such as books, journals, case studies, field trips, and film, students will develop key analytical research skills.
Thematic study of design discourse will develop students understanding of disciplinary context, to expand ways of thinking in and around the subject, with a focus on reading, reflection, analysis and academic writing skills. |
| Course description |
The Interior Theory: Design Narratives course invites students to expand their knowledge of the disciplinary context we work within. Through reading, writing and group discussion, students will explore different ways of thinking about Interior Design and how they may present informed opinion as a coherent argument.
Alternate narratives will be presented through a range of case studies, critical theories, and thematic topics, to provide students with a deeper understanding of how current design discourse relates to wider historic and contemporary contexts of cultural and social change.
In the first part of this course, (weeks 1-5) students will develop their thinking and writing skills in response to presented themes through key texts, and in a series of weekly lectures and interactive workshops. This combination of learning activities will expose students to a diverse range of topics from a variety of eras presented through a mixture of media and methods.
During weeks 6-11, students will respond to formative feedback and receive guidance on how to further develop their thinking, to reflect and respond to a chosen theme in the visual essay. Students and tutors will meet in small group seminars and tutorials to discuss their essay topic and academic writing skills, and signpost to further reading and independent research.
Course delivery will consist of a variety of teaching and learning sessions at all stages to support students to develop critical reading and writing skills, to assist with their comprehension and application in design thinking and theories. Throughout students will respond to presented themes and key readings as journal entries. A summative visual essay will build on skills developed within the journal, to explore and reflect on a selected narrative in greater depth.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | This Course does not require any additional costs to be met by the Student. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 5,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 6,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 6,
Fieldwork Hours 3,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
173 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course has 2 assessment components.
All learning outcomes MUST be passed in order to pass the course.
1) Journal Entries 4 no. 400-500 word journal entries 50%
relating to/assessed against Learning Outcomes 1 & 3,
Due Sem 1, Week 11
2) Visual Essay 1500 words - 50%
relating to/assessed against Learning Outcomes 2 & 3.
Due Sem 1, Week 11
Resit Information
The resit arrangements for this course are as follows.
1) The resit task for assessment component 1 is
Journal Entries 4 no. 400-500 word journal entries 50%
relating to/assessed against Learning Outcomes 1 & 3
2) The resit task for assessment component 2 is
Visual Essay 1500 words - 50%
relating to/assessed against Learning Outcomes 2 & 3
Students will receive further resit information as per University regulations where necessary.
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| Feedback |
Formative Feedback:
Throughout the semester, students will receive informal verbal feedback of work in progress from peers and staff at regular intervals during planned learning activities.
A single formative review point will provide interim written feedback from course tutor(s), with feedforward to support summative submission, within 10 working days of upload.
Draft Journal (4 no. 400-500 word journal entries), & 300-word essay proposal, digital submission, due sem 1, week 6/7.
Written feedback to the draft journal entries provides students with an early opportunity to receive feedback on how they have responded to presented themes to date. This feedback and subsequent tutorial will provide clear direction to support the development of the 1500-word visual essay (50%) which reflects more fully on a selected narrative from the first part of the course in greater depth, as well advice on the refinement of the journal entries (50%).
Summative feedback will directly inform subsequent coursework in the year four course Interior Theory: Design Context.
Summative Feedback:
Written feedback and grades will be provided for summative submission by course tutor(s). |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Evaluate through rigorous research and analysis a variety of different design contexts from a wide range of resources
- Identify and present a personal reflection on a design narrative to articulate ways in which it may inform an approach to and within the practice of interior design.
- Present a carefully considered body of written work, appropriately illustrated and referenced.
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Reading List
Brooker, Graeme. Key Interiors since 1900. Laurence King, 2013
Hollis, Ed. The Memory Palace: A Book of Lost Interiors. Portobello Books, 2013
Massey, Anne. Interior Design of the 20th Century. Thames & Hudson, 2001
Plunkett, Drew. Revolution: Interior Design from 1950. Routledge, 2017
Taylor, Mark & Preston, Julianna. Intimus: Interior Design Theory Reader. John Wiley & Sons, 2006
Vaux, Dana & Wang, David. Research Methods for Interior Design: Applying Interiority. Routledge, 2021
Weinthal, Lois. Toward a New Interior: An Anthology of Interior Design Theory. Princeton Architectural Press, 2011 |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research and enquiry: Through researching topics and themes related to contemporary Interior Design practice you will develop a reflective approach to design research and thinking.
Personal and intellectual autonomy: You will learn to recognise and develop your personal response to ethical, social and sustainable design responsibilities within design discourse, through practising and reflecting on critical reading, writing and image selection.
Communication: You will develop confidence in your oral and written communication skills through creating focused, structured arguments to respond to a range of design sources and formats. |
| Keywords | Interior Design,Academic Writing,Design Narratives,Case Study Analysis,Design Research Methods |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Ms Gina Olsson
Tel:
Email: gina.leith@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Daniel Jackson
Tel: (0131 6)50 2309
Email: Daniel.Jackson@ed.ac.uk |
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