Design Degrees Online

Course structure
The Foundation is taught in parallel with the Access into Architecture and Interior Design and International Foundation Programme pathways (see factfile).

These courses share four core modules
Drawing and Model-making Skills for Design — this introduces you to a range of visualisation skills and to basic understandings of materials and construction. A series of drawing, making and computer-based workshops encourage an understanding of communicating and measuring 3-dimensional space; and the crafting, assembly and production of 3-dimensional objects
Study and Communication Skills — this explores the relationship between culture and building, both historical and contemporary, to help you develop an understanding of some of the ideas and issues involved in interior design and architecture, and the relevant research, writing and presentation skills to communicate these to others
Learning to Design — this develops the tools required to interpret different spatial and social contexts, from small to large scale, and to envisage and test appropriate design responses
Design Project — this brings together the skills and knowledge in the other three modules by asking you to take a specific design proposition from exploration and analysis, through development, to an appropriate and creative design resolution and its effective presentation

You also study four other modules
Contemporary Design Cultures — an intensive introduction to contemporary debates, personalities and events around architecture and interiors
Communication Techniques — Knowing London — this explores the city and social identity through a variety of media
Exhibition/Installation — this involves practice in designing exhibitions, including the end-of-year show
Option from a choice of modules aimed at exploring specific skills in greater depth through projects, in areas such as visual representation, construction and study skills.

The Foundation Programme is specially designed for students with SPM, GCE O-Level, STPM, GCE A-Level or equivalent qualifications and have decided to pursue a career in interior or graphic design. The programme can be completed in 3 semesters. Upon successful completion, a Foundation Certificate will be awarded by NTU, UK. Students are then eligible to join the honours degree programmes which are conducted entirely at KBU.

The Foundation programme aims to provide a general art & design education to enable students to gain experience in practical studio work and equip them for entry into the degree programmes.

The programme offers each student personal diagnostic appraisal, which leads them to choose a particular specialisation in a degree programme.

Throughout the programme, students are involved in problem-solving activities in order to develop their creative, intellectual and critical skills. These are crucial skills needed in each student intending to pursue a degree programme.

The search for appropriate techniques and expressive forms through experimentation and innovations are also encouraged in the Foundation Programme.

Critical Studies plays an important part as it familiarises students with the contemporary theory and practice in art & design, seen within the historical and social contexts. Through this, students are encouraged to develop an analytical and critical mind, which are another crucial skills in the degree programmes.

The Foundation Programme has been granted full accreditation by Lembaga Akreditasi Negara (LAN) or the National Accreditation Board.

Duration: 3 semesters at KBU

Intake: January, April and July

Entry Requirements: 5 relevant credits in SPM / GCE ‘O’Level inclusive of English Language, STPM, GCE A-Levels, UEC or equivalent qualifications.

BA Interior Design

The program is shifted towards an Architectural orientation and it is also enriched with a broad Fine Art context. This allows a good balance of input between Architecture, Interior Design and Art. The BA Interior Design program is designed to prepare future professionals in the Interior Design field who will be functioning in the ever changing world of the new century. Students acquire sufficient knowledge, techniques and understanding of design which enables them to use it as a foundation both for employment and academic understanding. This program has been designed as the distinctive design of objects and space appropriate to their physical and social contexts. The program occupies a territory which will overlap other related fields: the precised ergonomic and hand-contact focus of furniture and product design; the transient and heightened atmospheric world of theatre design; the strategic thinking and client centered perspectives of trend forecasters, graphic designers and management consultancy; the conceptual strengths of contemporary performance and sculpture and the timeless universal qualities of architecture. The program also introduces and orientates students towards new technologies which not only reflect changes in innovative teaching and learning practices but also the international industrial market place.

The program aims:

To educate and produce graduates who will become professional practitioners with informed basic technical proficiency and firmly established critical perspectives.
To integrate theory and practice at every level with a view to satisfying the steadily expanding demands for the improvement of the interior of the build environment.
To provide right dimensions of cultural issues which arise from the design technologies in the context of social functions, the purposes they may serve and the behavior of the personnel using them.

The objectives of the program are:

to enable students to demonstrate a high level of FAMILIARISATION at Year One, THINKING at Year Two, CREATIVE IDEAS at Year Three and CONCEPTS at Year Four.
to enable students to demonstrate a high level of EXPERIMENTATION at Year One, LOOKING at Year Two, AESTHETICS AND DESIGN at Year Three and DESIGN SOLUTIONS at Year Four.
to enable students to demonstrate a high level of EXPLORATION at Year One, DOING/MAKING at Year Two, APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY at Year Three and PRODUCTION at Year Four.

Advantages for the holders of the BA in Interior Design:

Possess an accredited BA degree.
Become fully qualified for a promising career in the Interior Design field. They have all the capabilities to operate their own Design Studio or be employed as senior designers in Architectural or Interior Design Studios.

The MA Design course will develop your abilities to engage with the practice and study of design in commerical and/or social contexts, equipping you to bring the outcomes of design processes to fruition and to locate your personal practices within appropriate professional contexts.

Through a mixture of theory and practice, you will develop your design skills and knowledge. You will explore and debate design issues, experience the workplace, reflect on work organisations and carry out creative design projects. As a student you can focus on the contexts, issues and design outcomes that interest you and which will be of benefit to you personally.

You will study eight modules including: Professional Contexts, Design Issues and Contexts, Work Based Learning, Research Methods, Reflective Practice, an elective and design project modules. Assessment is through a range of coursework activities related to each module.

Because the MA is part of a postgraduate scheme there are times when you work alongside postgraduate students from othe disciplines from accross the School, ie landscape architecture and urban design. The electives offer the opportunity to draw on expertise from the wider University. In Semester 2 there are options for distance learning to support students whose work make it difficult to attend.
Teaching/Learning
The emphasis is on project-based modules where design is learned by doing, appropriately underpinned with lectures, visits, seminars, workshops and studio tutorials
Assessment
Modular assessment - the assessment of the presented work is conducted according to the assessment criteria of each module. Successful completion of 60 credits merits Postgraduate Certificate, 120 credits Postgraduate Diploma and 180 credits Masters Degree.