Designed to train the student for a career in interior design, the Diploma Course is the most in-depth and thorough career training the school offers. The content is more design-orientated and technically detailed than the Certificate courses and, with the opportunity to work on seven projects, both residential and commercial, students complete the course with an exceptionally varied and interesting portfolio. Computer aided design, detailed working drawings and extensive coverage of professional practice, also form an important part of the Diploma programme.
The course is full-time, divided into three terms and runs throughout the academic year with a Diploma awarded to those students whose work reaches the required standard. Each day is from 10.00am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday, although students frequently have to undertake considerable amount of work outside these hours.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
No previous art or design experience is necessary but students
must be at least twenty years old. Normally the entry standard is a degree, but mature students with sufficient prior learning
experience are particularly encouraged. Entry is by interview
and numbers are strictly limited. The purpose of the interview
is to assess applicants' academic ability, motivation, performance
under pressure and the reasons for undertaking the training.
English language ability must also be competent and we look
for a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English
Language Testing System (www.ielts.org) or its equivalent. Students
are also required to have a laptop computer for this course.
NOTE: The interview is the first step in the formal application process for KLC’s full-time courses. Before coming in you should check that you can study full-time, have the funding available, be of sufficient age and have the required language ability. To arrange an interview for this course, please contact us on 020 7376 3377 or e-mail info@klc.co.uk.
FUNDING
For information about financial assistance to support your learning please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact 0800 100 900.
EMPLOYMENT
AND WORK EXPERIENCE
KLC is very proactive about
helping students find full-time
employment at the end of the
course. KLC keeps in close touch
with alumni and continues to
offer on-going careers advice.Students are encouraged to opt
for work experience during their
second vacation which is
organised by the Vice Principal
through KLC’s extensive range
of top level contacts in the
industry. In recognition of these
facts, the course was previously
a Regional Winner of the National
Training Awards.
STUDENT
SUBSCRIPTION TO PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
Included in the price of this
course is a student affiliate
subscription for one year to the
professional association, the
British Interior Designers’
Association (BIDA).Successful
graduates of the Diploma in
Interior Design and Decoration
will automatically be eligible to
join the BIDA at Associate level.
The BIDA is a professional
membership association for
interior designers and is a
member of the International
Federation of Interior Architects
and Designers, which opens up
contacts worldwide, and enjoys a
dual membership agreement with
the IIDA, the US association.
Graduates of the Interior Design
Diploma with a prior degree can
also apply for Associate
Membership of the Design
Institute of Australia.
The intensive Diploma course syllabus covers every aspect of training for the aspiring interior designer and the carefully constructed, linear programme, built around a series of varied design projects, has been designed to develop the potential of each student. The combination of lectures and practical workshops allows students to build up confidence quickly by putting newly acquired information straight into practice. Good time management is encouraged and students are also given an insight into the many potential career opportunities that exist as well as one to one career advice.
In the early stages, students are introduced to the fundamentals of design drawing, carefully integrated with an introduction to computer aided design, design principles, construction and presentation techniques all set in the context of the design process as a whole. All these areas are further developed as the course progresses so that graduates can develop their design solutions, on a sound basis, and effectively communicate their ideas to the client. Throughout the course considerable emphasis is placed on the importance of the relationship with the client.
Supporting studies, range from an inspirational exploration of the development of style in architecture and the decorative arts, to down to earth practicalities such as the basics of plumbing, heating and drainage. Lighting design is a key topic while other very relevant contemporary issues such as environmentally friendly design and housing technology are similarly highlighted. Design trends and the elements that go into creating decorative schemes as an integral part of a design, also form a valuable part of the course, together with the application and specification of materials and finishes.
THE
LECTURERS
KLC lecturers are all working professionals of the highest
calibre and include some of the country's top architects, interior designers,
interior decorators and specialists.
BUSINESS
PRINCIPLES
Students are given an insight into sound business principles,
procedures and practice. Topics include contracts, permissions,
fees/charging, budgeting, costing and estimating, record
keeping, insurance, designer/trade relationships, project
co-ordination and how to run a workforce.
COMPUTER
AIDED DESIGN
Computer
Aided Design enables a designer to work faster with greater
flexibility and to make adjustments to plans and elevations
easily. It is rapidly becoming a must for the efficient
running of a design practice and, as such, is an integral
part of the Diploma Course. KLC uses MiniCAD VectorWorks,
which is becoming the industry-standard CAD software.
VISITS
Students are taken to key trade showrooms in order to gain
first hand knowledge of trends and techniques.
They are also accompanied on visits to museums and houses
of architectural merit, both in and out of London, as well
as period and modern buildings of particular relevance to
the study of the development of interior style.
THE PORTFOLIO
Throughout their training,
Diploma Course students build the
basis of their own extensive
portfolio founded on a number of
realistic design projects and the
brief is always given by the “client”. Projects are chosen to
give students as wide a range of
experience as possible and include
different sizes and style of
property and clients with widely
varying requirements. Previous
projects include restaurants, bars,
hotels, health clubs, hospitals, the
royal yacht and a design centre as
well as numerous different
residential projects.
Each of the projects provides a clear learning objective and is based on either a real project or a realistic situation.
Wherever possible students
visit the actual site to assess both
the functional and aesthetic nature
of the environment. Students also
learn to anticipate the practical
application of each project, with
particular reference in contract
situations to traffic flow, security
and project co-ordination.
For most projects, students are
required to prepare floor plans,
elevations, concept boards,
perspectives, a lighting plan,
axonometric or isometric drawings
and a sample board. Individuality
is encouraged and it is our policy
to ensure that students develop
their own ideas rather than to
impose a set house style.
DIPLOMA
COURSE SYLLABUS
TECHNICAL SKILLS
- Survey and compilation
of report
- Floor plans, sections, elevations and furniture layouts
- Lettering and titling
- Axonometric and isometric
projections
- Scale models
- Detailed working drawings
- 2D CAD and an introduction to 3D software
- One and two-point perspective
- Freehand sketching and
shading
PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES
- Concept boards, sample boards
and furniture boards
- Graphics and their application
- Rendering techniques
- Presentation methods to
include power point
TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING
- Residential and commercial
lighting and electrical plans
- Plumbing, heating and
drainage
- Building construction
- Spatial planning and
accessibility
- Building regulations
- Considerations for contract
design
- Integrated technology –
intelligent systems, multi-room
audio, home theatre and
cinema
- Colour theory, the psychology
of colour, colour and light and
period colour
HISTORY OF STYLE
- Classical styles
- French and English style from
1660 to the present day
- Modern architecture and
furniture
MATERIALS AND FINISHES
- Sourcing/trade reference library
- Putting schemes together
- Wall and floor coverings
- Textiles and trimmings
- Window and bed treatments
- Upholstery, tenting and walling
- Contemporary details and
contract fabrics
- Use of paint and decorative
finishes
- Preparation of surfaces
- Materials and fixings
THE DESIGN PROCESS
- Taking the brief and design
analysis
- Concept work and how to
access creativity
- Planning, implementation and
self evaluation
- Scale, anthropometrics,
ergonomics, proxemics
- Kitchen and bathroom design
BUSINESS PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATION
- Record keeping, time
management
- Dealing with the trade,
trade accounts
- Working with other
professionals
- Pattern books and sampling
- Filing, client diary and action
record
- Estimating quantities and
contract budgeting
- Estimating, specifying,
scheduling, ordering, invoicing
- Insurance, contracts, fees,
accounts
- Introduction to project
monitoring or supervision
- Law, policy and guidance to
listed buildings
- Health and safety
- Business ethics
CONTEXTUAL STUDIES
- Environmental issues
- Design trends
- Decorative styles
- Project research
- Career advice
- Portfolio surgery
- Working in a design team
- Visits to showrooms,
contemporary exhibitions,
trade fairs and museums
- Inspirational lectures
- Late 20th/early 21st Century
furniture design
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