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DSNI 315

DSNI 315: Studio: Public Places

Prerequisite: Junior standing in the program

Credit Hours: (3) Six hours studio.

An interior design studio exploration of commercial and institutional public spaces with an emphasis on design process and problem solving. 

 

Detailed Description of Content of Course

An interior design studio exploration of commercial and institutional public spaces with an emphasis on design process and problem solving. Building on previous skills, students develop an understanding of design process, planning, and problem-solving to interpret and resolve requirements on an increasingly complex scale. Current trends and knowledge related to the built environment’s support of work are applied to a variety of projects. Students will explore alternate solutions and concepts that create functionally appropriate and aesthetically pleasing solutions. Final resolutions will meet commercial building codes and barrier free guidelines to accommodate all users.  

Major topics to include: 

  1. Workplace interior design trends: 
    1. Traditional and non-traditional workplaces, organizational structures 
    2. Planning trends:  
      1. Open/closed space types 
      2. Hybrid work settings 
      3. Hoteling and office shares 
    3. Employee engagement and organization brand/mission 
    4. Informing design decisions through information and evidence 
  2. Design process 
    1. Programming: qualitative and quantitative approaches; information gathering, precedent studies, and evidence-based design; problem identification and problem-solving methods; space types, typicals, and functional relationships; building code research 
    2. Space planning and schematics: massing and circulation; room prototypes; conceptual design ideation and iteration; creative and effective solutions 
    3. Design development: full plan development; design sketching and concept development; elevations/sections; building code application 
    4. Interior construction documentation: interior construction drawings; materials, products, and finishes; specifications and schedules 
    5. Commercial FF&E: selection and specification of furniture, fixtures, and equipment 
  3. Design for public places: 
    1. Commercial building codes: federal, state/provincial, and local codes; occupancy loads and calculations; movement and means of egress, travel distances 
    2. Accessibility and barrier-free design  
    3. Human factors and ergonomics 
    4. Wayfinding and orientation 
    5. Organizational design, task design 
    6. Systems furniture – planning, selection and specification 
  4. Presentation and communication techniques:  
    1. Presentation drawings – digital, hand skills 
    2. Construction documentation – audience, purpose 
    3. Oral communication and presentation  

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

Instructional strategies to include:

  • Lecture and studio 
  • Hands-on, project-based learning: 2-3 interior design projects of varying size and complexity
  • Some group work, some individual 

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:  

  1. Explore design approaches to a range of public spaces including traditional and non-traditional workspaces, institutional, and commercial spaces.  
  2. Apply knowledge of building systems and construction within various project parameters.  
  3. Understand and apply current trends and knowledge to the design of spaces for work and public accommodation.  
  4. Understand the phases of the interior design process: Programming, Schematic Design and Concept Development, Design Development and Documentation, Presentation, Evaluation.
  5. Interpret and address the physiological, sociological, and psychological needs of the end-user in interior design solutions.
  6. Interpret federal, state/provincial, and local codes including occupancy group and load calculations, movement, travel distance, means of egress, barrier-free, and accessibility regulations and guidelines for interior design solutions.
  7. Express ideas and rationale developed in the design process through ideation drawings, preliminary sketches, and completed orthographic drawings.
  8. Produce visual and verbal presentations to communicate interior design solutions using the elements and principles of design.

In addition to the learning outcomes stated above, Interior Design studios will comply with the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) learning outcome standards. The map of those standards as they relate to the above listed may be furnished upon request. 

 

Assessment Measures

Projects, assignments, exercises, iterative work (check points, critiques, and revisions), self-evaluation, and presentations in written, oral, and graphic formats, to include:  

  • a minimum of one large-scale workplace design project 
  • a minimum of one small-scale non-traditional workplace or commercial design project 
  • a minimum of one design project executing the design process of pre-design, schematic design, and design development 
  • a minimum of one exercise utilizing and evidence-based design solution, the use of precedents to inform design, or researched quantitative/qualitative programming for a design solution 
  • a minimum of one design scenario for selecting, specifying, and employing FF&E to address specific needs, i.e. code requirements, durability, application with appropriate rationale relevant to address functional and aesthetic relationships to the built interior environment 
  • a minimum of one design scenario applying human factor accommodations for end users (i.e. ergonomics, accessibility and barrier free design, inclusivity and universal design principles, wayfinding and orientation, employee performance and productivity, safety, health, and wellbeing) in interior workplace scenarios.  
  • a minimum of one design scenario applying human wellbeing and environmental impact considerations (i.e. acoustics, thermal comfort, indoor air quality, waste management strategies, impact of the selection and application of products and systems) in interior workplace solutions 
  • a minimum of one design scenario applying building codes, life-safety, and wellness requirements for interior design workplace solutions 
  • a minimum of one oral/verbal presentation to communicate interior design workplace solutions 
  • a minimum of one iterative finalized visual presentation to communicate interior design workplace solutions 

 

Other Course Information

None

 

Review and Approval

March 29, 2024

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