Stimulating Up-to-Date

Curious, eager people are often left with lingering questions

What does the course kit contain?
Your course will be composed of four binders packed with your study materials. The study pack also includes some key interior design tools:

    Handy portfolio
    5m measuring tape
    Colour wheel
    Pen and pencils
    DVD Tutorial
(Click here to view the course kit)

Who designed the course?
The course was written and designed by Orna O'Reilly. Orna is a well known designer who is currently based in the west of Ireland. She specialises in both residential and commercial projects and has had twenty two years experience as an interior designer. After several years running a highly successful interior design business in South Africa, she has been based in Ireland since 2000.

Apart from her thriving design career, Orna writes for the glossy magazine "Upstairs Downstairs". She is a full designer member of the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID). Orna's full details are available on her website www.ornaoreilly.com.

What will the assignments be like?
You will write essays, do free-hand drawings, and draft floor plans. As you progress, you will also learn how to communicate with your prospective clients. This is a particularly important skill, because whether you are writing a proposal or merely setting out an invoice, superior presentation skills are a must. The object of all assignments and teaching methods used in this course is to provide you with the skills you will need not only to design and to bring your designs to life, but also to succeed!

How are the assignments submitted?
Assignments can be submitted by post, email or via the student section of our website.

Must I be good at drawing?
You do not necessarily have to be good at freehand drawing and if you are that is great, however, drawing plans with pencils and rulers is part of the course and this is a technical skill we will teach you. Your skills will be evaluated early in the course. If you have absolutely no drawing skills whatsoever, alternative ways of presenting to your clients will be suggested, depending on the level of work presented in your first and second assignments. The goal of this course is to provide you with all the means to achieve your Diploma in Interior Design and to give you every opportunity to develop the potential you have within you, so that you will not risk your talents going to waste.

How long will it take to complete the course?
As this is a correspondence course, you decide how long to take from start to completion. The course comes in the form of four books, designed to be studied together. You will complete a total of ten assignments during the course. The final examination is in the form of a project, which will be set for each student on completion of the first nine assignments. If no re-writing is necessary, the course should take on average about one year to complete. Students will be given tips and encouragement to ensure that they stick to a pre-arranged study schedule.

What level of education should I have in order to successfully complete this course?
An interest in interior design is often enough. To ensure that students from all backgrounds have the maximum chance to succeed, the IDAI closely monitors all students' efforts for the duration of the course and makes available helpful advice and backup support. A recommended reading list will also be provided to assist you with extra material.

Why a correspondence course?
A correspondence course can be completed in your own time and in your own home. If difficulties arise, there is always a fully qualified tutor who will be assigned to you personally, to advise you as you progress.

Will I have support from the IDAI during the course?
Our team of experienced designers will be on hand to assist you at any time during the duration of the course. You will be assigned your own tutor, who will be on hand to answer your queries.

What initials may I use after completing the Diploma course?
After successfully completing the course, you may put the initials 'Dip ID (IDAI)' after your name.