Higher National Certificate Home Study

Discover the foundations of interior design as both a creative discipline and professional practice. This module traces the evolution of design from the Gothic era to contemporary styles, while exploring how social change, globalisation, sustainability, and technology shape the industry today. You'll build confidence with key concepts, terminology, and research methods, learning how to forecast trends, generate ideas, and apply structured creative processes that will support your future design work.

Gain a deeper understanding of how to design spaces that balance function, flow, and aesthetics. This module introduces client profiling, project briefs, and the Design Cycle as a development framework. You'll explore the defining characteristics of space - size, shape, proportion, and volume - and learn how harmony, rhythm, balance, and scale bring interiors to life. Practical tools such as zoning, bubble diagrams, and layout testing will help you create environments that are both purposeful and inspiring.

Learn the visual language that underpins every successful interior. This module introduces the essential elements - form, line, light, colour, texture, pattern, and space - while unpacking the principles that govern their use, including balance, proportion, contrast, and rhythm. You'll explore how materials and finishes transform environments, the psychology of colour, and the role of lighting in shaping atmosphere. With a strong grasp of these fundamentals, you'll be ready to design with intention and impact.

Develop the drawing and sketching skills every interior designer needs to communicate ideas with clarity and confidence. This module covers freehand sketching, shading, and perspective drawing, alongside rendering techniques for realistic visualisation. You'll learn how to create architectural drawings - plans, sections, and elevations - using the correct symbols, scales, and annotations, while also exploring model-making as a tool for problem-solving. By strengthening your visual communication, you'll be able to present concepts professionally from the start.

Learn how to successfully launch a design project by defining clear goals, clients, and contexts. This module explores how to interpret briefs, conduct user studies, and apply research methods such as interviews and observations. You'll compare residential and commercial contexts, discover how to create professional concept and sample boards, and practice reflective techniques to refine your ideas. With a strong start, you'll set the tone for a well-structured and innovative project journey.

Build the practical skills needed to evaluate and measure real-world spaces with accuracy. This module introduces key surveying methods, measuring techniques, and approaches to recording site data. You'll also learn how to test materials, prototype solutions, and apply iterative processes - plan, test, review - to improve design outcomes. By developing strong evaluation and reporting skills, you'll be ready to make informed design decisions rooted in evidence and precision.

Enhance your ability to bring design concepts to life through compelling visualisations. This module introduces both manual and digital techniques, with a focus on CAD and rendering tools. You'll learn drawing conventions, orthogonal views, and annotation standards, before exploring 2D and 3D rendering methods that add realism with materials, textures, and lighting. From mood boards to digital prototypes, you'll gain the skills to communicate atmosphere, function, and design intent with clarity.

Master the creative and technical aspects of lighting design and visual media in interiors. This module covers natural and artificial lighting, fixture types, controls, and sustainability, alongside the preparation of professional reflected ceiling plans (RCPs). You'll also explore photography, styling, and editing techniques for documenting interiors, as well as digital media tools for creating engaging narratives online. By the end, you'll understand how light and media shape both design outcomes and user experience.

Explore the creative and functional use of materials and finishes in interiors. This module introduces decorative techniques, surface treatments, trims, textiles, and window dressings, showing how each contributes to both aesthetics and practicality. You'll examine fabric types, textile manipulation, and the properties of materials such as durability and porosity, alongside sustainable practices like refurbishment and reuse. With this knowledge, you'll be able to specify finishes that elevate your projects with professional polish.

Advance your project development by refining your material choices and design direction. This module encourages critical reflection on how sustainability, durability, and aesthetics influence your decisions, with guidance on tailoring these considerations to both residential and commercial contexts. Through applied exercises, you'll strengthen your ability to align design concepts with client expectations and project requirements, producing work that is both creative and strategically grounded.

Gain insight into the collaborative nature of professional design practice. This module introduces the different roles involved in project delivery - from creative direction to technical support and construction management. You'll learn how to adapt communication and deliverables for clients, contractors, and collaborators, ensuring each audience receives the information they need. By understanding workflows and responsibilities, you'll be prepared to contribute confidently to multidisciplinary design projects.

Learn how to present your ideas with impact and professionalism across a variety of platforms. This module explores communication formats such as portfolios, blogs, schematics, websites, and social media, alongside physical outputs like sketches, maquettes, and sample boards. You'll gain strategies for tailoring your message to clients, collaborators, and wider audiences, ensuring your work is both engaging and memorable in every setting.

Understand the ethical frameworks and responsibilities that shape modern interior design practice. This module explores sustainability, recyclability, energy use, and biophilic design, alongside professional ethics such as codes of conduct, intellectual property, and contractual obligations. You'll also reflect on how AI and emerging technologies are reshaping ethical standards, gaining the awareness needed to practice responsibly in a changing design landscape.

Develop the skills to deliver polished and persuasive design presentations. This module focuses on structuring narratives for clarity and impact, managing timing and flow, and using visual hierarchy to guide your audience. You'll learn how to edit content for clarity, align presentations with client briefs, and communicate mood and atmosphere effectively. With practice and feedback, you'll build the confidence to present your work to a professional standard.

Bring your design project to completion with professionalism and polish. This module covers how to review and refine technical drawings, ensure documentation meets industry standards, and integrate constructive feedback through peer review. You'll also explore the role of interactive meetings and group sessions in finalising outcomes. By the end, you'll be ready to submit a fully resolved project that reflects both creative ambition and professional standards.