Interior Design Assistant Certificate

Become an interior design assistant

Program Facts

Credit hours: 33
Stackable to degree: Yes
Potential job outcomes: Interior design assistant

Start your career in interior design or learn new skills with the Interior Design Assistant Certificate at Harper College. Harper offers a supportive learning environment, modern classrooms, and high-tech labs. With our 19:1 student-to-teacher ratio, you'll learn from highly trained faculty in a supportive, constructive environment.

Harper's Business EdVantage program provides affordable tuition rates for out-of-district students who work in-district.

Credit earned through this program can be applied to the Interior Design AAS Degree.

Certificate program requirements

Program Overview

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This 33 credit-hour certificate program is for students interested in an introductory position in the furnishing, retail, or design industries. The certificate prepares students for a position as an Interior Design Assistant or in a variety of areas in the Interior Design industry ranging from wholesale suppliers, retail stores, or sales.

This certificate does not meet the necessary requirements to allow graduates to sit for the National Council of Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) exam. Students may continue their education by pursuing the Associate in Applied Science degree. Students considering this option are encouraged to meet with the program coordinator and/or an academic advisor prior to beginning the program and also when planning their schedule each semester.

F = Fall only course S = Spring only course U = Summer only course

Required:

Number	Course Title	Credits
ARC 116	Architectural CAD I	3
Description: Introduces computer hardware and state-of-the-art software as applied to applications in architecture, interior design and other related fields. Develops understanding of basic parameters for design and drafting technologies: entity creating and editing, printing and plotting, and file/data management. Projects are correlated primarily to architectural design issues. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
ART 121	Design I	3
Description: Introduces students to skills fundamental to two-dimensional visual organization. Explores elements such as line, shape and color, and principles such as unity, balance and variation. Provides a foundation for all areas of art and design. IAI ART 907 Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 100	Theory and Fundamentals of Design	2
Description: Introduces students to theoretical principles and nomenclature of design. Studies theories pertaining to elements and principles of design, color theory, psychology and color phenomenology as it relates to interior design. Studies human environment, proxemics and spatial behaviors. Examines universal design, designing for specific cultures and genders as well as other topical subjects. Covers the interior design profession, professional organizations and career employment. Recommended Corequisite: IND 101. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 101	Interior Design Studio I	3
Description: Studies interior design room arrangement and furniture selection. Investigates the elements and principles of design as they relate to interiors. Studies aesthetic aspects of interior design. Develops interior projects using space planning, furniture selection, the development of furniture elevations, and presentation techniques. (NOTE: Students will need to purchase a drafting kit in addition to textbooks.) Prerequisite: Prior or concurrent enrollment in IND 100. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 102	Interior Design Studio II S	3
Description: This course is only offered in the spring term. Continues the study of interior space planning and furniture selection as it relates to a functional and aesthetic interior. Investigates the use of fabric, finishes, color, and texture to complement the interior. Explores aesthetic application of color in interior design. Prerequisite: IND 101, IND103, and IND 106 with grades of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 103	History of Furniture and Interior Architecture F	3
Description: This course is only offered in the fall term. Presents a survey of furniture and interior design from antiquity to the present with an emphasis on European and American traditions, their history, and contemporary applications. Addresses the many types of furniture and architectural interiors as well as the historical and cultural factors that influenced their emergence. Investigates the role of manufacturing processes and innovations to deepen the students’ understanding of the furniture and interiors. Explores the history of the marketing and sale of furnishings as well as its relevance to contemporary commercial applications. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 106	Materials and Sources F	3
Description: This course is only offered in the fall term. Studies the construction and finishing of materials other than those of a structural nature, including limitations, quality control, application, uses, installation methods, and quantity calculations. Examines sources available to the designer. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 107	Interior Perspective and Rendering S	3
Description: This course is only offered in the spring term. Studies drawing and sketching methods of furniture and interior spaces. Develops drawing techniques for interior perspective views of buildings. Explores the use of axonometric drawing and the use of various medias to present the three-dimensional delineation of interior design. Examines balance and proportions of interior items within a three-dimensional space. Uses drawing techniques and color to define light and shadow, textures, material characteristics. Prerequisite: ART 121, IND 100 and IND 101 with grades of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 110	Problem Solving /Design Communication S	2
Description: This course is only offered in the spring term. Introduces the process of visual communication for interior designers. Identifies interior and architectural challenges and examines the design process of problem-solving through space analysis and planning. Utilizes collaborative methods to develop appropriate design strategies and solutions. Applies research and the use of elements and principles of design to skillfully manipulate interior spaces. Utilizes conceptual sketching and oral presentation to communicate design solutions. Prerequisite: IND 100 and IND 101 with grades of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 114	Codes for Interior Designers S	2
Description: This course is only offered in the spring term. Examines how interior building codes, governmental standards and federal regulations affect and are applied to interior design. References the International Codes, National Fire Protection Association standards and various accessibility requirements including the Americans with Disabilities Act. Prerequisite: IND 101 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 116	Interior Detail /Construction Drawing S	3
Description: This course is only offered in the spring term. Studies the methods and materials of interior construction and the graphic methods of communicating this information. Practices fundamental drafting conventions and develops drawing skills necessary for the production of working drawings such as floor plans, elevations, sections, finish schedules, reflected ceiling plans, and details. Discusses methods of electrical, plumbing, and HVAC distribution. Prerequisite: ARC 116, IND 100 and IND 101 with grades of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025

Electives: Choose one of the following 3-credit hour courses:

Number	Course Title	Credits
IND 220	CAD Studio S	3
Description: This course is only offered in the spring term. Covers advanced CAD techniques for two-dimensional space planning and interior elevations. Introduces 3-dimensional CAD and 3-D sketching to develop perspectives and walk-throughs of interior spaces. Emphasizes development of computer graphics to augment and represent interior spaces. Prerequisite: ARC 116 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
IND 230	Kitchen Design Studio F	3
Description: This course is only offered in the fall term. Examines the technical aspects and accessibility issues of designing kitchens. Practices fundamental drafting conventions including lettering, line work, dimensioning and symbol usage. Develops drawing for the kitchen including floor plans, electrical and lighting plans, elevations, and cabinet sections using NKBA guidelines and graphic presentation standards. Prerequisite: IND 102, IND 114 and IND 116 with grades of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025
MKT 140	Principles of Professional Selling	3
Description: Focuses upon the principal factors of successful selling of goods or ideas. Examines buying motives, sales psychology, customer approach and sales techniques. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 \| Spring 2025

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Next steps

For more information about the Interior Design Assistant Certificate program, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.