Top honors awarded to MU Interior Design program

The program continues making plans to increase the quality.

By Shanté Fenique King

Published Jan. 30, 2009

MU's Interior Design degree program, sponsored by the architectural studies department, was named one of the top 10 interior design programs in the country by DesignIntelligence.

The Design Futures Council publishes DesignIntelligence, a trade publication for workers in the design and architecture industry.

Students who chose MU over other programs say they aren't surprised that the program received high marks.

Laura Carson, a junior architectural design major said the Architectural Studies program's small size is part of what drew her in, along with professional experience.

"We have real clients and we design for real world cases," Carson said. "I really enjoy the program because it's a small community within a large college."

Tori Nelson, also a junior architectural design major, said the department's small size is an asset.

"They really get a sense of us as designers so they can further help us and cater to our individual needs," she said.

The architectural studies also has a hands-on studio where seniors create real solutions to architectural problems as part of the department's capstone. Most designs are created using computer programs. So-Yeon Yoon, an assistant professor in the department, said computer visualization experience helps students have stronger design portfolios.

"Design is about seeing things," Yoon said.

Yoon said interior design isn't just about decorating; it's also about being able to see where things would be most effectively placed.

Part of MU's Interior Design program gives students the opportunity to work for actual companies. They go through a complete process of conceptualizing a project to making it a reality using computer program to create pieces of models that they then assemble.

Carson said she feels people do not realize how much work students put into structures from the smallest features to the largest parts of interior design.

While the Interior Design program has expanded its scope since the program was created, professors still believe there is more to be done for them to reach the No. 1 spot on the list.

Bimal Balakrishnan, assistant professor in the department, said he wants to see the program add a virtual lab, a move he said could help students with postgraduate success.

Balakrishnan also said he hopes to purchase a machine that will help students cut out pieces for models, which will increase precision and give students more time to work on creativity.