When done well, interior design can transform a space into one that’s not only fit for its purpose, but that inspires and brings joy to those within it.
In today’s world, there’s a growing need and high demand for interior designers who can create spaces, buildings and environments that aren’t only diverse and creative, but also address challenges around designing for wellbeing, diversity, disability, and sustainability.
What is interior design?
With the surge in popularity of do-it-yourself (DIY) and home improvement TV programmes recently, it can be easy to fall under the impression that interior design is just about home decorating. But, in reality, interior design is about much more than that.
Interior design is essentially the art of planning and designing functional spaces in residential or commercial buildings. It can include renovating and transforming existing interior spaces or creating completely new spaces from scratch.
As well as furnishings, fittings and fixtures of a space, interior design can also include architectural interior design and spatial design. For these reasons, it’s important for interior designers and architects to closely collaborate on interior design projects to create optimal spaces.
What sectors need interior designers?
As well as facing global challenges around sustainability and public health and wellbeing, we live in a society where multigenerational living, ageing populations and changing workplaces present unique challenges for governments and industries worldwide.
This has created a growing need for highly skilled interior designers across a range of sectors and industries and including both the private and public sector. For example, in:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Hospitality
- Retail
- Aged care
- Leisure
These sectors and more require interior designers that can harness their creativity and expertise to create functional interior spaces that address current and future challenges and promote the health and wellbeing of those using them.
What impact can interior design have on healthy living?
There’s no denying the link between design and healthy living. Interior design can have a positive impact on human health and wellbeing when it successfully achieves its goals and simultaneously embraces sustainability practices.
In fact, a 2020 World Happiness Report on sustainable development and human wellbeing revealed a strong link between sustainable development and human wellbeing. In addition, international organisations such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and European Environment Agency have also recognised and formally acknowledged the link between sustainability and health and wellbeing.
Neuroscientists have also reportedly discovered what interior design choices can specifically help to create homes that improve mental health and wellbeing, decrease stress and fatigue, and inspire creativity among their occupants.
Evidently, then, interior design can have a profound impact on healthy living – inspiring joy and creativity and boosting our overall health and wellbeing.
How can an MA in Interior Design help you succeed in the field?
Our MA in Interior Design can help you research how to create spaces, buildings and environments that are not only creative and diverse, but also recognise current and future sustainability and wellbeing standards.
It can help towards your learning and research knowledge of how to design for inclusivity, community and multi-generational living in home, work and learning environments.
Whether you’re interested in the interior, architectural, product or textile design disciplines, our MA can provide a broad spectrum of knowledge to take forward into your future career.
If you want to research how to create spaces that innovate, excite and address the needs of the people who use them, Arts University Bournemouth offers an online MA Interior Design that can be studied part-time over two years:
