Design Institute of San Diego

Design Institute of San Diego is a private, independent college founded in 1977 devoted to a single purpose: professional education in interior design. The faculty, resources, administration, physical facilities and educational activities of Design Institute are entirely committed to this purpose.

The college seeks to teach, preserve and expand the knowledge of design which is essential to the quality of life in the diverse society it serves as well as to educate individuals capable of assuming significant roles in the interior design profession.

Location

Design Institute's campus is convenient to freeways and services. Affordable housing, restaurants, theaters and shopping are within close proximity to the school. The City of San Diego provides a wonderful "classroom without walls" for students of Design Institute. San Diego is alive with visual interest, from its gracious old missions to the natural beauty of Balboa Park.

Facilities

Located near the Pacific beaches of La Jolla, the facilities are of high-tech contemporary design and include: spacious classrooms; drafting studios; exhibition spaces; computer labs; lighting lab; sample room; media center; student lounge; faculty lounge; administrative offices; and convenient parking. A library containing design files, periodicals, manufacturers' catalogues and audio-visual materials in addition to books is available for student use during school hours.

Housing

Although there is no current housing available on campus, students may arrange for their own living accommodations close to the school. Additional information about housing in the area is available through the Admissions office. This service is provided as a courtesy to students.

Student Life

Southern California is a mecca for artists and designers who find the beauty of the Pacific ocean, the colors and textures of the desert and the intense clarity of the California sun conducive to the creative life. Many come as students and find it hard to leave.

Faculty

The faculty at Design Institute includes: practicing interior designers; architects; artists; historians; environmental psychologists; lighting designers; engineers; computer technologists; and business consultants—all working professionals in their fields who bring practical instruction based on current professional knowledge to the classroom.

State of California Institutional Approval

Design Institute of San Diego has been approved by the Bureau for Private Post-secondary and Vocational Education, State of California, USA as a degree-granting educational institution.

Accreditation

CIDA Accreditation - The Interior Design Program leading to a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design degree at Design Institute is a professional level program accredited by CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation).

ACICS Accreditation - Design Institute of San Diego is a senior college accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design degree.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design

Interior design is a visual art. Interior design is a technical art. Interior design is a practical art. Since its founding, Design Institute graduates have enriched the profession through their training and their creative talent. The challenge of interior design education is to address the artistic, intellectual, technical and practical considerations necessary to provide students with a stable base upon which to begin to practice the art of interior design. If this foundation incorporates awareness of the total context out of which design emerges and of which it is a part, the student will have been prepared to continue to develop as an artist and practitioner in the years to come.

Our objective is to educate interior designers who are prepared for the professional world they will enter upon graduation. The curriculum and methods of instruction are intended to provide the student with a broad understanding of the interior design profession; to develop the student's creative, technical, and analytical skills; to provide an understanding of the historical and social foundations of design; to introduce the practical aspects of business; and to develop in the student a keen awareness of the professional responsibilities of an interior designer.

This 4-year program of undergraduate study in interior design provides an artistic, intellectual and technical foundation upon which to build not only a professional career, but a rewarding and meaningful life—productive for the individual as well as for the community. General education courses provide the student with a grounding in liberal arts traditions, values as well as critical thinking and the interior design major offers a solid foundation of professional study for a career in interior design.

Information

If you are interested in this school and would like to find out more, please Request Information from Design Institute of San Diego.