Identities: A Royal College of Art Project

Abstract

This article describes a first-year project from the Master of Arts Interior Design programme at the Royal College of Art in London. The ‘Identities’ project is formulated to ensure that students consider the material qualities of their work and develop design proposals that resolve a small scale interior design problem in finite detail. To achieve this a project structure has been developed where materials selection is the departure point for the work. The problem of planning is removed from the equation as students are given a fixed plan with which to work and the focus of the work then concentrates on the three-dimensional development of an interior design proposal where the consideration of structure, materials, form, detail, color, pattern, texture and finish are key. Development work utilizes model making as the principle means of communication. The project is broken down into clear phases that demand students work through progressively larger scales (from 1:20 through to full size) allowing detailed development of schemes as appropriate. The notion of ‘learning through making’ is crucial and the utilization of model-making and prototyping is important. Tutorials are tailored to fit around the project structure to provide both support and rigorous critique throughout the process. The results of this approach are project outcomes that fully resolve interior design proposals in an unequivocal way at scales up to full size.

Keywords:

• RCA
• interior design project
• materials
• detail
• making
• learning
• teaching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Biography

Ian Higgins is an interior designer who has taught the subject for over twenty-five years. Currently Senior Tutor on the MA Interior Design programme at the Royal College of Art, he has previously taught at Nottingham Trent University and Kingston University. ‘Spatial Strategies for Interior Design’ was published in 2015. Email: [email protected]