What Is Interior Design?

Interior Design Major is a field of study that focuses on planning and shaping interior spaces so they are functional, comfortable, and aesthetically strong. It is not only about “making a room look pretty,” but also about how spatial layout influences activities, behavior, emotions, and user experience—across homes, offices, retail, hospitality, and public spaces.

In general, an Interior Design major combines creativity, human-centered thinking, and technical knowledge. You will learn how to develop concepts, plan spaces, select materials, design lighting, consider ergonomics, and create solutions that are culturally and socially relevant. That’s why interior design is closely tied to problem solving: making a space “work” better for its purpose.

What Do You Study in This Major?

Most Interior Design curricula build design foundations while strengthening execution skills needed in studio practice and industry. Common learning areas include:

• Space planning & layout
• Design principles: composition, proportion, scale, rhythm, balance
• Design elements: line, form, texture, pattern, color
• Materials & finishes (selection, characteristics, application)
• Lighting design (function, atmosphere, activity needs)
• Ergonomics & anthropometrics (human comfort and dimensions)
• Basic building technology (technical constraints and systems)
• Design visualization & presentation (communicating ideas clearly)
• Digital tools for design and visualization

Skills You’ll Gain from an Interior Design Degree

To be industry-ready, Interior Design students typically develop a mix of creative and professional skills such as:

• Design thinking & problem solving
• User research and translating needs into spatial solutions
• Visual communication: sketching, drawings, and design storytelling
• Aesthetic sensitivity (color, materials, lighting, detailing)
• Attention to detail and project discipline
• Presentation & communication (defending concepts with clear reasoning)
• Cross-disciplinary collaboration (architects, contractors, vendors, clients)

Career Prospects for Its Graduates

Career prospects for Interior Design graduates are broad because the need for functional and attractive spaces will always exist. Common career paths include:

• Professional Interior Designer (residential, commercial, hospitality, retail)
• Furniture & product designer
• Exhibition & event designer
• Lighting / acoustic consultant
• Design entrepreneur (starting your own studio or creative business)
• Academician / design researcher

Who Is a Good Fit for This Major?

You may be a good fit for Interior Design if you:

• Enjoy observing spaces, details, and aesthetics
• Like drawing/visualizing and want to develop it further
• Are interested in creative problem solving (not just decoration)
• Are detail-oriented and comfortable with iterative revisions
• Enjoy collaboration and communicating with different stakeholders

UPH Interior Design: Learning Through a Human-Centered Approach

If you’re looking for an Interior Design major that balances academic quality with practical relevance, UPH’s Interior Design Program prepares students to apply Design Thinking in the design process. This creative problem-solving method includes generating ideas, building plans, designing, and producing design outcomes.

At UPH, design outcomes are guided to be not only practical and visually appealing, but also easy to use, environmentally friendly, and culturally and socially relevant.

Advantages of Studying Interior Design at UPH

Key strengths emphasized in UPH’s Interior Design Program include:

• A Design Thinking approach that builds a structured design process
• A balance of function, aesthetics, and usability
• An orientation toward environmentally friendly design and socio-cultural awareness
• Studio learning that encourages interdisciplinary and integrative thinking

UPH Interior Design Curriculum (Brief Overview)

UPH’s Interior Design curriculum is structured progressively—from foundational studio and visual skills, to digital and technical competencies, and finally professional readiness through portfolio and final project.

• Year 1: Studio Design 1–2, Design History & Criticism 1–2, Interior Visual 1–2, plus foundational courses.
• Year 2: Interior Design Studio 1–2, Interior Digital 1 & Digital Interior 2, Basic Building Technology, Ergonomics & Anthropometrics, Basic Material Exploration, Lighting Design.
• Year 3: Interior Design Studio 3–4, Design, Society & Environment, Advanced Building Technology, Design Research (project/internship/collaborative/thesis), Advanced Material Exploration, plus electives.
• Year 4: Final Project: Research in Context, Portfolio, and Final Project.

FAQ About Interior Design

1) Do you have to be good at drawing to major in Interior Design?

You don’t need to be “excellent” from the start, but drawing/visualization skills will help a lot. What matters most is willingness to learn and consistent practice.

2) What’s the difference between Interior Design and Architecture?

Architecture focuses more on designing buildings (structure, massing, and building systems), while Interior Design focuses on interior spaces: layout, user experience, materials and finishes, lighting, furniture, and interior detailing.

3) Is Interior Design only about decoration?

No. Interior Design also includes space planning and problem solving—how a space supports activities, comfort, safety, efficiency, and user needs.

Conclusion

Interior Design is a strong choice if you want to combine creativity, problem solving, and human-centered thinking to design spaces that are both functional and aesthetic. If you want to learn through a Design Thinking approach with a human-centered focus, UPH’s Interior Design Program is worth considering.

The Interior Design Program at UPH has produced outstanding graduates who have made real contributions—both through the companies they lead and through their brilliant creative design ideas. Some of our notable alumni include Greta Elsa (winner of the Asia Young Designer of The Year Award), Galih Sakti Wismoyo (Founder of Kelas Gambar), Levina Putri Limanjaya (Principal Interior Designer at Studio Talk), Michael Handojo (Partner at Fuze Collective), Abraham Halim (Corporate Township Head at PT Lippo Karawaci Tbk), and Keneth Sandy (CEO & Founder of KenethSandy Studio).

Join UPH’s Interior Design Program!

UPH Faculty of Design is committed to producing competent, excellent Interior Design graduates who are ready to contribute meaningfully in education, industry, and community service. At UPH, students are prepared to become successful future leaders. For more detailed information about this program, click here.

🎓 Special tuition fee discounts are available for new enrolments—so why wait? Register now (click here) or contact our Student Consultant at 0811-1057-7765  for more information!

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