DIPLOMA COURSE GUIDE
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National Design Academy Head Office and Studios - Nottingham, UK
Dear Design Enthusiast,
Welcome to the National Design Academy
National Design Academy (NDA) has been established for 35 years, and is the UK’s leading provider of fully accredited Interior Design courses. We offer flexible, part-time courses that fit around your work and personal commitments; from Diploma courses to Master’s Degrees. Study online through the NDA’s own Virtual Learning Studio (VLS) and gain qualifications that are recognised throughout this vibrant and lucrative industry. We offer Diplomas in Interior Design, Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings and Garden Design. All NDA Diplomas are accredited by AIM Awards.
Starting with an NDA Diploma course will give you the skills required to design your own projects or to start your own small business to help family and friends with theirs. For a career in interior design you can then progress onto a Degree course with the same flexible method of study. There are no examinations for our courses; all progress is carried out through assignments. If you need help, our experienced tutor team are happy to provide support through the NDA helpline, email or personal tutorial. You can also exchange ideas and share your work with fellow students on our lively community forum. Most importantly, NDA courses are industry-led, we provide our students with the best preparation for a career in design, and the commercial and entrepreneurial skills to start their own business.
The NDA has trained thousands of successful interior designers, many of whom are running their own business or working for prestigious design practices around the world. At NDA we are passionate about design and helping our students to achieve their goals.
Pauline Riley Academy Director3
Reasons for studying with NDA
Accredited:
NDA believes that all your hard work studying should be rewarded by a recognised awarding body. NDA Diplomas are accredited by AIM Awards, a UK National Awarding Body registered with OFQUAL.
Affordable:
NDA is a ‘Not for Profit’ Foundation, meaning profits are used to maintain low fees and scholarships for the benefit of our students.
Supported:
As well as a dedicated student support team you will be assigned your own personal tutor who you can contact via telephone, video call or email from Monday to Friday 9am-5pm for advice and guidance about your work and to discuss your progression through your course.’
Flexible:
Learning and life sometimes clash and because we don’t always know what’s ahead of us, flexible learning with the NDA balances a structured programme with individual choice, allowing you to work at your own pace and still achieve your aspirational goals.
Trusted:
Established for 35 years, NDA is the UK’s leading provider of recognised Interior Design courses.
Progression:
Once you have successfully completed an NDA Diploma you can progress onto an online degree with NDA, with a progression scholarship to reduce tuition fees.
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NDA Diploma Co urse s
All NDA Diploma Courses can be studied either flexibly Online or In-Studio.
Online (Flexible):
Studying flexibly online by distance learning, makes the NDA Diploma courses accessible to everyone anywhere in the world. Choose your own start date and decide when and where you study, there are no set terms and semesters.
The Diploma is designed to let you study around your family, work or other commitments and to suit your lifestyle. Most students complete the course comfortably within 6 to 12 months but you can complete even sooner if you have more free time. Your assignments will be design projects, and assessed by your Personal Tutor who you can contact as often as you wish – you will not have to take an examination.
NDA has been delivering design qualifications for 35 years so we know a thing or two about online and distance learning. We have designed our online courses to be flexible and very user-friendly.
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In-Studio Fast-Track:
As an alternative to flexible online study our live ‘In-Studio’ Diploma courses allow you to join other design enthusiasts for a more hands-on and collaborative approach to learning. It is particularly useful if you are looking to fast-track your qualification, either for a new career or if you would like to study for a degree.
As shown in the course schedule on the right, you study two weeks in-studio, each followed by weeks of home study to complete about 30 hours of design projects, with full access to your course and help from your Tutor. You can be qualfied in just 12 weeks!
Receive hands-on advice directly from our highly experienced NDA Tutors, and enjoy working with the fantastic mix of students on the course, helping to create an exciting, friendly and dynamic class and the chance to share ideas with fellow up and coming designers.
Week 1 In-Studio
Week 2 Home Study Online
Week 3 Home Study Online
Week 4 Home Study Online
Week 5 Home Study Online
Week 6 Home Study Online
Week 7 In-Studio
Week 8 Home Study Online
Week 9 Home Study Online
Week 10 Home Study Online
Week 11 Home Study Online
Week 12 Home Study Online
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ONLINE FAST-TRACK
Online Fast-Track (via Zoom):
With twice weekly live Zoom classes, the Online Fast-Tracked Diploma combines the intensive pace of the ‘In-Studio FastTrack’ Diploma and the convenience of the ‘Online Flexible’ Diploma.
This 14-week course is ideal for those students wanting to study from home and speed up their learning in a live environment.
2.5hr live lectures are organised two days per week for an 8 week study period that covers each of the 8 subject units in the Diploma course, one unit per week.
Up to 4 ‘Independent Study’ weeks are included within the duration of your course to complete any unfinished assignments.
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Course Content
Students have access to a detailed online resource which replaces the normal lectures given in Colleges and Universities. This provides links to other online resources and may contain videos, images, quizzes and other detailed information.
Student Community
The online “community” allows students to interact with other students, ask questions, share work and gain support from over 2000 online students and graduates.
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Here to Help
All students have an allocated tutor to guide them through their qualification and they can contact their tutor by telephone, video call or email.
We also have a dedicated student support and administration team to help deal with any other queries such as payments, student loans advice and anything else you may need a helping hand with.
“The panel commended the student support and engagement provided by tutors and noted that tutors were able to respond quickly to questions or requests for support via telephone or email.”
University Review
SUPPORT
Design taught online?
The Virtual Learning Studio (VLS)
The VLS is our exclusive, online learning resource which replaces the normal lectures given in Colleges and Universities. This is where you will find all of your course content consisting of interactive reading, videos, images, quizzes and lectures. Here you will also find a wealth of additional content such as how-to guides, software support guides and tutorials and also links to a gallery of former student work were you can find whole new inspiration.
The nature of the online platform means you can work through content at your own pace and students can rewind and re-watch any video content until they are sure they have understood. No frantic note taking and no missing an important lecture! Study when and where it suits you!
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“Everything that I needed was there and very clear... Good as always, plenty of information when needed”
Comment taken from former student.
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OPEN DAY
Our Open Days are delivered online via Zoom, and they are the perfect opportunity to get a real feel for the Academy and the courses that are offered.
When you attend an NDA Open Day online, you can meet our Tutors, who will explain all aspects of our courses, from ’what’ and ‘how’ you will study, to student loans, funding and payment options. You will be able to see examples of student work for all courses, with a demonstration of how the course is delivered through our online platform, the Virtual Learning Studio. You will also find out about the different study options and how the in-studio and Zoom programmes are managed to fast-track your qualification.
Each Open Day aims to give you a real feel for design, as well as offering a chance for you to ask our expert Tutor Team any questions you may have.
Please Register your interest here.
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DISCOVER OUR DIPLOMA COURSES
COURSES
Diploma courses provide the perfect introduction to the world of design and you don’t need any previous qualifications to study. All Diplomas can be studied flexibly online, around your work or family commitments. Alternatively, you can choose to follow a programme that blends online study with instudio or Zoom sessions: these options allow you to fast-track your way to qualification.
In-studio courses offer the chance to reduce the time taken to gain your qualification by offering two weeks of intensive training on-site at either our head office in Nottingham (UK) or our studio in Dubai (UAE). Students taking this option can complete their qualification in 12-weeks.
Combining the intensive pace of the ‘In-studio course’ and the convenience of the ‘Online Flexible course’ the ‘On-line Fast-Tracked’ 16 week diploma is ideal for those students who want to study from home and speed up their learning in a more structured way.
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Diploma in Professional Interior Design
About the course:
The Diploma in Professional Interior Design is the perfect course if you have creative ideas and would like help putting them into practice. This Diploma is a great introduction to interior design and will provide you with the skills you need to design your own projects with style, to start your own business or enter a design career; and it will even give you the confidence to move on to study an online degree with NDA!
There are eight units to study and they will provide you with a wide and detailed knowledge of the inspiring world of interiors. From the history of interior design to choosing the colours for a contemporary scheme, the Diploma course covers it all.
You will be working from concept stage, through to design development and final proposal stage for a residential project. You will learn about the role of the interior designer, design inspiration, colour for interiors, drawing and space planning, wall and floor finishes, soft furnishings, furniture and accessories, lighting and professional practice. You’ll also learn how to establish industry contacts, where to source fabrics, furnishings and samples, and even how to start your own design business.
Entry requirements: Students are required to have a good standard of written English and be able to read and understand English.
There are no academic requirements, just a keen interest in interior design!
How long does the course last?
Online Flexible: 8-10 months
Online Fast-Track (via Zoom): 14 Weeks
In-Studio Fast-Track: 12 Weeks
Qualifications awarded:
Externally accredited Level 3 Diploma in Interior Design through AIM Awards and NDA’s own Certificate confirming achievement of the course.
Please note: Diplomas DO NOT state that the student has studied online
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What will I study?
Unit 1: Interior Design and the Role of the Designer
This unit introduces you to the fundamental elements and principles that are common within a successful design scheme and how they are adopted by Professional Interior Designers today. You’ll learn how and why interior design has changed over time and to identify key interior design trends. What you learn in this unit will provide an essential foundation to underpin your future designs. This unit also includes:
• The 7 design elements of good design
• Interior Design history and contemporary practice
• The role of an Interior Designer and different project types
• Professional presentation boards
• How to write a short design report
Unit 2: Using Colour in Interior Design
This unit will spark your creativity by giving you the opportunity to play with colour. You’ll explore practical colour theory to enable you to design both historical and contemporary colour schemes. This unit also includes:
• Basic colour principles and terminology
• The impact of colour in a design scheme
• The psychological importance of colour in an interior space
• Historical and contemporary colour trends
• Creating a successful interior design colour scheme
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Unit 3: Exploring Surface Finishes in Interior Design
This unit covers the wide and exciting range of surface finishes now available to create fabulous interiors. You’ll explore the versatility and impact of materials for walls, floors and soft furnishings and how to use them to create an effective design scheme. This unit also includes:
• The characteristics and suitability of different materials
• Sourcing and using materials to develop a design scheme
• Practical skills to represent colour, pattern and texture
• How to visually present your design ideas
Unit 4: Plans and Space Planning in a Professional Context
This unit shows you how to plan the space for a room design. From initial sketches to final layouts, you will visualise and present design solutions to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:
• Understanding the space and the client brief
• Traffic flow and zoning of space
• Developing floor plans
• Creating elevations
• Practical sketching and drawing techniques
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Unit 5: Furniture and Accessories in Interior Design
This unit focusses on the limitless range of furniture and accessories available to the Interior Designer. You’ll learn to recognise key styles in furniture and accessory design and how to select and source appropriate furniture and accessories to meet a client brief. This unit also includes:
• Understanding of different furniture and accessory styles, historical and contemporary
• Influential practitioners and design movements
• The characteristics and suitability of furniture and accessories
• Choosing and sourcing items
• Producing furniture layouts
Unit 6: Creative Lighting in Interior Design
This unit explores the potential of creative lighting in interiors and develops your knowledge of lighting design, including traditional and contemporary products. You’ll learn how to choose lighting for your schemes and how to deal with suppliers. This unit also includes:
• Understanding different lighting products and lamps
• Task, ambient and decorative lighting
• Lighting levels for room design
• Cool and warm lighting
• Creating a lighting scheme for a furniture layout
• Applying symbols appropriate to industry lighting plans
• Developing a lighting plan to meet a client brief
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Unit 7: Professional Practice in Interior Design
This unit explores the diverse possibilities for a career in the interior design industry and helps prepare you to work successfully in the professional environment, whether this be in an established practice or setting up an interior design business. With a focus on your personal and professional development, you will consider the steps you should take to achieve your own progression ambitions. This unit also includes:
• Being employed, self-employed and setting up an interior design service
• Portfolio development
• Working with others in a professional environment
• Effective marketing and promotion
• How to charge for your design service
• Studying for a degree
Unit 8: Professional Interior Design Project
For this final unit of the course, you bring together all your newly learned skills by producing conceptual designs to create a wonderful interior design scheme for a new client. When complete, your work will form an asset to your developing portfolio to show future clients. This unit also includes:
• Developing a design concept
• Creating a colour scheme
• Selecting surface finishes
• Space planning, including furniture and accessory arrangements
• Creating a lighting plan
• Professional presentation techniques
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What Next?
HIGHER EDUCATION
Once you have successfully completed the NDA Diploma in Professional Interior Design, you will be offered a guaranteed place onto our degree, with a generous Progression Scholarship. Degrees are awarded by our academic partner, De Montfort University Leicester (DMU), and they are studied flexibly online.
CAREERS
The Diploma in Professional Interior Design is designed to help you start your own Interior Design business. Like the Diploma course itself, you can work flexibly for your clients around your family commitments and gradually expand your business.
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Amy Johnson
Amy Johnson left school with a keen interest in studying Psychology and Criminology, but after two attempts at two different Universities, quickly realised that she needed to choose a career path that would allow her to use her creative skills.
Her father ran his own architectural and interior design practice for over 30 years, and after working for a short period of time as an Administrative Assistant within the practice, she decided to take the plunge and enrol on the National Design Academy Diploma in Professional Interior Design course.
As soon as she started the Diploma in Professional Interior Design, she knew this was the career for her. She has since progressed to complete the Foundation Degree in Interior Design course and is now studying the BA (Hons) Top-Up in Interior Design course, all whilst working as a Trainee Interior Designer.
Why did you choose to study with the National Design Academy?
Having tried university away from home twice, I knew I needed to find a distance-learning course that would allow me to work whilst studying. The National Design Academy stood out amongst the rest, and after a fantastic experience undertaking the Diploma course, I knew I wanted to continue my studies with the National Design Academy.
What were the most valuable skills you learnt whilst on the course?
Studying via distance learning allows for the development of time management skills – having two jobs and studying a degree has definitely allowed me to learn how to effectively manage my time and prioritise tasks.
What are your plans for the future?
I am currently in the process of launching a new e-commerce business with my father – Edward James Interiors – with the aim of opening a high-street store shortly after launching our online store. Edward James Interiors has been formed to provide a one-stop shopping experience for discerning clients looking for high-quality furnishings, fixtures, and finishes, alongside our optional qualified professional interior design service to create bespoke interiors.
Would you recommend someone to study with the National Design Academy, if so, why?
I would recommend anybody with a willingness to study Interior Design to consider the National Design Academy. The tutor support is fantastic and it is a great way to gain qualifications without having to put the rest of your life on hold.
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WHERE TO FIND
Nottingham Headquarters
National Design Academy
Rufford Hall, Waterside Way,
Nottingham, NG2 4DP
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 1159 123 412
Email: admissions@nda.ac.uk
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Phone:
FIND US Dubai Office
National Design Academy
Office Block 2B, First Floor F29,
Knowledge Park, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, PO Box 333207
+971 44298788
Email: international@nda.ac.uk
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Phone:
ACCREDITED Partners & Associations
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The National Design Academy is part of The NDA Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation committed to widening access to Further & Higher Education through affordable, flexible, online delivery.
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