Designing life from the inside out
Richard Leite (BFA)
Interior Design
Valeria Montalvo (BFA)
Karen Decaro Pizarro (BFA)
Xinrou Qiu ‘26 (BFA)
Yuliya Martin ‘26 (AAS)
What Is Interior Design? Design shapes our emotions, influences our behaviors, and defines how we experience the world around us. It’s not just about making a space look good—it’s about how interiors function, evolve, and enhance the human experience. Interior design goes beyond decoration; it is an intricate balance of psychology, space planning, lighting, design history, technology, and functionality. Decoration plays an essential role—it’s often what first sparks inspiration and draws people into the field. But true design goes deeper. A well-designed space starts with research: It tells a story, serves a purpose, and anticipates the needs of the people who use it. It considers how we live, work, heal, and connect in a space, whether it’s a home, a hospital, a classroom, a restaurant, or a workplace. True design endures. It is intentional, impactful, and human-centered. And the key to creating spaces that transcend trends and time? A formal education that equips designers with the knowledge, skills, and vision to shape the built environment thoughtfully and responsibly. Interior design isn’t just a career—it’s a way to shape the world.
What Do Interior Designers Do? Meet with clients to learn their needs and understand their goals. Sketch and ideate to create a unifying design concept. Create space plans, color schemes, and lighting plans. Apply knowledge of history, culture, and psychology in their work. Choose furniture, fabrics, and materials. Create construction documents, consisting of plans, elevations, 3D models, details, and specifications. Ensure that the design will meet all public health and safety requirements, including code, accessibility, environmental, and sustainability guidelines and laws. Act as project manager, interfacing with contractors, workrooms, and the client.
Types of Interior Design Within the field of interior design, there are a wealth of career options. You can start your own practice or work for a firm. You can go in-house for a brand, hospital system, or government agency. Or specialize in a particular skill like lighting or sustainability or sector like hospitality or residential design.
Residential Design
Commercial Design
Design of the spaces we live in.
Design of the spaces we work in.
Fire Island Retreat, NY • Drew McGukin ‘10 (AAS)
The Wallace Foundation, NYC | Kiki Dennis ‘00 (AAS)
photo: kris tamburello, courtesy of drew mcgukin interiors
courtesy of tenberke
Hospitality Design
Healthcare Design
Design of hotels and restaurants.
Design of healthcare environments.
Four Seasons Cabo | Amanda Davis ‘15 (MFA1)
Brooklyn Hospital Center, NYC | Antonio Rodriguez‑Arguelles ‘13 (MFA2)
photo by anthony parkinson, courtesy of meyer davis studio
photo: alkin/mason photography, courtesy of ewingcole
Retail Design
Cultural, Education & Design
Design of retail stores.
Design of schools, museums, libraries, and other public spaces.
Moose Knuckles, NYC | Estefania Diaz ’15 (MPSL) photo courtesy of ventresca design llc
Wellesley College Science Center | Minh Lai ‘17 (MPSL) photo: david burke © skidmore, owings & merrill (som)
Why Does a Great Education Matter? Education is the best way to get the skills you need to succeed. And in a culture that increasingly embraces DIY design, a degree gives you the skills and credentials to take your design work to a whole new level. With its strong professional focus, a New York School of Interior Design education gives you access to internships and designers with real-world experience—invaluable connections that will serve you throughout your career.
Accreditation A single-discipline college founded in 1916, New York School of Interior Design has often been a standard bearer for the profession, pushing interior design education forward. NYSID is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The BFA and the MFA1 professional programs are accredited by the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). Accreditation is an intense process that requires an academic institution to conduct a self-study and undergo independent, objective appraisal of its educational quality and institutional stability and integrity.
Why Choose New York School of Interior Design? Here’s what sets a NYSID education apart:
01
Personal Attention
NYSID is a small school where lifelong friendships are forged. The student-to-faculty ratio is 11 to 1. You’ll have real relationships with your instructors, and our alumni community will be invested in your success.
02
Reputation
People in design and architecture know NYSID. In its short list of the best interior design programs, Architectural Digest called out NYSID for producing “critical thinkers who can look at design through social, cultural, and historical lenses.” House Beautiful identified it as a top program that provides “an education focused on innovative, immersive, and transformative spaces.”
03
05
04
06
Focus
At this single-discipline institution, you can focus 100% on interior design. Even the liberal arts courses in the BFA program are designed to propel your design career.
Connections & Outcomes
As of 2024, 94% of our graduate students were employed or pursuing further education, and 92% of our undergraduate students were employed or pursuing further education within one year of graduation, in part due to our industry-focused approach. Our students get to know leaders in the field through guest critiques, internships, competitions for prominent brands, working at show houses, and more.
Flexibility
We offer unrivaled flexibility. For most of our programs, you’ll have the option to attend part time or full time, with some programs also offered entirely online, or in the combination of online and in person that works best for you.
Belonging
Our community is international and intergenerational. Creating a culture of belonging that empowers all students to succeed is an ongoing priority.
Undergraduate Programs Our undergraduate degrees are a great fit for students of all backgrounds who have creative minds and a passion for interiors. Basic Interior Design (BID) certificate
Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Interior Design
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Interior Design
1 year Full-time or part-time No portfolio required Online option available
2 years Full-time or part-time Portfolio required Online option available
4 years Full-time or part-time Portfolio required Online option available
nysid.edu/bid
nysid.edu/aas
nysid.edu/bfa
Tuition (2026-2027) Tuition: $34, 800 (estimated cost based on full-time study: 24 credits) Room & board: $23,400 per year (estimated) Additional fees will be in incurred, starting at $1,280. To see a full list of fees visit our website.
financial aid and scholarships available
Undergraduate Curriculum Each of our undergraduate offerings feeds into the next. If you’re not quite ready to commit to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program, you can begin with a certificate or an associates degree. The credits you earn can be applied directly toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts if and when you choose to continue with your education.
7TH SEMESTER
8TH SEMESTER
Design Studio VI: Residential C Thesis Preparation Art & Society II Humanities I Professional and liberal arts electives
Furniture Design Thesis Professional Practice II Humanities II Design history elective Electives
BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA)
5TH SEMESTER
6TH SEMESTER
Design Studio IV: Contract B Lighting II Graphic Communications V Integrated Environments III: Building Systems Art & Society I Design Research
Design Studio V: Contract C Kitchen & Bath Design People, Place & Culture Design Theory Design history elective Electives
3RD SEMESTER
4TH SEMESTER
Design Studio II: Residential B Lighting I Graphic Communications III Codes Environment & Behavior Design History II Electives
Design Studio III: Contract A Architectural Woodwork Detailing Graphic Communications IV Professional Practice I Environmental Science Design History III Professional elective
1ST SEMESTER
2ND SEMESTER
Design Fundamentals Graphic Communications I Color for Interiors Hand Sketching and Rendering English Composition I Integrated Environments I: Textiles* Basic Mathematics*
Design Studio I: Residential A Design Thinking Design History I Graphic Communications II Integrated Environments I: Textiles Integrated Environments II: Materials & Methods* Intro to Sustainability* English Composition II*
*These classes are required for students pursuing an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
ASSOCIATE IN APPLIED SCIENCE (AAS)
BASIC INTERIOR DESIGN (BID)
Student Life NYSID students hail from 35 countries and almost every state in America. What they share is passion for interior design. Throughout the year, NYSID hosts social gatherings on campus and around New York City, puts on numerous talks and receptions featuring prominent designers like Jeremiah Brent and Athena Calderon, and students participate in a growing number of clubs. Clubs include: • Green Design Group • Graduate Student Association • Undergraduate Student Association • American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) student chapter
• Asian American Pacific Islander Design Alliance (AAPIDA X NYSID) • Black Design Collective (BDC) • International Interior Design Association
Additionally, the Student Academic Support (SASS) center sponsors study groups over pizza. And the Counseling Services Center hosts workshops that promote emotional health and help designers access creativity.
Pre-College Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors—the Pre-College program will immerse you in the practice of interior design and give you one college credit. You’ll study color, materials, architectural drawing, and digital media. You’ll visit design firms and museums, and spend your downtime hanging out in the nation’s design capital. All classes are led by the same established designers who teach in our undergraduate and graduate programs. nysid.edu/precollege
11:1
student-tofaculty ratio
14%
92%
of our undergraduate students were employed or pursuing further education within a year of graduating
international students
RECENT ALUMNI EMPLOYERS & INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS
Beyer Blinder Belle Architects CannonDesign Champalimaud Design Charles & Co. Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates David Scott Interiors Drake/Anderson Ferguson & Shamamian Architects Gachot Studios Gensler HOK Ingrao Inc. INPUT Jamie Drake Jeremiah Brent Design Jonathan Adler Mark Hampton LLC Martin Brudnizki Design Studio Meyer Davis Studio Patek Philippe Pembrooke & Ives Perkins&Will Perkins Eastman Ralph Lauren
34
countries represented
86%
of students take some courses online
Rees Roberts + Partners Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) Rockwell Group Selldorf Architects
573
total enrollment
29% of students receive financial aid
SheltonMindel Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) The Standard Hotels Studio Sofield Susan Lin Design Susan Marinello Interiors The Up Studio Victoria Hagan Interiors ZGF Architects LLP
Ready to take the next step? Build your career on creativity. Here’s how to get started at NYSID.
Apply Take a tour Attend an information session Contact us nysid.edu/admissions
Office of Admissions 170 East 70th St. New York, NY 10021 nysid.edu
Apply!