Interior and Visual Design

3 semester credits. This course is based on the concepts and techniques of creating, viewing, and manipulating 3D models. Through the generation of drawings and perspectives, students develop an in-depth understanding of the modeling and rendering techniques used for creating objects and new products. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.

3 semester credits. This is an introductory course on the planning and furnishing of interiors. Students will be introduced to the basic vocabulary, skills /techniques, practices and context of interior design through the vehicle of a series of small abstract projects. The course introduces students to basic interior design principles, theory and conceptual processes. The emphasis is on creating small-scale environments based on the interaction of the individual with the environment. Human scale, movement, circulation and fundamental form making will be explored. Site trips are an integral part of the course curriculum. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.

3 semester credits. The aim of this course is to develop student skills in order to create an individual interior design project based on public or private spaces. Issues of human occupation will be addressed and students shall be asked to question their preconceptions around the fundamental issues of defining, designing and representing interior design projects. The emphasis of course topics is based on the balance of the threefold relationship between the physical, the functional, and the aesthetic counterparts in interior design. The discussion and analysis of contemporary Italian trends in interior design form an integral part of the course. An open critique session will follow every major project submission. Site visits are an important part of the course. Prerequisites: Introduction to Interior Design or equivalent.

3 semester credits. This course introduces students to the art and technology of lighting and explores the use of lighting as a design element in the interior environment. Students will learn how to analyze lighting installations, calculate lighting levels for interiors, select appropriate light fixtures, and prepare a lighting plan based on one of their studio projects. Emphasis will be placed on technical and aesthetic issues in relation to the illumination of interiors. Prerequisites: Introduction to Interior Design.

3 semester credits. This interior design course teaches how to shape and influence luxury residential spaces with a focus on the Tuscan countryside. Students learn how to create, design, and organize innovative residential solutions using various sophisticated and high quality materials, finishings, and construction methods. Students develop their skills in design theory, communication systems, and graphic design. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI. Prerequisites: Introduction to Interior Design or equivalent.

3 semester credits. This course examines museums and exhibitions as privileged places that bring together art, culture, architecture, technology, and entertainment within the context of spectacular events. They have become complex places of modernity, no longer destined to be mere repositories of art but places that amaze, entertain, interest, and provoke emotions and sensations. Students will analyze how the evolution of exhibition spaces has fundamentally changed the traditional figure of the museum designer who is now placed at the center of a creative process requiring a wide range of competencies and professionalism along with an increasingly specific knowledge of the tools and languages related to contemporary medias. Students will work on technical exercises and projects. Lectures and site visits are an integral part of the course curriculum. This course includes Fab Lab studio hours. Prerequisites: Introduction to Interior Design or equivalent.

3 semester credits. This course focuses on the integration of design and fabrication skills in industrial design and furnishing. Common manufacturing techniques are presented through a series of lectures, demonstrations, and analysis sessions. Emphasis is placed on the practical relationship between industrial and furnishing design and the manufacturing industry, and the technical considerations that influence the choice of materials and processes for both small and mass production. The concept of environmentally green design will be introduced and integrated into design projects. This course includes Fab Lab studio hours. Prerequisites: Introduction to Industrial Design or equivalent.

3 semester credits. This course focuses on the architectural approach to retail projects and public interior spaces such as bars and restaurants, hotel lobbies, offices, shops, department stores, fair exposition, and pop up spaces. Students develop projects and learn how to control space both from the functional and the aesthetic point of view. During the course, students analyze different themes and are given the opportunity to observe first-hand professionals at work. Projects are developed with an emphasis on the conceptual research of optimal design solutions and solving functional and distribution problems. This course includes Fab Lab studio hours. Prerequisites: Intermediate Interior Design or equivalent.

3 semester credits. This course introduces the general concepts of CAD (Computer Aided Design). Emphasis is placed on two-dimensional drawing applications such as plans, sections, elevations, and furniture. During the course, students will learn how to develop their projects through the use of computer-based digital tools and how to control the outcome when plotting their final drawings. This class includes experiential learning with CEMI.