Interior Design Certificate Program

Fall 2010 courses

Join the creative world of interior design! For novices and those with experience, this certificate program offers hands-on training. You will be able to translate abstract concepts into three-dimensional reality and create and implement all aspects of an interior design. Upon completion of this program, you may qualify to work in design (interior, lighting, drapery, etc.) firms, furniture stores, and more!

A certificate will be awarded to students who successfully complete five required courses and two electives. Students must maintain a minimum 80% attendance and a minimum 70% grade average in exams and projects. An optional internship requires a recommendation from two instructors. Earn a minimum of 11.8 Continuing Education Units (CEUs), depending on the choice of electives, upon completion of the certificate. Please note that this noncredit program does not satisfy NCIDQ or ASID eligibility requirements.

Required Courses
1   Interior Design I
2   Basic Drafting/Rendering Techniques
3   History of Decorative Arts
4   Interior Design II
5   Introduction to AutoCAD

Elective Courses (choose two)
1   Business Practices for Interior Designers
2   Basic Color for Interiors
3   Fabrics for the Interior
4   Introduction to Home Staging and Rearranging

Additional Electives
Offered by the Appraisal Studies certficate:
1  Native American Arts of the Southwest: Collecting and Connoisseurship
2  Art Deco and machine Age Collectibles: History and Market

About the Instructors | How to Register for Courses

 Visit our blog for interesting articles about interior design.

Costs
In addition to the tuition, there is a $25 nonrefundable registration fee paid once per semester.

FALL 2010 Courses

Early Registration Discount
This discount applies to registrations received (paid in full) by Aug. 20.

Interior Design I
Delve into the art of planning interior spaces. Develop the conceptual approaches that solve interior design problems. Understand the design process, elements of design, concepts, and drawings, as well as basic styles in residential interiors. Explore the use of color, fabric, and lighting in successful interior space design.
GID9000.10 / $299
GID9000.11 / $275 (Purchase College employees and alumni, and early registration discount)
Instructor: Wanda Heffler
Tues., 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Sept. 21–Oct. 19 (5 sessions)
Visual Arts Bldg., Room 1021

Basic Drafting/Rendering Techniques
Acquire the necessary skills to express interior design concepts. Learn to draw and create architectural and three-dimensional drawings using the correct tools and techniques. Basic rendered pencil drawings emphasize methods for correct visual clarity and representation of interior spaces. Students also learn how to read and translate a construction document into realistic interior spaces and details.
GID9001.10 / $345
GID9001.11 / $320 (Purchase College employees and alumni, and early registration discount)
Instructor: Carol J W Kurth
Thurs., 6:30–9:30 p.m. (5 sessions)
Sept. 23–Oct. 21
Visual Arts Bldg., Room 1025

Introduction to AutoCAD
Develop skills in computer-aided drafting and design (CADD), using AutoCAD software. Learn the features and considerations associated with the computer as a drafting/design tool. Receive step-by-step instruction on AutoCAD commands, mode settings, drawing aids, shortcuts, and other valuable characteristics of AutoCAD. No previous AutoCAD knowledge or prior experience required.
GID9003.10 / $345
GID9003.11 / $320 (Purchase College employees and alumni, and early registration discount)
Instructor: Ian Carnow
Thurs., 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Nov. 4–Dec. 9
(5 sessions; no class Nov. 25)
Library, Room 1004D

Interior Design II
Explore the design process from concept to the finished commercial or residential project. Review spatial layout and significance, materials and finishes, and furniture. Learn ways to solve design problems and analyze design styles and needs. Students present their final projects, complete with rendered drawings and presentation boards.
Prerequisite: GID 9000 and 9001
GID9004.10 / $299
GID9004.11 / $275 (Purchase College employees and alumni, and early registration discount)
Instructor: Wanda Heffler
Tues., 6:30–9:30 p.m.
Nov. 9–Dec. 7 (5 sessions)
Visual Arts Bldg., Room 1021

NEW! Introduction to Home Staging and Rearranging
Learn the basics of home staging for a career change or to update your own home. Understand where to begin: analyzing a room and determining form and function, properly placing furniture, “shopping” the home, hanging artwork, and adding the finishing touches with accessories. Take the first step in transforming your own home or starting a new career!
GID9007.10 / $149
GID9007.11 / $125 (Purchase College employees and alumni, and early registration discount)
Instructor: Linda Gauvin
Sat., 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Oct. 23 (1 session)
Humanities Bldg., Room 1073

Want more information about Home Staging? Go to the CSP™ Home Staging Certification page.

About the Instructors

Paula A. Baxter is an independent design historian. She previously worked for 22 years as the curator of the art and architecture collection at The New York Public Library, where she curated six exhibitions on design history and taught in the Library’s Public Programs. Ms. Baxter is the author of two books and numerous articles in such publications as the Encyclopedia of Interior Design, the Journal of Antiques and Collectibles, and The Magazine Antiques.

Ian Carnow is a summa cum laude graduate of the New York Institute of Technology where he received a Bachelor of Architecture degree and the Matthew W. Del Gaudio award for Demonstrated Excellence. He has been working in the field of architecture for the past 13 years at the firm Neil Carnow a.ia. Architect designing a wide range of residential and commercial buildings throughout the Tri-State area. Ian became a LEED AP in 2008 and is currently working toward completing the NCARB Architectural Registration Exam.

Linda Gauvin is managing partner of the Westchester-based staging company Winning Transformations. As a Certified Staging Professional™, she collaborates with homeowners and real estate agents in transforming properties for maximum selling appeal. A graduate of Boston University, she has more than 15 years experience in advertising, marketing. and design. After being a full-time mom, she turned a hobby of real estate staging and investing into a successful new career. Ms. Gauvin has partnered with Jan Maresh, co-author of Home Staging for Dummies, on a staging seminar based on the book.

Wanda Heffler of Heffler Interior Design is a 1992 interior design graduate of New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. She has been in private practice for the past 15 years, designing residential and commercial interiors throughout the tri-state area. Ms. Heffler’s other passion is teaching. She has a master’s degree in curriculum and instructional design and is currently completing her second master’s degree in education, specializing in TESOL.

Joan Kerns has 25 years of experience in the design industry. She was vice president and general manager of the International Design Center in Southwest Florida. As developer/managing partner of the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA), she developed “Designer-on-Call”—an innovative program supporting interior designers—that moved DCOTA into the enviable position as what is today the largest freestanding design center in the country and one of the most successful design campuses in the world. Along with a PBS producer, Ms. Kerns helped create and develop Décor, the premier design program hosted by Dina Merrill.

Carol J W Kurth, AIA, Allied member ASID, LEED AP Celebrated architect and designer, Carol JW Kurth, AIA, is principal of the award winning firm, The Office of Carol JW Kurth, AIA Architect,pc., www.carolkurtharchitects.com.  She is a Cum Laude graduate and former faculty member of The City University of New York, CCNY School of Architecture.  Prominently featured in publications such as The NY Times, Luxe Magazine and This Old House, her projects have been widely acclaimed and exhibited internationally.

Other Courses in the Program

History of Decorative Arts
Explore the important periods in design throughout history, including today’s trends—necessary knowledge for a solid foundation in interior design. Learn the vocabulary of ornament and materials. Discern the relationships between fashion, politics, and current events; trace stylistic developments as well as social and historical forces that factor into period styles. Prepare a portfolio for each period to analyze and recognize different room styles.

Business Practices for Interior Designers
Learn how to establish your own design firm; create a portfolio; read a client’s taste, personality, and opinion; charge for services; develop a company logo; and address routine issues associated with the design profession. Explore marketing tools that enable you to reach prospective clients. Develop a business plan to capture your goals and make plans to maximize profits.
Note: The last session is held in the New York Design Center; participants are responsible for their transportation to and from the Center.

Basic Color for Interiors
Master color theory and application, and discover the physical and psychological effects of light and color, color interaction and relationships, and the variables that modify color perception and affect our mental and cultural well-being. Make a color wheel to aid you in interior design projects. Sessions focus on how to create the right “mood” for a home using color, choosing the right color schemes, and understanding the language of color.

Fabrics for the Interior
Fabrics are an integral part in interior design: learn how to incorporate them into your design scheme. Explore the use of textiles in upholstery, as window treatments, and as decorative elements. Gain an understanding of measurement requirements for various fabrics. Discover how to select and coordinate different patterns, prints, and colors.

Updated September 7, 2010