QUALIFICATION KLC Graduate Diploma validated by the University of Brighton (subject to validation in March 2010) (can also be attained by blended learning study) OBJECTIVE Full-time career-based training in interior design for entry into the industry DURATION One year LOCATION Chelsea Harbour

Interviews now taking place for the September 2010 start date.

Free with this course - student version of VectorWorks - click here for more details.

This intensive course is totally career-orientated and our graduates are regularly placed with top design practices.  Students will learn to evaluate, formulate and implement creative design solutions to meet the functional and aesthetic needs of the client.  They will also explore the relationship of interior design to decorative styles, materials and finishes, crafts, technology and environmental considerations.  Confidence is generated through a thorough grounding in the practical and technical aspects of the subject and coverage of professional practice.  Projects include residential and commercial work and emphasis is increasingly placed on computer aided design.

The course is full-time, divided into three terms and runs throughout the academic year with a Diploma awarded to those students whose work reaches the required standard. Each day is from 10.00am - 4.00pm Monday to Friday, although students frequently have to undertake considerable amount of work outside these hours.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
No previous art or design experience is necessary. Normally the entry standard is a degree, but mature students with sufficient prior learning experience are particularly encouraged. Any non-degree holding students that are accepted on this course will be required to attend the Graduate Diploma Access Course. Entry is by interview and numbers are strictly limited. The purpose of the interview is to assess applicants' academic ability, motivation, performance under pressure and the reasons for undertaking the training. English language ability must also be competent and we look for a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (www.ielts.org) or its equivalent. Students are also required to have a laptop computer for this course.

Students on KLC’s Diploma level courses are expected to use computers during their studies. These will be used for producing presentational material and for CAD and presentation software training. Important information relating to the course is sometimes communicated via email. For this reason, students should ensure that they are familiar with the general operation and use of computers (for example, they should be able to confidently create, amend, save and distribute documents, and use email) before starting their course. Prior experience in using either PCs or Macs will be equally helpful, although we recommend that students use a PC Computer whilst studying on the course rather than a MAC.  We have found in previous years that students with MACs experience more connectivity and networking issues when using Adobe Connect (for our online support services), VectorWorks and the KLC Wireless Network. Full details of the expected level of ability will be provided upon enrolment.

NOTE: The interview is the first step in the formal application process for KLC’s full-time courses.  Before coming in you should check that you can study full-time, have the funding available, be of sufficient age and have the required language ability. To arrange an interview for this course, please contact us on 020 7376 3377 or e-mail info@klc.co.uk.

FUNDING
For information about financial assistance to support your learning please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact 0800 100 900.

EMPLOYMENT AND WORK EXPERIENCE
KLC is very proactive about helping students find full-time employment at the end of the course. KLC keeps in close touch with alumni and continues to offer on-going careers advice.Students are encouraged to opt for work experience during their second vacation which is organised by the Vice Principal through KLC’s extensive range of top level contacts in the industry. In recognition of these facts, the course was previously a Regional Winner of the National Training Awards.

STUDENT SUBSCRIPTION TO PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
Included in the price of this course is a student affiliate subscription for one year to the professional association, the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID). Successful graduates of the Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration will automatically be eligible to join the BIID at Associate level. The BIID is a professional membership association for interior designers and is a member of the International Federation of Interior Architects and Designers, which opens up contacts worldwide, and enjoys a dual membership agreement with the IIDA, the US association. Graduates of the Interior Design Diploma with a prior degree can also apply for Associate Membership of the Design Institute of Australia.

The intensive Diploma course syllabus covers every aspect of training for the aspiring interior designer and the carefully constructed, linear programme, built around a series of varied design projects, has been designed to develop the potential of each student.  The combination of lectures and practical workshops allows students to build up confidence quickly by putting newly acquired information straight into practice.  Good time management is encouraged and students are also given an insight into the many potential career opportunities that exist as well as one to one career advice.

In the early stages, students are introduced to the fundamentals of design drawing, carefully integrated with an introduction to computer aided design, design principles, construction and presentation techniques all set in the context of the design process as a whole. All these areas are further developed as the course progresses so that graduates can develop their design solutions, on a sound basis, and effectively communicate their ideas to the client.  Throughout the course considerable emphasis is placed on the importance of the relationship with the client.

Supporting studies, range from an inspirational exploration of the development of style in architecture and the decorative arts, to down to earth practicalities such as the basics of plumbing, heating and drainage.  Lighting design is a key topic while other very relevant contemporary issues such as environmentally friendly design and housing technology are similarly highlighted.  Design trends and the elements that go into creating decorative schemes as an integral part of a design, also form a valuable part of the course, together with the application and specification of materials and finishes.

THE LECTURERS
KLC lecturers are all working professionals of the highest calibre and include some of the country's top architects, interior designers, interior decorators and specialists.

BUSINESS PRINCIPLES
Students are given an insight into sound business principles, procedures and practice. Topics include contracts, permissions, fees/charging, budgeting, costing and estimating, record keeping, insurance, designer/trade relationships, project co-ordination and how to run a workforce.

COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN
Computer Aided Design enables a designer to work faster with greater flexibility and to make adjustments to plans and elevations easily. It is rapidly becoming a must for the efficient running of a design practice and, as such, is an integral part of the Diploma Course. KLC uses MiniCAD VectorWorks, which is becoming the industry-standard CAD software.

Each student is given a year's license to VectorWorks 2009. This is one of the world’s best-selling cross-platform CAD applications for the design industry. It is a straightforward yet professional CAD program and helps to create present and designs.

VISITS
Students are taken to key trade showrooms in order to gain first hand knowledge of trends and techniques.

They are also accompanied on visits to museums and houses of architectural merit, both in and out of London, as well as period and modern buildings of particular relevance to the study of the development of interior style.

THE PORTFOLIO
Throughout their training, Diploma Course students build the basis of their own extensive portfolio founded on a number of realistic design projects and the brief is always given by the “client”. Projects are chosen to give students as wide a range of experience as possible and include different sizes and style of property and clients with widely varying requirements. Previous projects include restaurants, bars, hotels, health clubs, hospitals, the royal yacht and a design centre as well as numerous different residential projects.

Each of the projects provides a clear learning objective and is based on either a real project or a realistic situation. Wherever possible students visit the actual site to assess both the functional and aesthetic nature of the environment. Students also learn to anticipate the practical application of each project, with particular reference in contract situations to traffic flow, security and project co-ordination.

For most projects, students are required to prepare floor plans, elevations, concept boards, perspectives, a lighting plan, axonometric or isometric drawings and a sample board. Individuality is encouraged and it is our policy to ensure that students develop their own ideas rather than to impose a set house style.

Subject to validation in March 2010, with effect from the 2010/2011 academic year, KLC students graduating from both the Full-Time Graduate Diploma in Interior Design and the Blended Learning Graduate Diploma in Interior Design will receive a KLC Graduate Diploma Qualification validated by the University of Brighton.

The validation process requires a rigorous assessment of all aspects of the school and has already resulted in some exciting and innovative updates to the training we provide.  We are looking forward to developing the partnership with the University of Brighton further and are very excited about the possibility of offering our students this prestigious external recognition of our qualification.

What Is The Benefit Of This Validation?

There are many benefits to our students for having this validation in place:-

• The KLC Graduate Diploma Qualification will be clearly benchmarked on the QAA HE Level Framework giving it international recognition, thereby making it easier for graduates to join regional professional associations and increases employment opportunities worldwide
• It will allow opportunities for exploring further flexibility in methods of study, by opening up different progression routes to the Graduate Diploma Qualification
• This external validation will enable KLC to continue to operate as a Tier 4 Licence Sponsor (we have been awarded an “A” rating) and issue study visas to overseas students for successful applicants on the Full-Time Graduate Diploma in Interior Design
• It will provide an opportunity for KLC Students to access a variety of research facilities and activities at the University of Brighton 
• Graduates will gain credit points that can be transferred to other courses nationally and internationally 
• Graduates of the Graduate Diploma will have an opportunity to continue their study or research further by applying to progress to one of the MA Level Qualifications through the University of Brighton

Explanation of KLC Graduate Diploma Qualification

A Graduate Diploma is a qualification that is specifically designated for vocational training courses and therefore fits appropriately with our career focused courses. It is awarded by the University of Brighton and is attainable in 9 months full-time study (or 28 months by blended learning study). Once a student gains the Graduate Diploma, they will be in a strong position to find employment in the industry anywhere in the world. Alternatively, students can opt to study further and apply for an MA programme either through the University of Brighton, which offers a range of challenging and inspirational MA Courses, or elsewhere.

We Are Proud To Be Partnered With The University of Brighton

The University of Brighton has long been established as a centre of excellence for art and design studies – the School of Arts was established in 1859.  The Faculty of Arts now fosters and develops research within and across its wide range of disciplines.  It is home to a number of significant collections and archives, including the Design Archives which comprise eighteen collections that amount to almost 1000 linear metres of visual and textual documentation.

Brighton University is the lead partner in The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning through Design (CETLD), which is a HEFCE-funded partnership between the Royal College of Art, the Royal Institute of British Architects, the Victoria & Albert Museum and themselves.  The aim of the Centre is to enhance learning and teaching in design through research that brings together resources and expertise from Higher Education and collections-based partners.

The University of Brighton does not simply look to validate courses, but looks to forge partnerships and there is great potential to further expand opportunities within the subject area of Design for both students and the respective institutions.  We are very proud to be associated with the University of Brighton and greatly look forward to successfully developing this relationship in the future.

DIPLOMA COURSE SYLLABUS

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Survey and compilation of report
• Floor plans, sections, elevations and furniture layouts
• Lettering and titling
• Axonometric and isometric projections
• Scale models
• Detailed working drawings
• 2D CAD and an introduction to 3D software
• One and two-point perspective
• Freehand sketching and shading

PRESENTATION TECHNIQUES

• Concept boards, sample boards and furniture boards
• Graphics and their application
• Rendering techniques
• Presentation methods to include power point
  
  

TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING

• Residential and commercial lighting and electrical plans
• Plumbing, heating and drainage
• Building construction
• Spatial planning and accessibility
• Building regulations
• Considerations for contract design
• Integrated technology – intelligent systems, multi-room audio, home theatre and cinema
• Colour theory, the psychology of colour, colour and light and period colour

HISTORY OF STYLE

• Classical styles
• French and English style from 1660 to the present day
• Modern architecture and furniture

MATERIALS AND FINISHES

• Sourcing/trade reference library
• Putting schemes together
• Wall and floor coverings
• Textiles and trimmings
• Window and bed treatments
• Upholstery, tenting and walling
• Contemporary details and contract fabrics
• Use of paint and decorative finishes
• Preparation of surfaces
• Materials and fixings

THE DESIGN PROCESS

• Taking the brief and design analysis
• Concept work and how to access creativity
• Planning, implementation and self evaluation
• Scale, anthropometrics, ergonomics, proxemics
• Kitchen and bathroom design

BUSINESS PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATION

• Record keeping, time management
• Dealing with the trade, trade accounts
• Working with other professionals
• Pattern books and sampling
• Filing, client diary and action record
• Estimating quantities and contract budgeting
• Estimating, specifying, scheduling, ordering, invoicing
• Insurance, contracts, fees, accounts
• Introduction to project monitoring or supervision
• Law, policy and guidance to listed buildings
• Health and safety
• Business ethics

CONTEXTUAL STUDIES

• Environmental issues
• Design trends
• Decorative styles
• Project research
• Career advice
• Portfolio surgery
• Working in a design team
• Visits to showrooms, contemporary exhibitions, trade fairs and museums
• Inspirational lectures
• Late 20th/early 21st Century furniture design