Student Experience
1st place winner of the 2011 Student Video competition.
Titled “this is what we do”. Congratulations to Jillian Brown, Veronica Druta, Sara Al Sanosi, Eline Genest, Amir Hasani and Alison Matasi.
Learn to be an exceptional problem-solver and interior designer
The emphasis of Algonquin College’s Interior Design 4-year degree program is on both traditional interior design, as well as critical thinking and applied research. Students take part in a 14-week paid co-op work term in their fourth year of study, and are trained to become leaders in the rapidly evolving field of interior design. Upon graduation, students are eligible to become registered members of ARIDO (Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario), and are able to pursue postgraduate studies in interior design or allied fields.
The interior design profession is complex because it deals with the three dimensional design of the spaces in which we live and work. Designers must create spaces which function for various groups and situations, are in conformity with relevant life-safety laws, and are aesthetically pleasing. Through a forward-thinking curriculum, specialization seminars, professional electives, and a focus on international interior design, students learn to be exceptional problem-solvers and professionals who can think clearly and effectively to create solutions that are “nowhere near the box.”
Community Connection Initiative
As an integral part of the program’s curriculum, interior design students are required to engage in 10 hours of volunteer public service each semester. This volunteerism is comprised of two streams. The first design stream [5 hours] is to be carried out within the BAA -ID program, the College and the interior design industry. The second community stream [5 hours] is to be carried out within the broader community. During the 2011 -12 academic year, students took part in volunteer activities with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Glebe Long Term Care Facility, Canadian Blood Services, Algonquin College’s Sustainability Committee, Doors Open Ottawa, Relay for Life, Perth Works and more. Additionally, as examples of volunteer activities outside the realm of formal organizational structures, students also participated in various design competitions, and volunteered their time to build a set for an elementary school play.