The University of Tennessee top-ranked Interior Design Program joined the School of Architecture to form the College of Architecture + Design in 1997. The College of Architecture + Design offers a comprehensive interior design curriculum leading to the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design. The four-year Bachelor of Science in Interior Design degree is professionally accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation.

All aspects of interior planning are included in the educational background for students whose goal is to qualify as practitioners in professional interior design. Problem solving and creative development as related to the proximate environment are emphasized through a curriculum organization which stresses various types of information and processes based upon the student’s level within the program. Students will learn to formulate, propose and develop realistic yet creative design solutions; to conduct design programming research effectively; to make effective oral and visual presentations of design proposals; to identify human and environmental factors necessary for creating design solutions that meet the needs of people; to approach design as an integration of programmatic, technical, aesthetic, physiological, behavior and legal aspects.

The philosophy of the Interior Design Program at the University of Tennessee provides a foundation for the practice of interior design, collaboration with the world community, and growth as a professional. Design thinking, a systematic method of producing tangible, measureable, and implementable proposals for the future, is applied to the creation of interior environments. Students are prepared for the future by applying design-thinking methods to the interior context. The program encourages students to apply core competencies to the design thinking process. These include the ability to engage in abstract and conceptual thinking, transform ideas, build on the ideas of others, create original ideas, apply knowledge, ideate and visualize ideas, evaluate design proposals, and synthesize information. The above competencies result in the creation of interior environments that are culturally significant, innovative, logical, and provide beauty, meaning, and utility to a world community.

The mission of the Interior Design Program is to facilitate learning that produces interior design professionals skilled as life-long learners. An environment is created where individuals can develop their ability to apply design thinking with integrity resulting in creative and purposeful interior environments. Intellectual curiosity and acquisition of technical knowledge that informs the design and research of interior environments is essential. Collaboration with programs in the College of Architecture and Design, disciplines at the University of Tennessee, and regional and world communities is a foundation activity giving relevance and meaning to the practice of design. The Interior Design faculty provides excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship, and service to Program, University, region, and world communities.

Faculty

The College of Architecture and Design has 33 outstanding faculty members supported by 15 outstanding staff. The following is specifically the Interior Design Faculty:

Ryann Aoukar, Associate Professor (DNSEP)

Shawn Boles, Lecturer, NCIDQ, IIDA

Jeff Geren, Lecturer

Barbara Klinkhammer, AKT (Germany), Associate Professor, Associate Dean

Sandra T. Martin, Lecturer, NCIDQ, IIDA, ASID, AIA

David Matthews, Professor, Chair, Interior Design Program

B.J. Miller, Lecturer, NCIDQ

Mary Beth Robinson, Associate Professor, NCIDQ

Avigail Sachs, Lecturer

Contact

David Matthews, Chair
Interior Design Program
College of Architecture + Design
The University of Tennessee
Art + Architecture Building
1715 Volunteer Blvd., Room 224
Knoxville, TN 37996-2400

Phone: (865) 974-5265
Email: matthej3@utk.edu
Website: http://www.arch.utk.edu/InteriorDesign/