Delia Skinner

MA Interior Architecture and Design

Find out more about the course

Could you tell us about yourself and what you do?

My Phd Doctoral Study is focused on the experience of being ‘creative’ for interior designers and my research into the intrinsic motivation and creative approaches of artists, poets and musicians has had a positive impact on the way that the MA projects are designed. My aim is to create opportunities for individual design students to deconstruct their own creative process. In doing this, students can potentially create new processes that re-establish their ‘creative’ situation - enhancing and enriching their experience of their unique design methods.

What is the philosophy of your course?

I recognise that we have a fantastic opportunity to further ‘hone’ your design process and develop a more narrative and poetic approach - this might enable you to develop innovative interiors that have strong sense of place and cultural identity. A particularly valuable aspect of the course, is that you will be taught how to present future focused trends, to apply CAD and editorial graphic strategies, so that you can better communicate your own creative design concepts to a range of distinct design audiences.

Our goal on the MA Interior Architecture and Design (MAIAD) course is to help you to develop your own signature ethical and creative design manifesto. We will ask provocative questions like; “What does being creative mean to you?”, “How do you want to design in the future?” and “With whom do you want to work?” as a way of prompting you to consider your ever evolving motivations and aspirations as creative practitioners. Click here to see an online brochure of student work (we publish the ‘CONCERNS’ book every year); this includes the work of our postgraduate students.

What are the values of your course?

CREATIVE COURAGE must be rewarded
BIGGER AMBITIONS should be nurtured
HORIZON SCANNING is essential for a sense of rootedness
SELF ACTUALIZATION accelerates creative change
TALENT AND INTELLIGENCE cannot be substituted
CONNECTIVITY reinforces context
CHALLENGE is the catalyst for innovation
ETHICS inform design agendas
STRATEGIC OPTIMISM precedes starting
INSPIRATION is transcendental

What would you say are the unique selling points for your course?

On the programme, during Trimester 1 and 2, you will adapt a Designing Together approach when working on live projects with ‘Best of British’ companies, artists/designers and organisations. This will enable you to explore how contemporary Design Thinking theory and strategies can positively inform your own design process when working collaboratively with specific clients. These learning adventures will culminate in Trimester 3. During this final stage of the course, you will conduct a personally meaningful project that will showcase your own praxis as an international Interior Architect/Designer. By networking with the relevant stakeholders, experts and creatives you will evolve a Major Project to support new and exciting career plans.

The ‘unique selling points’ about this course empower the MAIAD students to:

Radically review of the interior design process
Consider the global and ethical impact of interior design decisions
Question the existing boundaries of the interior design
Realise interior design employability opportunities through live projects
Explore the connectedness of different design disciplines in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media

Why is Birmingham a good place to study/work?

One fantastic aspect of studying in Birmingham is its central location. We are not disadvantaged in Birmingham – it is a global transport hub and has a cosmopolitan demographic. My students appreciate this vibrant city and regularly commute to architecture, design and art venues in London (a train ticket costs as little as £5.40) as well as other European cities.

Where will the students be based in their time here? What will their learning environment be?

The course operates from a postgraduate design studio located in the city centre campus, in The Parkside Building. Our students love the fact that there is so much scope for them to select appropriate and stimulating places study across the city…and they love the vibrant and inspiring nature of each of the art and design campuses. Birmingham City University has created many stimulating and innovative teaching and study spaces – including the Birmingham Royal Conservatoire which is situated next door to our studio.

What can students do to help prepare them for the course?

You might want to consider looking at the content of the following books - to help you reflect on your current skills set and ambitions for the future (these can be bought from other websites):

Magazines that I recommend include:

Blogs that you might be able to access for trends and style: