Interior Design

K-State offers one of the top accredited interior design programs in the nation — and that’s a big deal! Despite what you might see on HGTV, interior designers do a lot more than make a home look hip or pretty. Interior designers identify, research and creatively solve problems related to how people interact with their environments. While some focus on private homes, many designers focus on workplaces —everything from office buildings to preschools and long-term care facilities — looking for ways to make environments safer, more efficient and enjoyable. New graduates are employed in design or architecture firms or facilities planning and management positions. Some choose a specialty, such as designing kitchens and bathrooms or healthcare facilities. Recent K-State grads are working in some of the top firms around the globe. You’ll be in good company at the top! Admission to the interior design program is selective and highly competitive. Applicants are admitted on the basis of academic performance and availability of space.

Learn More:

• Department Information
• Program Requirements

Related Careers:

• Interior Designer
• Facilities Planner

Alumni Advice to Future Students:

“My education at K-State covered many areas within interior design, from programming to product and materials election, to construction documents and AutoCAD. I came away from college with a portfolio that let possible employers see my broad range of abilities.” — Sandi Rudy, ’05 interior design, designer with Graeber, Simmons and Cowan, Austin TX

"Be prepared to work hard. The interior design program at K-State is not a decorating degree; the program teaches the key elements needed for a successful career in design and is truly respected in the industry….As nervous as I felt walking into the office my first day on the job, the fact that I got a substantial raise within the first two months says a lot about the skills I acquired at KSU. My colleagues have been impressed with the knowledge I have for being such as short time out of school.” — Audrey Koehn, ’05 interior design, staff designer for Newman, Cavender & Doane, Denver

"The interior design program at K-State is one of the best accredited programs in the nation and is an excellent place to learn the trade. The teaching staff is experienced and highly knowledgeable, allowing students to come away with a well-balanced, top-quality education. The hands-on design studio experience I gained was invaluable to my career preparation. Not only did I get to work with a great community of students, but I also learned drawing techniques, space planning methods, and practical construction knowledge that has virtually carried me through the early years of my career.” — Beth Buerge, ’03 interior design, project manager/interior designer at St. Louis Design Alliance Architects, St. Louis, Mo

“The best thing about the Interior Design program at K-State is that they really prepare you for the real world. Through K-State I learned how to design efficient, accessible spaces that were up to code and could actually be built; I think this is one of the most important aspect of the program. Professors teach students to be creative but they also keep them down to Earth with all of the rules and regulations of the working world.” — Aaron Rolfe, ’04 interior design, junior designer at Gensler Architecture, Design and Planning Worldwide, Dallas