Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Inspiration
Philosophy, Mission, and Goals
Faculty share a commitment to a philosophy of an integrated curriculum that demands that the student be simultaneously and sequentially involved with diverse disciplines and concepts, faculty and other students. The interior design curriculum is structured to enable the program both to teach the fundamentals of interior design and to reflect changes in the profession.
The mission of the interior design program is to educate the student as a developing professional through academic course work and entry-level cooperative employment, and to instill an aspiration for life-long learning.
The objective of the Drexel Interior Design Program is not only to develop the fundamental knowledge base necessary to become a professional designer but to motivate the student to aspire to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.
The goals of the Drexel Interior Design Program are to:
- Expose the student to a variety of design experiences, attitudes and viewpoints.
- Develop innovative, creative problem solvers who can make aesthetic judgments and be critical of those judgments.
- Enable the student to learn the personal and professional responsibilities inherent in working together.
- Develop students who are responsible for the safety, shelter, support, and enrichment of all occupants of the interior environment.
- Instill in the student awareness and sensitivity to environmental, social, cultural, and ethical responsibilities.
Students
Today, a diverse group of more than 140 full-time students come together to work individually and collectively in the creative exploration of design. Traditional-age and returning students, commuters and residents, men and women, all are part of the learning environment and enrich the exchange of ideas and professional development.
Facilities
A dynamic environment of design and fine art studios, technical laboratories and classrooms provides students with opportunities to interact with other disciplines. Facilities include interior design studios, the interior design resource library; fine arts studios with facilities for drawing, foundation design, painting, photography, sculpture, and silk-screen. State-of-the-art computer laboratories are available for CAD and digital media production.
City of Philadelphia
The resources of Philadelphia, one of the nation's major art and design centers, further enhance the program. Easy access to Center City Philadelphia encourages exploration of the city's 300-year-old architectural and design heritage, its abundant interior design showrooms and the numerous other educational and cultural institutions of the city.
Admission Requirements
The program seeks to recruit a student body that is geographically, culturally and economically diverse. Admission is competitive. Each candidate is considered individually on the basis of contributions to school and community, academic potential and achievements as indicated by secondary school records, test and interest in Drexel.
A portfolio is not required for admission to the undergraduate program.
Transfer students accepted into the Interior Design Program may schedule an appointment with the department to have their portfolios reviewed and advanced credit determined for design and Art & Art History coursework completed at previous colleges.
Career Opportunities
Interior Design graduates are employed by a wide range of employers including interior design firms; multi-disciplinary firms employing architects, interior designers and engineers; in facilities management organizations; as manufacturer's representatives in the furniture and textile industries and in government agencies.
Drexel Co-op
Full-time paid employment in the profession is an integral component of the program at Drexel. The six-month period of co- operative education, undertaken in the junior year, provides an experience of the office and the daily operation of a design firm. Through workshops offered by the Co-op Office students develop the ability to market themselves and locate potential employers. Students may opt to do their co-op in Philadelphia or in another location of their choosing.
Some past co-op employers of interior design students in Philadelphia include:
- Ballinger
- Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates
- CUH2A
- Das Architects
- Ewing Cole Cherry Brott
- Floss Barber
- Hayworth
- Herman Miller
- The Kling Linquist Partnership
- Knoll International
- Meyer and Associates
- Partridge Architects
- Space Design
- University of Pennsylvania Facilities Office IEI Group
- Vittetta Group
- West Chester University Facilities Office
- University of Pennsylvania Facilities
- IEI Group