New course offerings for Interior Decorating Program | Press Releases

The certificate program in Interior Decorating, debuted this semester by University College at Fairfield University, continues this spring with additional course offerings. A complement to its popular, 30-year-old Interior Design certificate program, the Decorating program is designed for students interested in residential design but doesn't involve the architectural and technical components of construction and structure.

Meanwhile, a student chapter of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) has been formed at Fairfield. ASID is the professional trade organization for Interior Designers. Only three other schools in Connecticut have been granted chapters.

There are three more courses scheduled for the spring semester for Decorating students: The "Color Design" workshop develops proficiency in basic color differences and visualizing color application. Students learn color mixing and color scheme planning. A major design project will be completed to show the students' knowledge of furniture layout, color, texture, pattern and scale. The course fee is $570.

"History of Furniture II" focuses on American furniture from 1650 through 1830 and its relationship to English prototypes. The course covers Victorian furniture styles through contemporary trends in both the United States and Europe. It may be taken before History of Furniture I." The fee is $570.

"Textiles for Interiors" is a survey of textile manufacture from finer to finished fabric with an emphasis on determining quality and usage. Students will study construction methods, dyeing, printing, finishing processes and applications. The fee is $380.

For more information or to register for a course, call University College at (203) 254-4307 or toll-free at (888) 254-1566.

Robert A. Hardy, curriculum coordinator for the Interior Design Certificate Programs, said "Our goal is to offer everyone the opportunity to discover their potential and to find out what interior design and decorating are all about." According to Mr. Hardy, there isn't a program similar to the Decorating program in the area. "The response to the new Decorating program has been very enthusiastic. Many people told me they had wanted to sign up for courses in the Interior Design program but were intimidated by the level of technical skill required. They were excited to find that the decorating program was now available with more emphasis on only the decorating aspect of Interior design."

The program offers non-credit courses that may be taken in any order, offering maximum flexibility. That's key, said Hardy, as many of those interested in the Interior Design and Decorating programs are non-traditional, adult students and those changing careers. Other classes offered include "Interior Design I," "History of Furniture I," and "Business of Interior Design." While the courses aren't as technical as those taken by students preparing to sit for exams for professional certification, they will be challenging and interesting, Hardy said. In fact, some classes overlap with the Interior Design program. Some Interior Decorating students have decided to continue their studies for the Interior Design Residential Certificate.

The Decorating certificate consists of a total of six courses, two of which are not full-semester classes. Although the Decorating students are in the same classes as the design students, they are not required to complete the work on the same level of technical skill and they do not receive grades except for two furniture history courses. They are also not working on creating a professional portfolio.