Interior Design
Design creative, functional, sustainable and aesthetically-attractive spaces.
The interior design program at Meredith is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation - Meredith is the only school in the Triangle area to hold CIDA accreditation. Our interior design program will prepare you with a strong foundation of knowledge and skills for an entry-level position in the interior design field.
Meredith's location in the Triangle offers exceptional internship and career opportunities. All seniors participate in a mentor program, working closely with design professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Professional development is also available through active professional organizations (ASID, IIDA, NKBA). Interior design studios offer opportunities to work on residential or commercial projects. These studios are supported with lecture classes in areas such as lighting, interior design materials and professional practice. You will also develop strong technology skills used in the industry today.
Meredith’s program has an emphasis on professional practice, which prepares our students for success. Our location near downtown Raleigh and within the Triangle provides access to an active design community, which supplies numerous opportunities for internships, jobs, speakers and field trips.
Local design professionals support Meredith’s interior design program by participating in a strong mentor program. These professionals also serve on an interior design advisory board, and faculty regularly invite designers to campus for workshops with our students.
The interior design program is housed in Martin Hall, which includes two interior design studios and one CAD studio, a resource room and a plotter room.
Interior design students have many opportunities for study abroad. Specific to interior design is a summer program at Denmark International School, Copenhagen, Denmark; a course titled “Eat, Play, Design-Italy” was recently offered in Sansepolcro, Italy.
Internships are among the students first step toward professional development and an important component of a new graduate's resume. Recent internships completed by interior design majors include:
- Hager Smith Design PA, Raleigh, N.C.
- Furnishings Solutions, Raleigh, N.C.
- Alfred Williams, Herman Miller Dealership, Raleigh, N.C.
- Smithsonian American Art Museum – Exhibition Office, Washington, D.C.
- Steiner Design Interiors, Raleigh, N.C.
Recent undergraduate research topics include "Goldsboro Historic House Redesign," and "Hidden in Plain Sight: The American Foursquare." The Interior Design Senior Showcase is a highlight of Celebrating Student Achievement, Meredith's annual event honoring student undergraduate research.
An interior design degree prepares students for a wide array of potential careers as well as graduate study. Recent graduates are engaged in a range of professional and academic pursuits, including:
- Graduate Study in Historic Preservation – University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
- Graduate Study in Interior Design - Pratt Institute, New York City
- Interior Designer, FreemanWhite Inc., Charlotte, N.C.
- Interior Designer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Washington, D.C.
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Interior Designer, KlingStubbins, Raleigh, N.C.
The Sandra Graham Shelton Talent Scholarship is open to incoming freshmen interested in pursuing a major in Interior Design. Several other scholarships are available for rising juniors and seniors.
In addition to these discipline-specific scholarship opportunities, Meredith offers a range of merit and need-based financial assistance. Last year, Meredith coordinated $42.8 million in financial assistance.
Meredith’s student/faculty ratio of 11:1 and average class size of 17 ensure that students get to know their professors. In turn, our faculty know students by name and, just as important, are familiar with each student’s unique strengths and interests. This allows faculty to identify interesting research and internship opportunities for students, to write meaningful letters of recommendation, and to support students as they conduct in-depth undergraduate research. In fact, students and faculty frequently work together on such projects—more than 140 were conducted by student/faculty teams last year.
Interior design faculty include:
- Martha Burpitt, Ph.D., IDEC, NCIDQ certified, research interest in evolution of home design and green design
- Jane Crowley, MFA, IDEC, LEED, AP, NCIDQ certified, research interest in commercial design and green design
- Ellen Goode, Ed.D., IDEC, ASID, IIDA, NCIDQ certified, research interest in office design and lighting design
For more detailed information about the interior design major, please go to the program website.
For information about other majors at Meredith, return to the Admissions majors page.
