India's Interior Design Market generated revenue of $22.21 billion in the current year, and it is expected to witness a CAGR of 18 percent in the coming five years according to Mordor Intelligence. From this data, it can be easily understood that there has been an exponential growth in demand for interior designing services that require trained and educated professionals. In this regard, the sector of interior design education is also undergoing dynamic changes. Innovation of new designing technologies and processes has made it necessary for them to include these in their curriculums and look to the fact that all students are equally equipped with the updated information in this domain.

However, interested candidates face typical problems in India when it comes to interior design education. Being an emerging sector, most of these institutions are located in remote regions, which makes living or commuting very difficult for students. Secondly, candidates as well as parents are not very aware of the advancements in interior design education, which at times becomes a major factor for not considering it as a promising career option such as IILM University. Under the great visionary leadership of Dr. Padmakali Banerjee, through her knowledgeable and experienced faculty and innovative courses, it tries to make everyone aware of the advantages of taking up interior design as a career and adding value to the industry as a whole.

Through the courses offered by the institution, students not only gain knowledge about their domain, but they get appropriate exposure to the real estate market and get trained by industry experts. It provides all the advanced facilities that students would require to become successful interior designers in life. “We take care of the all-round development of our students. All the faculty members are industry experts and at the same time have equal academic experience which makes us stand apart in this sector. We try to make our students more imaginative in their vision and help them correctly execute them”, stated Rahul Mehta, Assoc. Professor & Program Head, IILM University.

Education Excellence

For a college that provides higher education in interior design, infrastructure plays a vital role in achieving the desired goals. This is exactly why IILM has left no stone unturned in creating world-class infrastructure that can become a source of inspiration for all the students. Apart from being located at a favorable spot, the college exhibits excellence through studio labs and classes dedicated to every department. The faculty plays a vital role in maintaining the infrastructure of the college, and is knowledgeable industry experts with extended experience in teaching as well. The college has a special focus on providing workshops and seminars to students and keeps them updated with the latest developments in the industry. The primary idea here is to create awareness among the students about what exactly is happening in the industry and how they can make an impact on it. “At IILM, we believe that creativity and collaboration are the way forward. Our brand of education helps students learn how human-centered design can collaborate with technology to create a new and sustainable future, one that has a positive impact on the environment and society”, stated Rahul.

The course begins with foundation studies where students are introduced to the basic principles of design fundamentals. From the second year on, students dive into core courses in their choice of specialization. Practical and theoretical courses will help develop creativity, research, and critical reasoning skills alongside university electives that will broaden perspectives. “The program is structured to produce graduates who are driven, culturally, socially, and historically aware, and who have the knowledge and skills to create safe and pleasing interior environments. In combination with the required professional experience, the curriculum satisfies the educational requirements for industry & associations”, he added.

IILM University has successfully applied for multiple copyrights and patents related to innovative sustainable interior design technologies, which include both design aspects and advanced building construction materials. These innovations in interior architecture have been developed in alignment with the growing need for sustainable solutions in the design and construction industry. Its aim is to significantly contribute to a greener and more sustainable future through these advancements.

Future Projections

Looking ahead, the institution wants to make further efforts in R&D and keep itself updated with the new technologies hitting the market. “We are planning to col­laborate with the Government bodies to integrate these technologies into national initiatives, promoting wide­spread adoption of eco-friendly construction methods. This collaboration will help us further the cause of sus­tainability in building practices across the country”, con­cluded Rahul.