Interior Design Academy of Ireland Avis 

Two years ago, I embarked on a journey into the realm of interior designing, following the completion of my postgraduate diploma. Now, undertaking a B.A. in the same field, I find myself navigating through a more challenging terrain, especially given the online nature of the course at my age, which is beyond 50. Despite encountering difficulties, I'm fortunate to have incredibly supportive tutors who spare no effort in assisting us within the confines of their restrictions. Their dedication is palpable as they continually introduce new changes aimed at maximizing student benefits.

This comprehensive course leaves no stone unturned in covering the myriad facets of interior designing. However, it demands a disciplined approach to meet assignment deadlines. While I find the course enriching, it certainly presents its share of challenges.

Transitioning from a medical background into the world of interior design marked a significant shift in my career trajectory. Initially filled with apprehension, I sought a reliable avenue to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to pursue my newfound passion. It was during this quest that I discovered the Online Certificate and Diploma Course in Interior Design, offered by the Interior Design Academy of Ireland.

As I navigated through the course's structured curriculum, I found myself immersed in a wealth of knowledge spanning from foundational concepts to specialized areas like sustainability, client communication and furniture development. Each unit unfolded seamlessly, offering a progressive learning experience that catered to my evolving interests and aspirations. Through hands-on projects and life-like case studies, I not only honed my technical skills in drafting and rendering but also gained invaluable insights into the practical application of design principles.

What truly set this course apart was its unparalleled flexibility, allowing me to balance my educational pursuits with other commitments. Whether opting for a part-time or full-time approach, the self-paced learning options ensured that I could tailor my journey according to my unique schedule and preferences. Furthermore, the unwavering support provided by the course instructors and fellow students fostered a sense of community that transcended the virtual realm.

While the absence of live interactive sessions posed a minor limitation, it was offset by the comprehensive resources and structured feedback mechanisms embedded within the course framework. Through transparent assessment criteria and rubrics, I received constructive feedback that fueled my continuous growth and development as an aspiring interior designer.

My journey with the Online Interior Design Course has been nothing short of transformative. From navigating the intricacies of design principles to meaningful connections within the online community, every aspect of the course has contributed to my professional growth. As I reflect on my aspirations, I see this course not only as a means to cultivate my skills as an interior designer but also as a stepping stone towards realising my new dream of becoming an interior architect.

I like studying here, and how tutors help you go through assignments and the feedback that is very useful and detailed. The only thing that I am not satisfied with is the wait for the grade of an assignment. I wish that you hadn't had to wait almost a month for the feedback and also it would be very nice if you could send an assignment before doing the previous one. For example, I did the 6th one, but I couldn't send it cause I had to wait for the 5th feedback. Overall I am glad to study here and I am happy that I have this opportunity.

I feel very supported , my queries are answered very promptly with context and professionalism

Participating in Certificate Course in Interior Design was very enjoyable.
My interaction with my tutor was very positive (e.g. prompt and clear response to any queries I had).
I would have no hesitation in recommending this course to anyone who's interested in interior design.
Marta

I really enjoy this course and have learnt a lot from it already. It is great because I can do all my coursework remotely. When doing this course you get a tutor assigned to you so you have constant support, as well as an online forum with other students. I am still working on this course but so far my experience has been very positive.

Pros:

Practical teaching: simulate real projects so that students can immersively experience how to complete the design of a project as an interior designer. This teaching method is very practical. So when I graduated I already had the skills and knowledge to work as a mature designer.
Tutor guidance: If I encounter any problems during the assignment, the tutor will guide me carefully and patiently.
HND: This degree has low entry requirements for students, and after completing this degree, you can apply to enter the final year of some universities to obtain a bachelor's degree.

Cons:

Loneliness: 90% are self-study and complete assignments independently at home. It’s not like studying in a class where you can freely discuss and communicate with others at any time. So you have to be able to overcome loneliness to complete this course.
Self-discipline: Since this learning model depends entirely on your own time, it is very flexible, but it also makes it easy to procrastinate. So you have to be very disciplined to complete this course.

A little advices:

1. Read and analyze each assignment brief carefully, at least 3 times.
2. Make a list of all questions to send to your Tutor for clarification before starting the assignment.

Great experience- Easy to navigate online services, great resources & helpful videos, supportive & knowledgeable tutors that are available to help with any queries you may have.

I found the student counselling centre to be extremely useful and helpful. The teachers provided clear and detailed advice on how to approach difficult tasks. I also appreciated the vast amount of information available on self-learning and found the forum to be a valuable resource. Overall, I had a positive experience with the support and resources provided. Thank you.

The experience that I had with the course it's an overwhelmingly positive one. I learned new things every day while working on the assignments and I was able to apply the knowledge while working with real clients in my job.

Doing the research for the assignments also made me discover things I never thought to look for, which ultimately proved to be very useful in my work or sometimes simply interesting.

As far as my interactions with the tutors and advisors go, I have always received immediate answers when I needed help and everyone I came in contact with was super helpful. Luana, Simon and Kim always got back to me and addressed all my questions or concerns.

My experience thus far, studying my online Interior Design degree (on Assignment 6), has been positive and I have found my tutors helpful and always available to offer guidance. It is challenging finding enough time to allocate to my studies while working full-time but I am trying my best.

The Higher National Diploma Course, is a thorough and comprehensive course that will provide you with all the necessary skills to start a career as an interior designer. The course is well structured and the online platform is easy to use. The college offers in person and remote study options. I opted for remote study. My tutor is very responsive and answers any queries I may have which as a distance learner is really important. Feedback on assignments is very thorough and helpful for further learning.

This is my first online course. I expected it to me easy and not too demanding but I realized it was quite detailed, comprehensive and packed with helpful tools. Initially, I was overwhelmed with how I was going to draw floor plans, elevation plans, rendered drawings etc as I was never particularly the art student, but I soon realized how very helpful the tutorials were. I actually went to a site last week, and I was able to sketch a plan seamlessly. I was proud of myself.
I also have a great tutor Catarina, whose feedback has guided me and helped push me to produce better work.
The course is worth every penny.

Chinwe Nwabiani

Student Services at IDAI are always quick to answer and extremely proactive when it comes to helping with any questions of concerns that I have had. It is always a pleasure dealing with them.

I had a great time learning and creating with IDAI. Loved my Tutors during the years.

I have been a practicing designer for 15 years. Due to the war in Ukraine, I was forced to leave my country so as not to put my family at risk, so that we could live without fear and have a future. I love my profession and it is important for me to continue working in the field of interior design while in Ireland. I chose the courses Interior Design(HNC)from IDAI, in the very first 2 weeks of my stay in Ireland (comparing them with other local training programs), it seemed to me the most professional and covering all important aspects (detailed explanations regarding the learning process from the Academy Course Advisor also influenced my choice).My personal opinion is that I consider it necessary to have a local education (this is my professional responsibility), as well as to understand the differences between working as a designer in Ukraine (Eastern Europe) and here. It is important for me to go through all stages of training, from beginning to end, in order to understand not only the technical differences, but also the approach to design itself, and this is also an opportunity to improve my English, including professional terminology.I see significant differences in all stages of design and approach to concept development, even despite my experience I have to do something new, fix mistakes and expand my professional knowledge and horizons. Being on online program, I do not feel any difficulty in communication. A very detailed description of the assignments and accompanying materials give a clear understanding of what is required of me. The Course Tutor(Joana Lobato) is always ready to answer questions that arise during the learning process, so participation and support are felt.Initially, I thought that the speed of completing my assignments would be a little faster, but in the process of learning, I realized that it is important to carefully work out each task and show my knowledge by transforming them, including with the requirements of the assignments - it takes time, like any quality work. In general, I am satisfied with the course program, it is really not superficial and provides a good basis for development and understanding of new stages for me.

Quick response time to queries. Friendly supportive staff.

The academy has provided me with the opportunity to follow a dream but more importantly it's giving me the confidence to believe that I can achieve and be successful in the interior design business. I'm loving the assignments, they are so practical and are giving valuable hands on experience that will be beneficial in the future. The tutors are very reliable when it comes to answering queries and never make you feel like you have asked a silly question, they are there to help and do so in a kind and efficient manner.

I emailed student services, due to personal circumstances I would be unable to attend my last four classes of the course. I corresponded with Vitor, he was very kind & very empathetic. He responded to my query straight away & now my classes have been put off for a more suitable date later in the year. This is the second time I have received assistance from Vitor. He has been wonderful. Thank you!

I am a fan of online education since it gives me the opportunity to hand pick the best organizations in the world and study at my own pace. I chose IDAI after visiting Dublin for an EU workshop on vocational education. Their system is in perfect harmony with the European Qualifications Framework, which means that my degree will be valid in all European countries. But IDAI has more to offer than just equivalence. As I moved through carefully planned assignments, I felt my understanding of space, form and design improve. These assignments developed my planning, drawing and presentation abilities, giving me confidence to take a project from scratch and see it to completion. As I completed the assignments, I took two interior design projects for friends' houses on the side and I saw that my skills have developed to such an extent that I could accomplish both of them. Now that I am nearing the very end of my studies with IDAI, I am so happy that I chose to follow with this career path that I desired for years and chose IDAI, with their amazing tutors and staff who were always willing to help in my educational journey (Special thanks to Joana Moreira and Luana Vicente who were always incredibly helpful even when I needed extra support). My only regret is not having done it sooner. Very soon, I will finally be able to call myself an interior designer. A heartfelt thank you for everything.