Sponsored by iscd (International School of Colour and Design)
While there are plenty of online study options in the design space, quality can vary greatly. I remember my own experience of remote learning at university when the technology was in its infancy and the whole process felt rather disconnected (the irony!) but online learning has come a very long way which is great news for budding interior designers.
Whether you’d simply like to learn more about design, you’re after a career change or you’re already a design industry professional, iscd’s (International School of Colour and Design) online offering got a makeover recently and is now one of the best around.
“iscd has been educating in the interior design space for 35 years, having pioneered courses in interior design and training before there was a real demand for it,” says Cherie Karlsson, design educator at iscd. The company currently has two bricks and mortar campuses in North Sydney and Melbourne CBD. Its primary specialty is in interior design (its interior design courses are approved by the Design Institute of Australia) and it offers a Certificate IV in Interior Decoration and a Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration, both of which are available to study online.
“In exciting news, we have completely refreshed our Diploma of Interior Design and Decoration to have the latest content and technology, more video and personalised video feedback for every student on every assessment so it is an exciting, engaged and personal online study experience. In fact the online experience is so good our last group of graduates had a strong presence in the recent industry awards!” says Cherie.
Whether you work part-time, full-time or are considering a return to the workforce, the convenience of online study cannot be overstated. Iscd’s offering allows you to study when it suits you, on any device, moving at your own pace. There’s an easy to follow study calendar and you have 24 months to complete, working slower or faster in some weeks, depending on your other commitments.
Personal
Where some online courses literally leave you to your own devices, iscd believes that personalised feedback is key to optimum learning. “Our online courses are a genuinely personal experience. We offer individual video feedback on assessments for all of our students who are mentored by experienced educators every week,” adds Cherie.
Collaboration
The courses also encourage collaboration with fellow students – good training in something that is ultimately a vocational necessity. “The courses offer daily discussion boards where you can share and connect with fellow students. You can be as active or passive as you like within these communities,” says Cherie. I personally found online discussion boards very useful when studying my degree.
Connection
“We have a long history with select partners and it is key to our offering linking students to the design world. Real Living magazine, Dulux, Resene, DiLorenzo Tiles and James Treble are just some of our design industry connections,” says Cherie. And as you’re no doubt aware, networking is often central to securing a job in design (as it with most professions) and I can personally attest to this. While I obviously had the requisite skills, most of my jobs have been sought through networking.
“We also ensure that you remain connected in a digital sense by offering an easy to follow study calendar, engaging online content, training in the latest programs and apps, industry designed briefs plus incursions, excursions and job alerts,” says Cherie, who explains that there is a student services team designed to support you throughout your entire study journey too.
With the next iscd student intake slated for November 21, perhaps now is the time for you to set your interior design career aspirations in motion. For more.
*The iscd courses are delivered on behalf of Academy of Information Technology ABN 35 094 133 641; RTO 90511; CRICOS 02155J; iscd RTO91439.
