Student Aid Eligible
Residential Interior Design and Technology
As a residential interior designer, you shape how people live and experience their homes. Study digital design tools, residential and small commercial space planning, kitchen and bathroom design, and advanced visualization through hands-on, project-based online learning. Complete work experience and build a portfolio that showcases your technical and creative design skills.
Credential
Diploma
Duration
45 weeks
e-Portfolio +
Work Experience
Employment Opportunities
Self-employment interior design
Designer in architecture and interior design firms
Kitchen designer
Residential space planner
Practice in furniture industry
Showroom/window display designer
3D visualizer
Building model maker
Colour scheme adviser
Sales personnel for building materials
Exhibition/Event Designer
Benefits
Our Residential Interior Design and Technology course is eligible for student aid funding; other options available.
Industry-experienced instructors bring firsthand knowledge from actual roles in their fields.
Learn kitchen and bathroom design using National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) standards and guidelines.
Graduate with a professional Residential Interior Design eportfolio that showcases your creativity and technical skills.
Complete your Residential Interior Design and Technology diploma online. Access course materials anywhere at any time.
Apply your skills in a supervised work placement in interior design or a related built environment workplace.
Produce floor plans and construction drawings using industry-standard digital tools like AutoCAD and SketchUp.
We provide the tools you need to succeed in your program, including a new laptop you keep.
Residential Interior Design and Technology Diploma: Overview
Sundance College’s online Residential Interior Design and Technology program equips you with the practical skills and technical knowledge to pursue a career in residential interior design career.
In just 45 weeks, our program prepares you to design functional residential and small commercial spaces using digital design tools, space planning, kitchen and bath design, and drafting. Through hands-on exercises and practical projects, you will put your skills into practice on real-world residential, kitchen, bathroom, and small commercial design projects, taking them from concept through completion.
Throughout the program, you will receive mentorship from industry professionals, collaborate with peers, and build a professional portfolio to showcase your design work to employers and clients.
Graduates are prepared to step into roles such as residential space planners, kitchen designers, showroom window display designers and other residential design professions.
If you prefer learning in-person in a studio environment, explore our on-campus Interior Design program.
Your Creative Career Starts Here: RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY
Start your design career with real work experience and a professional ePortfolio. Sundance College’s Residential Interior Design and Technology diploma program teaches you space planning, kitchen and bath design, digital tools, drafting and more.
Is a career as a Residential Interior Designer right for you?
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Take Our Career QuizProgram Courses
Courses
Introduction to Interior Design
Build a foundation in residential interior design as you explore the history, theory, and scope of residential interior design, examining how design shapes the way people live. Topics include the evolution of interior design styles from ancient to contemporary periods, the role of the residential designer, the elements and principles of design, and the designer’s toolkit. Develop professional vocabulary and begin building your design perspective through observation, reflection, and research.
Fundamentals of Interior Design
Building on the foundations established in the Introductory course, expand your understanding of the core principles that guide effective residential interior design. Examine how space planning, proportion, balance, rhythm, and harmony work together to create functional and aesthetically successful interiors. Colour theory is explored in depth, with practical application to residential spaces. Develop skills in client needs assessment and begin applying the design process to residential problems.
Products and Materials
Study a broad range of materials, finishes, and products used in residential interior design. Develop product knowledge across flooring, wall treatments, textiles, furniture, fixtures, and lighting. Emphasis is placed on the selection process, including how to evaluate materials for suitability based on client needs, aesthetics, durability, maintenance requirements, sustainability, and budget. Practice communicating material selections through specification documents and sample boards.
Building Construction and Systems for Interior Designers
Develop essential knowledge of building construction and building systems as they relate to residential interior design practice. Build an understanding of structural systems, wall and ceiling assemblies, doors and windows, mechanical and electrical systems, and plumbing with a focus on how these systems affect interior design decisions. Building codes, accessibility standards, and safety requirements are introduced. Learn to read and interpret basic construction drawings.
Communication Tools for Interior Designers
Effective communication is a core professional competency for interior designers. Develops students’ ability to express design ideas through a range of visual and technical communication methods. Topics include freehand sketching, hand drafting, technical drawing conventions, digital drawing using AutoCAD, and 3D visualization using SketchUp. Produce floor plans, elevations, sections, and perspective sketches to professional standards. Explore presentation techniques, including mood boards and client presentation materials.
Residential Design
Apply the theory, skills, and knowledge accumulated in the foundation courses to a complete residential interior design project. Use a problem-based learning approach to complete a realistic residential design case study from initial client briefing through to final design presentation. The project cycle covers client consultation, programming, space planning, concept development, material selection, and the preparation of a complete design package. Develop professional work habits, project management skills, and the ability to justify design decisions.
Kitchen Design
Receive a comprehensive introduction to kitchen design as a specialized discipline within residential interior design. Study the planning and design principles that govern kitchen layout, functionality, and aesthetics, with reference to NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) standards and guidelines. Topics include the kitchen work triangle, traffic flow, ergonomics, cabinetry, countertops, appliances, plumbing, lighting, and ventilation. Develop proficiency in producing kitchen design drawings and specifications to industry standards.
Bathroom Design
Learn the principles and practice of residential bathroom design. Building on the foundational knowledge established in previous courses, apply NKBA bathroom planning guidelines to a range of bathroom types, from powder rooms to ensuite designs. Topics include fixture selection, plumbing and ventilation considerations, accessibility and universal design, tile and waterproofing systems, lighting, cabinetry, and storage solutions. Produce a complete set of bathroom design documents as part of a design project.
Small Commercial Design
Explore the principles and practice of small-scale commercial interior design. Learn how commercial design differs from residential design in terms of regulatory requirements, client relationships, programming, and design intent. Case studies cover a range of small commercial project types including retail, hospitality, office, and service environments. Topics include commercial building codes, accessibility standards, egress planning, commercial materials and furnishings, and the commercial project cycle. Complete a commercial design project to professional standards.
Sustainable Design
Develop your understanding of environmentally responsible design principles and their application to residential and small commercial interior design projects. Examine sustainability frameworks including LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and Passive House standards, and explore how sustainability considerations influence material selection, energy use, indoor air quality, and design decision-making. Learn to identify sustainability credits applicable to their projects, research and specify low-impact materials, and advocate for environmentally responsible design solutions.
Student-Selected Design Project
Apply your accumulated knowledge and skills to a self-directed interior design project of your choosing. Working within a defined framework and with instructor guidance, identify a design problem, develop a design brief, and carry out a full design process from concept to final presentation. The project serves as a bridge between the program’s taught courses and the capstone e-Portfolio, allowing you to demonstrate independent design thinking, professional judgment, and personal design direction.
Portfolio
e-Portfolio and Presentation Techniques
Assemble, curate, and present a professional e-Portfolio that showcases the design work completed throughout the RIDT program. Develop skills in portfolio strategy, project documentation, visual presentation, and professional self-presentation. Topics include selecting and sequencing work, writing design rationale statements, digital layout and presentation tools, and preparing for professional practice entry. Complete the course with a polished, employment-ready digital portfolio and the skills to present it confidently to prospective employers or clients.
Work Experience
Get supervised practical experience in an interior design or related built environment workplace. Under the guidance of a workplace supervisor and faculty advisor, you will apply the professional knowledge and skills developed throughout the RIDT program in a real industry setting. Reflect on your workplace experience through regular learning journals, a mid-placement check-in, and a final workplace report. The placement consolidates professional competencies, builds industry networks, and prepares you for employment in the interior design profession.
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Next Start Dates
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I study interior design online?
Yes. Sundance College’s Residential Interior Design and Technology diploma program is delivered fully online with mentorship, peer collaboration, and hands-on learning. You will also graduate with a professional design e-portfolio that demonstrates your creativity, knowledge and skills.
How is Residential Interior Design & Technology different from the on-campus Interior Design diploma?
Residential Interior Design & Technology is a 45-week online program focused primarily on residential and small commercial design. The two-year, on-campus Interior Design diploma provides broader training across residential and commercial design in a studio environment, with additional study in areas such as hospitality design, construction, and professional practice.
Will I work on real-world interior design projects?
Yes. You’ll apply your skills to residential, kitchen, bathroom, and small commercial design projects. You’ll work through the design process from concept and space planning to materials, technical drawings, and final presentation.
What software and technical skills will I learn?
Our Residential Interior Design and Technology program builds proficiency in industry-standard tools and software such as:
- AutoCAD
- SketchUp
- Lumion
You will also receive hands-on training in digital drafting skills, residential kitchen and bathroom design and spatial planning.
What jobs can I get after this program?
After completing our program, you can find jobs including, but not limited to:
- Self-employment interior design
- Designer in architecture and interior design firms
- Kitchen designer
- Residential space planner
- Practice in furniture industry
- Showroom/window display designer
- 3D visualizer
- Building model maker
- Colour scheme adviser
- Sales personnel for building materials
- Exhibition/Event Designer
Do I need experience to apply?
No, you don’t need experience to apply to Sundance College’s Residential Interior Design and Technology program. You just need a high school diploma or Mature student status, and English proficiency.
How long is the program and how does online learning work?
Sundance College’s Residential Interior Design and Technology program is 45 weeks long.
Learning online still means you experience your classes in a hands-on and collaborative way. Collaborate with your peers and get practical practice while studying from anywhere.
Online or on-campus — which is right for me?
This depends on your location, timeline and your needs as a student. If you live in or around Victoria, BC or are prepared to move there, and prefer an immersive in-studio learning experience, the on-campus Interior Design Diploma is an excellent fit. If you live elsewhere or want to enter the industry sooner, the online 45-weeks Residential Interior Design and Technology program delivers a focused curriculum, allowing you to choose the program that best matches your pace and schedule.