Sources: Jana Hawley, 785-532-6993, hawleyj@k-state.edu;
and Virginia Moxley, 785-532-5500, moxley@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Katie Mayes, 785-532-6415, kmayes@k-state.edu

Monday, April 12, 2010

K-STATE'S INTERIOR DESIGN PROGRAM EARNS REACCREDITATION

MANHATTAN -- The Council for Interior Design Accreditation has reaccredited Kansas State University's bachelor's degree program in interior design.

Accreditation is based on a program's compliance with 16 standards and more than 100 indicators of quality including faculty qualifications, facilities and resources, comprehensiveness of curriculum and evidence of student learning. K-State is among the 167 interior design programs based in North America that are accredited by the council.

The K-State bachelor's degree program in interior design is ranked third among accredited programs, according to the latest ranking from DesignIntelligence. The ranking reflects an annual survey of leading architecture and design firm principals who were are asked from which interior design programs they have had the best hiring experience.

"As a top-ranked, human ecology-based program in the United States, our graduates enjoy tremendous employment opportunities and success in multidisciplinary architecture and design firms,” said Jana Hawley, head of K-State's department of apparel, textiles and interior design.

An accredited education followed by an internship and examination is required for professional status as an interior designer. K-State's interior design graduates are hired by well-known multidisciplinary firms including Perkins and Will, Skidmore Owings and Merrill, and Gensler.

"Our interior design graduates are hired for their technical competence, professionalism, knowledge of human behavior and commitment to sustainable design," said Virginia Moxley, dean of K-State's College of Human Ecology. "When compared to peer institutions, K-State's program also is also one of the best values available to students of interior design."

Interior design is a field that addresses technical, functional, and aesthetic concerns in the design of interior environments. In addition to these fundamental concerns, K-State’s interior design program emphasizes design to support and enhance the psychological and physiological well-being of building users.