Enter OTP
An interdisciplinary, conceptual approach to spatial design rooted in adaptive reuse, material exploration, and ecological responsibility. Best for students with a strong artistic foundation who want to reshape built environments creatively.
Curriculum Structure
Year 1: Foundation year across all RISD majors includes studio drawing, design principles, and liberal arts. Emphasis is on building conceptual and technical fluency.
Year 2: Students enter the Interior Architecture department with core studios in spatial design, theory, and technology. Courses focus on adaptive reuse and narrative environments.
Year 3: Intermediate studios focus on community, preservation, and sustainability, with electives in materials, fabrication, and building performance.
Year 4: Capstone studio emphasizes critical inquiry and design intervention. Students complete a senior project and portfolio that bridges interior, architectural, and conceptual disciplines.
Focus areas: Adaptive Reuse, Preservation, Environmental Design
Learning outcomes: Design authorship, systems thinking, conceptual execution
Professional alignment (accreditation): Regionally accredited, not CIDA-accredited
Reputation: One of the world’s top art and design schools; highly regarded for creative interior design programs
This program emphasizes critical making, reuse, and conceptual depth:
Studio-based learning each semester with intense faculty and peer critiques, focusing on spatial interventions.
Specialization in adaptive reuse, transforming existing buildings through hands-on studio work.
Use of state-of-the-art fabrication labs—woodshops, digital media labs, print shops, CNC/maker spaces—for prototype and model development.
Emphasis on environmental and social responsibility, with projects set in real-world contexts.
Collaborative environment via RISD’s Center for Integrative Technologies, enabling cross-disciplinary work.
Shared access to Brown University courses and the RISD Museum’s collections for research and inspiration.
RISD’s Interior Architecture BFA equips students to transform interior spaces with a blend of artistic vision and architectural knowledge. Graduates typically work as interior designers, adaptive reuse consultants, spatial experience designers, or museum/exhibit planners.
Career progression is built into RISD’s DNA:
Career Center support: RISD’s Design Career Services connects students to top employers through curated portfolio reviews, design-specific job boards, and alumni mentorship.
Alumni success: RISD’s Interior Architecture graduates report 90–95% employment or grad school placement within a year, with salaries often starting around $60,000–$75,000, depending on specialization.
Industry integration: Close ties with firms like Perkins&Will, IDEO, MASS Design Group, and Studio Gang.
Prestige and professional impact: Though RISD’s program is not CIDA-accredited (by choice, due to its more experimental nature), its global reputation opens doors across both design and architecture sectors.
Capstone design studios: Final-year students work on adaptive reuse projects or speculative architectural concepts, often showcased in RISD’s public exhibitions.
Further Academic Progression:
RISD students are highly competitive for top-tier M.Arch, MFA in Interior Architecture, or Adaptive Reuse programs worldwide, including RISD’s own graduate tracks and Ivy League design schools like Harvard GSD and Columbia GSAPP.
Portfolio: Required (12-20 pieces + RISD Assignment)Recommendation Letters: 2 required (1 from art teacher, 1 from academic teacher)Experiential Designer – Build narrative rich environments for exhibitions or brandsSet Designer – Create stage and film environments through spatial storytellingConceptual Interior Designer – Develop visionary spaces with artistic expressionResidential Interior Architect – Design custom living environments for private clientsDesign Researcher – Investigate materials trends and user behavior to inform design
Embark on your educational journey with confidence! Our team of admission experts is here to guide you through the process. Book a free session now to receive personalized advice, assistance with applications, and insights into your dream school. Whether you're applying to college, graduate school, or specialized programs, we're here to help you succeed.
Rhode Island School of Design
