Interior Design Major (BFA)
George Fox's interior design major educates students to become creative and responsible designers of residential and commercial spaces. Program components emphasize problem solving in applied design studios, and with a focus on space planning, sourcing and industry connection, you will learn to design environments for residential and commercial spaces in a broad range of design programs.
As courses progress, you will be challenged by design problems that increase in size and complexity, and develop an understanding of sustainable building by learning the fundamentals of LEED and sustainable building practices.
Our program focuses on the human health and safety of spaces and prepares students to work in a variety of settings in the professional interior design world. Program curriculum and outcomes are all directly tied to NCIDQ Certification and LEED accreditation competencies, preparing students to join the interior design industry immediately upon graduation.
We've also been recognized nationally. Our program was named the International Interior Design Association’s 2023 Campus Center of the Year – quite an honor considering all U.S. schools with interior design programs were considered!
You Will Be Professionally Prepared
Our program is deeply connected to the local Portland design industry, and you will work with industry mentors in several classes to create professional relationships. We also work closely with local professional organizations like IIDA and ASID.
Our curriculum is based on the fundamentals of the NCIDQ (National Council for Interior Design Qualification) exam, which you can take after entering the industry. From building codes to ADA regulations, you will be equipped with the knowledge to design for the health, safety and welfare of building occupants.
You'll also be prepared to take the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Associate exam, allowing you to be a step ahead when you enter the field and be an expert on sustainability before you even graduate.
With a curriculum that covers the facets of both residential and commercial design – by tackling real-world design problems, developing innovative solutions to challenging topics, and learning professional practices for the industry – you'll be equipped to be a successful and creative member of the design community.
Why Study Interior Design at George Fox?
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Learn from accomplished faculty, all of whom continue to work professionally in the field and who are professing Christians.
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All students complete at least one industry internship, with several students completing multiple internships during their time at George Fox.
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We are connected to the industry through IIDA, the International Interior Design Association, and student membership fees are covered by the department
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Our program was named the International Interior Design Association’s 2023 Campus Center of the Year, based on our "outstanding achievement through the development of superior programming that enhances the interior design profession at the student and local level.” We were chosen among all schools in the U.S. with interior design programs.
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The major shares a foundational curriculum with the studio and applied design areas of our program. As a result, students are exposed to an interdisciplinary, integrated curriculum that stresses the broad intellectual development needed for a robust design practice, whether as a team member of a larger design firm or a freelance practitioner.
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Gain a global and diverse viewpoint through design by designing projects all over the world in diverse geographical locations
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The welfare of our planet plays a large role in our program, educating you on global issues around building design and sustainability
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Learn how to be a practicing and professional member of the design community, interacting with industry professionals whenever possible through reviews and industry events
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Gain knowledge of universal design when considering your projects, including how building code and ADA requirements fit into space planning and design
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From designing residential homes to commercial spaces, our students design a broad range of project types, completing their interior design studies with a robust portfolio, ready to innovate and lead in the industry.
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Connections to regional businesses and institutions allow our students to work in placed internships and work with clients while still in school.
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You will have the opportunity to participate in multiple community-based events, including an art retreat where majors travel to the Oregon Coast to spend a weekend of artmaking, worship and getting to know one another.
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You will be part of a family-oriented community where you will be known by name and surrounded by peers who will challenge, encourage and listen to you.
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You have the option to participate in George Fox University’s honors program. As an interior design major, you can expand your academics outside your department classes and engage in Socratic seminars focused on great books, community and discussion.
What will I Study?
- Designing residential and commercial spaces
- Knowledge in sourcing for furniture and finishes
- Detailing and building custom furniture
- Understand sustainability and green building
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Creating safe and equitable spaces
As courses progress, you will be challenged by design problems that increase in size and complexity. The curriculum will help you develop an understanding of the influence of sustainable building and reuse on human health, well-being and performance.
Jasmine Reese
Our courses have been designed to help us succeed in the world outside of our campus by emphasizing industry standards and practices that might not be in textbooks. Along with connections made with working professionals in my field, the friendships I have made in the classroom are exceptional. In a small major, and at a small school, I have had the opportunity to grow close with my peers. We help each other with projects, offer feedback and collaboration, and create a fun atmosphere to learn and work.
What’s after George Fox
The shape of the interior design field is shifting, creating opportunities for young designers with a vision and technical ability to break into the field and achieve success. In a current booming building industry, interior designers are in high demand and our students graduate with a skillset that allows them to have a front seat in the design industry immediately upon graduation.
Our students go on to work in a range of design opportunities, from large commercial firms working on offices and hotels to small residential teams designing single family homes. The skillset of our graduates is applicable to a broad range of pathways with an interior design degree, allowing our young designers to choose the design path that’s right for them. They work alongside industry professionals from their first year in the program to allow a broad network to grow throughout their time at George Fox University.
- Commercial interior designer
- Residential interior designer
- Manufacturer rep
- Project manager
- Home stager
- Kitchen and bath specialist
- Textile designer
- Furniture designer
- SERA Architects
- BORA Architects
- HMK Company
- NFL Players Association
- Disney
- Nike
- Nordstrom
- Faceout Studio
- VSA Associates, Chicago
- Landor & Associates
- Norm Thompson Outfitters
- Impact Printing
- Clark & Company
- Pivot Group
- Pigeon Toe Ceramics
- Copper River Design
- Harvest House Publishing
- Portland, Beaverton, Salem, Tigard and Sherwood Public Schools
- Livengood & Nowack
- Lawrence Galleries
- Code Monkeys, Web & Game Design
- Hillsboro Hops
- Asterix Creative
- Anthropologie
- Design Case Interior Design
100% of art and design students at George Fox complete an internship in their field before they graduate. Here's where some of our student interned during the 2022-23 school year:
- Ankrom Moisan
- The Remodel Group
- Maison Inc.
- Tiffany Home Design
- Wilson Architects
- William and Paddon
- Edge Multimedia
- Northside Church
- La Salle College Preparatory
- Krista Martin Design
- Garrison Hullinger Interior Design
- Chehalem Valley Chamber of Commerce
- City Hall Project: Our interior design majors were recently honored by the city of Carlton for their work in redesigning the city hall – a project that was completed in class.
- Mural Project: A community mural project that included community engagement, city council presentation and production
- Glass Project: A public works project producing glass installation for new buildings on campus
- Tiny Home Village: Working in coordination with North Valley Friends Church to create plans and a vision for a tiny home village that offers low-income housing
- Community Art & Design Workshop: Teaching high school students art and design
- George App: Conceive, develop and present an app to serve students at George Fox by replacing clunky existing web systems on campus.
- Woody Arts Incubator Project: Our Collaborative Design class recently worked with this community arts center for artistic practice in Cleveland, Ohio.
