Spring Break
Interior design program ranked among best in U.S.
Hannah Alexander
Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: News
Drexel's undergraduate and graduate interior design programs are now among the nation's elite, ranked 10th and 13th in the nation, respectively, by DesignIntelligence, a bi-monthly publication created by design industry professionals.
These rankings were listed in DesignIntelligence's ninth annual publication entitled "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools."
In the publication, DesignIntelligence ranked the top 15 interior undergraduate and graduate design programs in the country. Drexel made both lists, ranking alongside schools such as Cornell University and Syracuse University. The University of Cincinnati ranked No. 1 on the undergraduate list, and the Savannah College of Art and Design was ranked first for graduates.
"I levitated about a foot and a half out of my desk chair with excitement," Allen Sabinson, dean of the College of Media Arts and Design said, upon finding out the good news.
Sabinson attributed Drexel's rankings to the studio-driven interior design program and strong faculty members with extensive backgrounds in the interior design profession.
"In the program everyone learns by doing, right from their freshman year," Sabinson said.
In 2000 and 2001, Drexel's interior design program was also ranked by DesignIntelligence.
According to "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools," this year Drexel also ranked fifth in the East region.
"This recognition is pretty impressive given the number of design schools in the area," Rena Cumby, director of the interior design program, said. "We are now competing with major schools, totally design oriented."
The interior design program at Drexel will also experience changes in the coming years as well. According to Sabinson, a new department was recently created combining the architecture and interior design programs.
"Our future goal is that the two share expertise," Sabinson said.
Drexel's College of Media Arts and Design is also the only one to offer a course on the Smart House, increasing environmental specializations in design.
In the future, Cumby and interior design instructor Ada Tremonte said they hope interior design students get the chance to work nationally.
"The university could put more behind the co-op office," Cumby said.
Tremonte agreed, adding that, "The real world exposure makes a difference."
Senior interior design student Amanda Dobbins said she feels very prepared by the program at Drexel.
"The program here is a lot of hard work and long hours, but once it all comes together, it's very exciting to see it pay off," Dobbins said. "I can take what I have learned both in school and in a professional interior design setting and use those skills interchangeably."
These rankings were listed in DesignIntelligence's ninth annual publication entitled "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools."
In the publication, DesignIntelligence ranked the top 15 interior undergraduate and graduate design programs in the country. Drexel made both lists, ranking alongside schools such as Cornell University and Syracuse University. The University of Cincinnati ranked No. 1 on the undergraduate list, and the Savannah College of Art and Design was ranked first for graduates.
"I levitated about a foot and a half out of my desk chair with excitement," Allen Sabinson, dean of the College of Media Arts and Design said, upon finding out the good news.
Sabinson attributed Drexel's rankings to the studio-driven interior design program and strong faculty members with extensive backgrounds in the interior design profession.
"In the program everyone learns by doing, right from their freshman year," Sabinson said.
In 2000 and 2001, Drexel's interior design program was also ranked by DesignIntelligence.
According to "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools," this year Drexel also ranked fifth in the East region.
"This recognition is pretty impressive given the number of design schools in the area," Rena Cumby, director of the interior design program, said. "We are now competing with major schools, totally design oriented."
The interior design program at Drexel will also experience changes in the coming years as well. According to Sabinson, a new department was recently created combining the architecture and interior design programs.
"Our future goal is that the two share expertise," Sabinson said.
Drexel's College of Media Arts and Design is also the only one to offer a course on the Smart House, increasing environmental specializations in design.
In the future, Cumby and interior design instructor Ada Tremonte said they hope interior design students get the chance to work nationally.
"The university could put more behind the co-op office," Cumby said.
Tremonte agreed, adding that, "The real world exposure makes a difference."
Senior interior design student Amanda Dobbins said she feels very prepared by the program at Drexel.
"The program here is a lot of hard work and long hours, but once it all comes together, it's very exciting to see it pay off," Dobbins said. "I can take what I have learned both in school and in a professional interior design setting and use those skills interchangeably."
Be the first to comment on this story