ABH435 Professional Practice in Interior Design
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABH435 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Completion of 192 credit points of study in DE43 or DE45 or AB01 or AV01 or EB03 or ID36 or ID60 or ID17 or ID18 |
| Equivalent(s): | DTB311 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $5,436 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABH435 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Completion of 192 credit points of study in DE43 or DE45 or AB01 or AV01 or EB03 or ID36 or ID60 or ID17 or ID18 |
| Equivalent: | DTB311 |
| Coordinator: | Annie Rolfe | a2.rolfe@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This advanced unit consolidates knowledge, skills, and practical abilities to understand and participate in an interior design practice as a beginning professional. It integrates the management and technical requirements associated with operating a design practice, the organisation and roles of the regulatory and professional bodies, the cultural and legal context, and values and attitudes that govern professional practice. Interior designers require knowledge of management theory; of building contract requirements and project management; contract documentation and administration, and communication skills. This unit covers a range of ethical, cultural, legal, operational, and technical concerns related to interior design practice.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate broad and coherent knowledge of design practice business models and practice management policies and procedures together with contract documentation, contract administration and project delivery processes for interior design projects.
- Apply research and analysis that addresses principles of ethics, sustainability, diversity and identity to current and future interior design related scenarios.
- Demonstrate appropriate and relevant communication skills to support the outcomes of your research and development both as an individual and effective team member.
Content
Unit content includes real world issues related to:
- interior design practice business models, policies, and procedures.
- interior design project procurement.
- industry representative bodies and regulatory frameworks.
- design industry stakeholders and their various roles.
- professionalism and conduct relating to ethics, identity, sustainability and diversity.
Learning Approaches
Learning experiences include a focus on critically evaluating prior, current, and emerging knowledge, conceptions and expectations relevant to the field of interior design. Learning approaches will include project case-studies, individual self-directed learning, team-based learning; experiential learning, reflective practice, exposition, and presentation, enabling learners to develop breadth and depth in their professional knowledge and ability.
Projects will be situated in real world contexts and/or will address simulated scenarios. Formal sessions will consist of lectures, keynote speakers and studio consultations. An online facility will be provided to support the content delivery and studio sessions through the provision of information associated with the unit, as a work in progress repository, and for uploading electronic copies of assessable submissions.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
As you progress through the unit you will be provided with detailed formative feedback during the formal studio consultation sessions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of your work and suggestions for further consideration. Summative assessment will be based on predetermined criteria and additional comments will accompany the feedback where appropriate.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit will consolidate your understanding of interior design professional practice involving theoretical, technical and design processes as they relate to legislation, project management and relationship management in order to deliver ethical, functional, inclusive, sustainable real world projects.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Illustrated Practice Report
You will formulate an illustrated practice report that addresses policies and procedures associated with project delivery and contract administration phases of a professional interior design commission. This includes project procurement processes; client engagement and relationship management; project team coordination; design phases and contract administration.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Professional practice seminar
A seminar involving research and analysis of a current ethical/social/cultural issue related to interior design practice.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no prescribed texts for this unit due to its project-based approach and the breadth of theory covered. A range of resource materials appropriate for the specific project including a list of readings and texts may be recommended at appropriate stages during the semester. You will be encouraged to reference materials from a range of sources from which you can draw conceptual, procedural, and substantive content to inform your design development.
Costs for this unit relate to the normal costs incurred in the generation and presentation of a student assessment.
Risk Assessment Statement
All students and staff are required to complete the FoE General Health and Safety Induction course for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.
There are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with this unit; however, depending on the nature of the project, students in this unit may be required to undertake lecturer-led and/or self-directed site visits to building sites either established or under construction and/or partake in a field trip. These may be supervised and/or self-guided in nature. A risk assessment for such trips has been identified as of a low impact risk. You will be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions while attending such visits or trips. You should advise staff if you consider you will be at risk.
This unit may involve visits to construction sites for which you are required to attend a construction safety induction session and obtain a safety induction card. This safety induction session introduces students to the relevant workplace health and safety requirements of Queensland construction sites. A safety induction course is provided by the School in the first week of the first semester. This induction is mandatory.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Illustrated Practice Report - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Professional practice seminar - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Illustrated Practice Report, Professional practice seminar - Strategically collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities, including First Nations peoples.
Relates to: Illustrated Practice Report - Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
Relates to: Illustrated Practice Report, Professional practice seminar