Unit LABORATORY OF INTERIOR DESIGN

INTERIOR DESIGN

Code	A002175
CFU	6
Teacher	Paolo Di Nardo
Learning activities	Base
Area	Formazione di base nel progetto di design
Sector	ICAR/13
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)

Cognomi A-L

CFU

6

Teacher

Paolo Di Nardo

Teachers

• Paolo Di Nardo

Hours

• 54 ore - Paolo Di Nardo

Language of instruction

Italian

Contents

The course approaches interior design as an integrated process of research, analysis and design development. Through a theme assigned each year, students will explore the relationship between space, materials, light, perception and behaviour, developing research methodologies and design tools useful for defining contemporary interior spaces. Particular attention will be paid to the critical interpretation of space, design culture, the relationship between tradition and innovation, and the new opportunities offered by digital technologies and artificial intelligence applied to design.

Reference texts

• Adilova, A., & Shamoi, P. (2024). Aesthetic preference prediction in interior design: Fuzzy approach. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2401.17710 • ArchieInteriors. (2025, marzo). Tendenze illuminazione 2025: la luce sempre più protagonista del design. ArchieInteriors. https://www.archieinteriors.com/tendenze-illuminazione-2025 • ArchieInteriors. (2025, luglio). La ceramica artigianale e interior design: il ritorno. la ceramica entra in scena. ArchieInteriors. https://www.archieinteriors.com/ceramica-artigianale-design-interior • Arnheim, R. (2008). Arte e percezione visiva. Milano: Feltrinelli. • Ashby, S. (2024). Studio Ashby: Home, art, soul. London: Hardie Grant Books. • Biblus ACCA. (2025, maggio). Come usare i materiali per un interior design moderno. Biblus ACCA. https://biblus.acca.it/materiali-interior-design • Biblus ACCA. (2025, maggio). Guida all’illuminazione per il design d’interni: idee, principi e soluzioni con l’AI. Biblus ACCA. https://biblus.acca.it/guida-all-illuminazione-per-il-design-dinterni-idee-principi-e-soluzioni-con-lai • Dabito. (2023). Old brand new: Colorful homes for maximal living. New York: Clarkson Potter. • De Botton, A. (2008). Architettura e felicità. Parma: Guanda. • Di Nardo, P. (2023). Future interior design. AND. Rivista di Architetture, Città e Architetti, 44(2). https://and-architettura.it/index.php/and/article/view/641 • Di Nardo, P. (2011). Design obliquo. Siracusa: LetteraVentidue. • Fezer, J., & Schmitz, M. (2012). Lucius Burckhardt writings. Wien–New York: Springer. • Hara, K. (2015). Ex-formation. Zürich: Lars Müller Publishers. • Karman Italia. (2024). Illuminazione e materiali: guida al design contemporaneo. Storybox – Karman Italia. https://storybox.karmanitalia.it/illuminazione-design-materiali-guida • Lamberton, D. (Ed.). (2025). Brutalist interiors. London: Blue Crow Media. • Mastrigli, G. (a cura di). (2016). Superstudio. Opere 1966-1978. Macerata: Quodlibet Habitat. • Materiali Casa. (2024, ottobre). I trend 2025 per le superfici nell’interior design. Materiali Casa. https://www.materialicasa.it/architettura-e-design/i-trend-2025-le-superfici-nellinterior-design • Mohammadrezaei, E., Makhmutov, A., Rodríguez-Vizcaya, R., & Naser, M. Z. (2024). Systematic review of extended reality for smart built environments lighting design simulations. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2405.06928 • Papanek, V. (2019). Design for the real world. London: Thames and Hudson. • Perec, G. (1989). Specie di spazi. Torino: Bollati Boringhieri. • Pentreath, B. (2024). An English vision. London: Rizzoli. • Potter, N. (2010). Cos’è un designer. Thing places messages. Torino: Codice Edizioni. • Ramstedt, F. (2023). The furnishing handbook. Stockholm: Bonnier Fakta. • Solanski, S. (2019). Why materials matter. Munich: Prestel Publishing. • Spennato, A. (2023). Design e intelligenza artificiale: Una nuova frontiera per l’interior design. AND. Rivista di Architetture, Città e Architetti, 44(2). https://and-architettura.it/index.php/and/article/view/639 • Tinti, L. (2011). Collezionare meraviglia. Sulla Wunderkammer cinque-seicentesca. Bibliomanie.it, 25 (aprile/giugno). • Todd, L. M. (2023). Italian interiors: Rooms with a view. New York: Rizzoli. • Zhang, H., Wu, J., Wu, Y., & Ren, P. (2023). Interactive interior design recommendation via coarse-to-fine multimodal reinforcement learning. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2310.07287

Educational objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding (DD1)
* be familiar with the main historical, theoretical and cultural references in contemporary interior design;
* understand the relationships between space, materials, light, furnishings and user behaviour in the design of interior spaces.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding (DD2)
* develop a complete design process, from preliminary analysis to the formulation of the final proposal;
* apply research methodologies and design tools to develop solutions consistent with the assigned theme;
* integrate materials, lighting, spatial configuration and expressive languages into interior design.

Independence of judgement (DD3)
* critically evaluate existing spaces and design scenarios, identifying their potential, limitations and opportunities for transformation;
* make informed and reasoned design choices, supported by appropriate cultural and disciplinary references.

Communication skills (DD4)
* communicate the design effectively through drawings, models, visual representations and oral presentations;
* justify one’s design choices using appropriate language and coherent references.

Learning skills (DD5)
* develop autonomy in researching sources, references and case studies;
* critically integrate knowledge from different disciplines within the design process.

Prerequisites

A basic knowledge of the history of design and contemporary architecture, the major artistic avant-garde movements of the 20th century, and the fundamentals of design representation is required. Knowledge of the main digital tools for modelling, representation and graphic layout used in the fields of design and architecture is an advantage.

Teaching methods

The course combines theoretical lectures, case study analysis, seminar activities, group presentations and practical workshops. In the first part of the course, students will undertake a meta-design research project aimed at establishing a cultural and methodological foundation to support the development of their project. In the second part, design exercises, individual and group reviews, and opportunities for critical discussion of the results produced will take place. Throughout the year, professionals, design studios and leading figures from the sector will also be invited to share their insights into design culture.

Other information

Attendance at workshop sessions is strongly recommended, given the progressive and project-based nature of the course. Supplementary teaching materials, additional bibliographical references, practical guidelines and project briefs will be provided during the course. Students are required to attend the scheduled reviews and to submit the required assignments in accordance with the instructions provided by the lecturer.

Learning verification modality

Learning is assessed through a progressive evaluation process comprising research activities, design exercises and a final interior design project.
The examination consists of the presentation and critical discussion of the work produced during the course, and an assessment of the student’s ability to link the project developed to the theoretical and bibliographical references covered during the lectures.

The final mark is expressed out of thirty and is broken down as follows:
* 20% active participation, contribution to discussions and interim presentations;
* 30% practical exercises and research activities carried out during the semester;
* 50% final interior design project.

The assessment takes the following criteria into account:
* quality and originality of the design proposal;
* methodological consistency of the approach developed;
* ability to integrate research and design;
* graphic and communicative quality of the work;
* correct use of scales, proportions and spatial representation;
* clarity of language and critical thinking in the presentation.

The grading scale follows the grading table adopted by the degree programme.

Extended program

The course is structured around an annual design theme, which serves as the central thread running through the research, analysis and design activities.

Unit 1 – The culture of living and contemporary interior design
* The evolution of interior design, cultural and design references, and the relationships between space, behaviour and the quality of living.

Unit 2 – Meta-design research
* Development of a research programme focused on analysing the assigned theme. Identification of references, case studies, interdisciplinary connections and design scenarios.

Unit 3 – The Language of Space
* Analysis and representation of space through descriptive, narrative and visual tools. Study of perception, experience and the relationships between the individual and the environment.

Unit 4 – The Language of Materials
* In-depth study of the perceptual, expressive and sensory qualities of materials through exercises focusing on composition, visual balance and the creation of multisensory experiences.

Unit 5 – Light, atmosphere and perception
* Study of the role of natural and artificial light in defining interior spaces, atmospheres and the spatial experience.

Unit 6 – Interior design project
* Development of the final project through phases of analysis, concept development, design, evaluation and representation. The work will be carried out individually or in groups and will be accompanied by periodic reviews and interim presentations.

Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile

9, 11, 12

Cognomi M-Z

CFU

6

Teacher

Andrea Dragoni

Teachers

• Andrea Dragoni

Hours

• 54 ore - Andrea Dragoni

PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL COMPOSITION

Code	A002174
CFU	4
Teacher	Eliana Martinelli
Teachers	Eliana Martinelli
Hours	36 ore - Eliana Martinelli
Learning activities	Affine/integrativa
Area	Attività formative affini o integrative
Sector	ICAR/14
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	The course is organized into theoretical lectures and design exercises focusing on the topic of composition by defining and identifying the principles of form relationships at the architectural design scale.
Reference texts	Focillon H., Vita delle forme – Elogio della mano, Einaudi, Torino 2002. Ingold T., Making. Raffaello Cortina Editore, Milano 2019. Le Corbusier (Jeanneret C. E.), 1973, Verso una architettura, Longanesi, Milano. Loos A., Parole nel vuoto. Adelphi Edizioni, Milano 1980 (ed. originale 1921). Munari B., Da cosa nasce cosa, Editori Laterza, Roma-Bari 2017. Perec G., Specie di spazi. Bollati Boringheri, Torino 2020 (ed. originale 1974). Purini F., Comporre l’architettura, Editori Laterza, Roma-Bari 2000. Rossi A., Autobiografia scientifica, Pratiche Editrice, Milano 1999. Semerani L., Incontri e Lezioni. Attrazione e contrasto tra le forme. Clean Edizioni, Napoli 2013. Further detailed references will be given for the diverse exercises proposed.
Educational objectives	The course seeks to provide methodologies and evaluative strategies for enhancing design skills at both the architectural and item design scales through the mastery of compositional techniques.
Prerequisites	Basic knowledge of architectural drawing and design history
Teaching methods	The educational activity comprises lectures, guided exercises, revisions, and opportunities for students to share their various work processes. Revisions will be conducted both individually and collectively, involving all students in the laboratory. The lectures will address the theory and techniques of architectural composition.
Other information	None
Learning verification modality	The examination evaluates the procedure undertaken over the semester through different mandatory individual and/or group practical exercises, referencing the recommended texts and theoretical resources studied.
Extended program	The course is organized into various activities: lectures, some of which are by invited professors; extempore exercises; in-situ exercises (outside of the classroom); laboratory activities in the classroom; and collective corrections and revisions. To carry out all these laboratory activities, students need to have the right tools for hand-drawing and realizing models. The course aims to give the students the basic tools for starting a design process in its analytical, interpretive, and compositional aspects.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile	Sustainable cities and communities