Frequently Asked Questions
Interior Architecture and Environmental Design is a discipline that constructs the relationship between space, people, and the environment; shapes itself according to the needs of human actions; and aims to design the environment in which users live in an aesthetic, functional, and comfortable manner, taking into account their physical, functional, and psychological characteristics. It is the functional planning of the interior volume of an architectural structure or any kind of open or closed environment in which people live, in line with the physical and psychological needs of its users.
Interior architecture is actually a profession that can communicate with the user and respond to their desires and needs. The most important feature that distinguishes interior architecture from other building activities is the existence of design power and design ability. Işık University's Interior Architecture and Environmental Design program offers students a multifaceted and contemporary learning process in line with digitalization by blending art, design, and applied education.
Almost all of the “Interior Architecture” and “Interior Architecture and Environmental Design” departments in Turkey offer the same education with similar curricula. The main difference between them is the type of score universities use to admit students to these programs. While there is no significant difference in terms of the educational model, “Interior Architecture” departments in Turkey admit students based on their numerical score (SAY), while “Interior Architecture and Environmental Design” departments admit students based on their equal weight score (EA)
Graduates of the department work in personal interior design and implementation, interior architecture and architecture offices, design firms, construction companies, real estate investment partnership firms, construction or design units in companies abroad, production and marketing areas related to the construction sector, exhibition design, project management, restoration, shopping centers, yacht design and production, furniture and kitchen design. They can also work as interior designers in municipalities and public institutions, or pursue an academic career with postgraduate education. Interior architecture is a profession in high demand in Turkey with a wide range of applications. Graduates can specialize in areas such as furniture design, yacht design, and lighting, as well as spaces such as homes, offices, stores, cafes, and restaurants.
Öğrenciler; tasarım düşüncesi, proje geliştirme, malzeme bilgisi, teknik çizim, dijital modelleme, iletişim ve ekip çalışması gibi birçok mesleki ve kişisel beceri kazanırlar. Eleştirel düşünme, analiz yeteneği, sanatsal ve biçimsel araştırma, bağlam okuma ve mekânsal problem tanımlama, disiplinler arası üretim ve iletişim, detay odaklı, hayat boyu öğrenme, ekip çalışması, yazılı ve sözlü iletişim, teknolojik adaptasyon, araştırma/sorgulama/eleştirme/üretme, problem çözme, görselleştirme, yaratıcılık programın önemli kazanımları arasındadır. Bu yetkinlikler, öğrencilerin hem kavramsal hem de uygulamaya dönük tasarım süreçlerini bütüncül biçimde ele alabilmelerini desteklemeyi amaçlar.
İç Mimarlık ve Çevre Tasarımı Bölümü; tasarlanan mekân aracılığı ile insanın günlük yaşamını kolaylaştırmayı ve iyileştirmeyi, tasarım alanında hayal gücünü zorlamayı, kullanıcının renk, malzeme, akustik ve aydınlatma gibi temel unsurlar üzerinden talep ve ihtiyaçlarını değerlendirmeyi, güncel ve teknolojik imkânlar aracılığı ile tasarım ve üretim aşamasında dijital ortamlar kullanmayı, kişinin talep ve ihtiyaçları doğrultusunda mobilya/mekân tasarımını; renk, doku, malzeme başta olmak üzere tasarım çizgisinde alternatif çözümler üretmeyi ve tasarlamayı hedeflenmektedir.
We aim to graduate students equipped with creative problem-solving skills through an interdisciplinary educational approach that will make a difference in the context of the 21st century. In today's world, where digital transformation is at the forefront, we aim to offer our students a unique learning process in line with our University's institutional and academic culture.
Within the scope of the program, following a fundamental training in the first year with an interdisciplinary approach, starting from the second year, as the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture, we aim to cultivate designers with a “design school” identity who are sensitive to the environment and people, highly aware, and with a developed level of art, design, and culture.
Within the scope of the program, following a fundamental education in the first year based on an interdisciplinary approach, starting from the second year, we aim to cultivate designers who are sensitive to the environment and people, highly aware, and possess a high level of art, design, and culture, under the identity of a “design school” within the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture. In line with this educational approach, we offer courses such as “Nature, Science, Humanity,” “Academic English,” “Orientation-Career Planning,” “Numbers, Formulas, Humanity,” “Great Works,” “Art, Society, Humanity,” “Introduction to Projects,” “Society, Science, and People,” “Ethics, Law, and Society,” “Presentation Techniques,” “Project,” “Spatial Knowledge,” “Design History,” “Interior Design Application Practices,” "Computer-Aided Design (AutoCAD, 3Ds Max, Revit, SketchUp)“, ”Creative Thinking and Problem Solving“, ‘Internship’, ”Environmental Systems in Interior Design“, ”Complementary Systems in Interior Design", “Human Factors in Design,” “Furniture Design,” “Application Project,” “Lighting,” “Plumbing,” “Physical Environment Control,” as well as many elective courses in different fields. All these contents support students' development in line with their interests and orientations.
Yes, thanks to the mandatory internship conducted during the summer term, students gain sectoral experience and enter the workforce better equipped and prepared. In this context, students have the opportunity to observe and experience both the design and project development processes and the implementation and construction phases through office and construction site internships. Thus, while relating the theoretical knowledge and design skills they have acquired in an academic environment to professional production practices, they develop a comprehensive professional awareness of office culture, workflows, and field conditions.
Students can study abroad through Erasmus+ and similar exchange programs. After graduation, access to international opportunities is possible in terms of graduate studies and job opportunities.
The academic staff consists of full-time faculty members and part-time teaching staff who are experts in the fields of interior architecture, architecture, and design and have industry experience.
Graduates can work in various sectors under different titles such as interior architect, space designer, project coordinator, implementation manager, and furniture designer. These employment areas and professional roles vary within the framework of the competencies offered by the program and are explained in detail in question 3.
Interior design, architecture and design offices, universities, construction companies, furniture manufacturers, public institutions, municipalities, and private ventures established by graduates are the main areas of employment. This question is also explained in detail in Article 3.
Interior architecture is an internationally recognized field, so graduates can find opportunities to work in design offices abroad, apply for graduate programs in different countries, or participate in international projects and competitions. Additionally, by collaborating with globally active companies, they can carry out independent projects within remote or hybrid working models, diversifying their professional experience with different cultural, spatial, and construction practices.
Işık University stands out with its applied education focused on design supported by technological capabilities, interdisciplinary approach, strong academic staff, and learning model that meets the needs of the 21st century.
Students interested in design and aesthetics, who think creatively, can view spaces from different perspectives, and possess environmental awareness should choose this department. This field offers a powerful platform for expression and research for individuals who can consider space in relation to human behavior, daily practices, and environmental conditions; who thrive on observation, experimentation, and being part of the production process. Students who enjoy asking questions, generating alternatives, and making their ideas visible through drawings, models, prototypes, and digital tools, and who are open to changing technologies and new design approaches, can effectively benefit from Interior Architecture and Environmental Design education.
The department organizes events with many student clubs within the university and has an active student community through the “Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Club,” which was established jointly by students in the English and Turkish programs.
Double majors and minors can be pursued in departments such as Architecture, Visual Communication Design, and Industrial Design within the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture. Additionally, double majors and minors can be pursued in different faculties if the necessary conditions are met.
Işık University's Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design employs full-time faculty members who are also evaluators for the National Accreditation Board for Interior Architecture. Therefore, work is being carried out systematically to complete the academic, administrative, and structural requirements for the accreditation of Işık University's Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, and preparations for the accreditation application process are ongoing.