Master's Non-thesis Project
Outcomes
The following six criteria are critical outcomes that must be met at the mastery level for successful completion of
the degree:
- Student defines problem as it relates to the field of Interior Design:
a. demonstrates understanding of a problem that has relationship to the interior environment
b. demonstrates understanding of complexity of problem in relation to health, safety, and/or
well-being of occupant of an interior environment
c. assesses complex relationships and makes recommendations for application - Student understands the meaning and impact of design as it relates to human interaction, technology,
theoretical frameworks, and interdisciplinary efforts:
a. assesses design options based on an understanding of human needs and behavior
b. demonstrates understanding of specific individual, group, society and/or cultural issues
c. assesses technological options and applies based on an understanding of performance criteria
d. integrates and combines appropriate theories to inform design solutions -- uses existing
theoretical framework to develop research question or hypothesis to be tested
e. assesses design options based on knowledge and theories from multiple disciplines -- delves into other disciplines as exploration of design topic - Student effectively analyzes information, evaluates issues, and sets priorities:
a. demonstrates a logical research methodology
b. completes a thorough literature review
c. demonstrates a thorough understanding of current research on chosen topic
d. combines and classifies information in a logical manner
e. establishes a hypothesis or research question
f. sets project or research goals and objectives
g. demonstrates application of research - Student explores and generates creative solutions via a systematic and coordinated design process that
integrates functional and aesthetic concerns.
a. Uses theoretical framework to integrate multiple perspectives and concerns
b. Develops clear and logical programmatic requirements for design solutions
c. Demonstrates understanding of complexity of design process
d. Demonstrates understanding of impact of design at the macro and micro-levels of analysis
e. Shows evidence of and is able to defend design solutions through critical, analytical, and
strategic thinking - Justifies and defends design solutions as they relate to social-economic and global issues:
a. identifies and clearly states conclusion, implications and consequences
b. expands justification to larger social, economic, and global issues
c. objectively reflects upon own assertions and/or responses to the thesis.
d. integrates and explains the interrelationship between design, the built environment and the
larger society - Conveys intent in a professional manner appropriate to the audience.
a. visually integrates complex information clearly using appropriate techniques, including but not
limited to: technical drawing, 3 D drawing or models, written material
b. verbally demonstrates command synthesis of specific and focused subject matter
c. written component demonstrates command synthesis of specific and focused subject matter
Substance and Scope of the Project
The project may focus on any of a wide range of design problems. The method for approaching the project is the design process. A clearly defined analytical framework will be required to guide this process. You will develop this framework in consultation with your faculty mentor (Chair) based on the state of knowledge and theory regarding the topic, as well as the feasibility of your project. The following categories and frameworks suggest some of the possibilities that you might consider, bearing in mind the areas of concentration of the faculty: History, Theory & Criticism, Physical Design, and People & Place. They are neither exhaustive nor limiting.
- The design of spaces for special populations
- Sustainable issues in the built environment
- Universal design solutions
- Technical issues in the near environment
- Environment and behavior
- Aesthetics
- Functionalism
- Socio-Cultural considerations
Essential Components of the Project
There are several activities that must be accomplished during the preparation of the project. Some of them are initiated early and some are continued throughout the project. You must document the entire design process as part of your final product. The following comments highlight key components of the process.
- Literature review. The literature review must be initiated early during the exploration of possible topics because you need to determine what is already known (and what is not known) about the topic and how others have studied it. The literature review is essential in the development of your analytical framework. The literature review is a broad library search drawing from monographs, journals and other published reports. Your search should be thorough and should include the most recent and relevant material. Also you need to be sensitive to the quality of literature reviewed. You must judge among inconsistent or contradictory information and determine what is applicable to your design project.
The literature review usually involves several categories of literature. First there is information regarding the topic of investigation itself. Next there is information regarding the relevance of the topic to interior design or design in general. Of equal importance is information regarding the design strategy or analytical framework for the project. An important task during the literature review is the classification of appropriate material.
Documentation of the literature review must be incorporated in your final product. Most typically a chapter is dedicated to literature review. However, documentation of the literature may be distributed throughout the paper. - Course review. One purpose of the project is to synthesize your understanding of the field. A thoughtful review of coursework with your faculty mentor (Chair) supports your exploration of topics for the project. You should screen both required courses and elective courses for ideas, approaches, and techniques that can be applied in the project. Specifically, you should look for relationships among the material taught in different courses that can be used in the development of the project.
The course review contributes directly to the literature review in that it identifies both categories and sources to include and helps you define the design process. While it contributes directly to the development of your design project, it does not appear as a written chapter in your final product.
- Design proposal and committee. A written design proposal becomes a contract between you and your faculty mentor (Chair) regarding the focus, the framework and the schedule for completion of your project. It represents a transformation or narrowing of a general topic into a specific design proposal. This proposal should be well thought out and well written so that there is no question how the work is to be pursued. It is a plan and a commitment on both your part and your mentor’s. You want your mentor to be satisfied that the project is clear, that the approach is manageable, and that you have the capability and the resources to complete the work. The following points should be covered:
- Design statement. This should clearly and succinctly describe the design problem.
- A justification of the relevance and importance of the topic to interior design or the design disciplines in general.
- Brief discussion of the theoretical context or the analytical framework that will guide your design work.
- A thorough explanation of the design process to be followed. This should include site identification, building footprint, and other relevant details.
- Identification of information sources.
- Specification of product or outcomes.
- Tentative chapter outline for report.
- Schedule of work program.
- Identification of any necessary support services or special circumstances (e.g. human subjects approval).
- Preliminary literature review or annotated bibliography.
- Project execution. The design project will be carried out in conjunction with ID 526, the final studio in the MA ID curriculum. Your faculty mentor (Chair) will support and monitor the execution of your project based on your project proposal agreement. At the same time you will document the project execution, recording the design process and drafting chapters of your final paper.
- Revision, editing and polishing. As with any design project, your work will be reviewed, critiqued and revised, narrowing to an acceptable design solution and end product. At the same time, your final paper will progress toward a completed document, written, read and revised to become a coherent piece.
- Oral defense. The final conceptual stage is the oral defense of the project. The design project should be generally satisfactory to your faculty mentor (Chair) before the formal defense is scheduled. Your faculty mentor (Chair) will be joined by the project committee and outside jurors to review your work. The defense becomes a review of the design project, how the design process was executed and the outcomes. Any reservations about the process or question of the design interpretation may be raised. The results of the jury will be reported to your faculty mentor (Chair) and the graduate coordinator, who may accept the project as is, or require corrections before it is officially approved.
- Filing. Final approved copies of your project document must be submitted to the department. The faculty mentor (Chair) and project committee may also require copies.
- Exhibit. There will be a graduate show of all projects as a final requirement of the non-thesis project. Your faculty mentor (Chair) will coordinate this.