Design

Vision

To become one of the distinguished educators of interior and product design profession in the kingdom, the region and the world.​

Mission

The Design Program is committed to developing creative, ethical and inspirational leaders who can make a valuable national and international  impact in the areas of interior and product design through the provision of theoretical and practical education.​

Goals

1. Strengthen the presence of the Design Program nationally and internationally to make it stand out as one of  the distinguished design programs graduating future talented and creative designers.
2. Generate and maintain a productive professional atmosphere that is ethically sound, creative and rich to enhance the design students’ learning and help in achieving national and international accreditation for the Design Program.
   
3. Offer the highest level of design education coupled with relevant vocational training for interior and product design students using innovative teaching methods and resources.
   
4. Recruit and retain caliber students, and develop them to be responsible, ethical and creative interior and product designers.
   
5. Employ suitably qualified and industry trained faculty with good educational and research track record in the fields of interior and product design, and support their professional development to advance their contributions to research and community service. 
   
6. Provide all students  and faculty with suitably equipped learning resources, facilities and equipment conforming to interior and product design industry standards to facilitate offering excellent teaching, learning and research experience​
   
   

The Design Department offers two areas of concentration:

• Interior Design
• Product Design​
  

Bachelor of Science in design educational objectives

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Design program will be prepared for careers as entry-level designers in both the public sector and the private sector.  Graduates will be able to carry out multiple design related tasks specifically related to the Interior Design and Product Design professions. In addition, graduates of the program will be able to pursue advanced studies at the graduate level. Following are some of the specific Educational Objective of the DESN program:​

1. To provide graduates with a comprehensive, critical and competency based education so that they will be able to assume professional responsibilities in a range of design industries.
   
   Note: The program includes substantial focus on design concepts, principles, theories, applications, technologies, and the interplay of social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors.  
2. To help graduates refine their ability to think critically, to communicate effectively, and to solve complex design problems.
3. To prepare graduates to develop the technical skills to engage effectively in multi-disciplinary teams in the design industries.
4. To help graduates understand the ethical and professional issues related to design based professions, businesses and industries.​
   
   

Knowledge

1. Identify the physical, environmental, physiological, cognitive, cultural and social factors that shape design decisions.
2. Identify the histories and theories of design including the influential individuals, institutions, events and factors that shaped the emergence and development of the design professions.
3. Explain the contemporary design issues as it relates to regional, national and global contexts emphasizing interior design and product design.

Skills

4. The ability to solve design problems, using the skills of problem identification, research and information gathering, analysis, generation of alternative solutions and user testing, and evaluation of outcomes.
5. The ability to create and develop design solutions based on an understanding of the concepts, principles, processes and practices of design.
6. The ability to describe and analyze works of design perceptively and to evaluate them critically. This ability is predicated on an understanding of the similarities, differences and relationships among the various design disciplines.
7. Evaluate the principles of sustainability and its manifestation in the choices of materials, technologies, products, processes and systems.

Competencies

Interior Design:

8. The ability to select and specify materials, lighting, furniture, fixtures, and equipment in interior spaces based on functional aesthetic, environmental, life cycle, cultural and economic criteria.
9. The ability to design, develop and document custom, built-in and free-standing furniture, and case work in interior environments.
10. The ability to develop design concepts through aesthetic, functional, structural, spatial and culturally specific elements, principles and processes related to the creation of interior places, spaces, and experiences.
11. The ability to apply analog and digital techniques, particularly freehand sketching, constructed hand drawings, physical and virtual modeling and prototyping, and appropriate digital tools in all phases of the design process from conceptual idea to design presentation and production.
12. Explain the business and professional practices in interior design.
13. The ability to communicate persuasively through written, verbal, graphic, analog, and digital tools.

Product Design:

8. The ability to design new or to improve existing mass-produced products ranging from small, single use objects to larger, multi-use products and systems.
9. The ability to apply technological tools and software related to the ideation, representation, production and testing of materials, processes, products, and design.​
   

10. Explain how products work and what makes a product useful, usable, and desirable for different target audiences.
11. The ability to apply analog and digital techniques, particularly freehand sketching, constructed hand drawings, physical and virtual modeling and prototyping, and appropriate digital tools in all phases of the design process from conceptual idea to design presentation and production.
12. Explain the business and professional practices in product design.
13. The ability to communicate persuasively through written, verbal, graphic, analog and digital tools.
    
    

The BSc. DESN program requires 133 credits covering 4 years of study (8 semesters).  Due to the delivery of the Design program in English language, students might be asked to complete a foundation level or two before they start the program if they lack the skills required to be admitted to the program, especially for their English language proficiency.​​

Students must complete the program with a cumulative GPA greater or equal to 2.0 out of 4.​

Total University General Education Core: 42

• Compulsory: 13
  
• General Electives: 29
  

Requirements in Design Major (DESN): 38

• Compulsory: 35
  
• Internship: 3
  

Requirements in one of the two Concentrations (Interior Design, or Product Design): 44

Technical Electives​: 9​

Design Program Plan as PDF, more suitable for mobile browsing.​​​​

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