For one/two-semester introductory courses in Interior Design A comprehensive, applications-oriented introduction to the evolving field of interior design, with a focus on the challenges facing designers in the 21st century. Emphasizing good solutions to real problems by examining best practices from the past and present, the author details case studies using a broad range of projects from modest home and work-place designs, to public areas, to full professional involvement in large commercial spaces.
This is a textbook. Reading text books is fun! This book contains a basic overview of the field of interior design. It covers history, the design process, planning a design, human factors, social responsibility, different materials and interior elements, color, lighting, furniture, special needs, internal technical systems, and various other things. Reading a text book on interior design makes it clear that the field is much more than decoration. Interior design (at least, good interior design) is focused on how space is used and making sure that use is effective. As such, I find that this book has a closer tie to environmental psychology than many of the other books I have read in the general area of architecture and interior design. I enjoyed learning about interior design, and I appreciated the fact that 550 pages go a lot faster when there are lots of pictures. =)