Green Design

Green design uses methods and products that minimize the ecological impact of design and construction on the earth. By combining a focus on sustainability with principles of aesthetics, function and comfort, green design enables professional designers to make sustainability possible and attractive. Green designers create spaces that are as comfortable as they are healthy; energy- and resource-efficient; functional and beautiful; and protect the well-being of their occupants as well as the earth.

Whether looking globally or locally, the choices designers make affect the health, safety and welfare of those they design for and the health of the planet. We spend more than 90% of our lives indoors, so the indoor air we breathe, and the materials surrounding us are fundamental parts of our lives. Most design experts agree that green design is the standard by which good design will eventually be measured, and that designing for sustainability will soon be a required part of any interior designer's job.

The RMCAD Interior Design department's Green Design Area of Specialization gives students the chance to add in-depth, applicable knowledge about green design to their education and their portfolios. In addition to the required Introduction to Green Design course, environmentally-responsible design issues are covered across the Interior Design curriculum. For example, students in Residential Design explore and incorporate sustainable materials and technologies that reduce the use of non-renewable resources in their projects, while enhancing the uniqueness and quality of their designs. Office Design students study how the use of natural light not only reduces energy consumption, but also enhances the overall well-being of the occupants and improves productivity. Special Use Design students use the Green Guide for Healthcare in the development of their projects to ensure that they use sustainable measures in designing for special needs populations.

Students in the Green Design Area of Specialization have additional opportunities to participate in Green Internships through RMCAD’s Institute for Sustainable Studies and Office of Campus Planning and Design. For more information, contact Kelly Webb, Sustainability Coordinator and Director of the Institute for Sustainable Studies, or Julie Pollack, VP of Campus Planning + Design.

The Green Design Area of Specialization covers the philosophical, practical, and professional issues and principles of green design. Through readings, field trips, site visits, guest lectures, and in-class discussion, students gain valuable information about sustainable materials, products, and methods for construction and interior applications. The specialization also provides students with an understanding of alternative energy sources, resource conservation, and analysis of the properties and application of green building and interior products. Students apply their green design knowledge and skills in a variety of projects including the design of a sustainable home and the redesign of an existing commercial structure to meet LEED standards.