Academics > Undergraduate

BFA Interior Design: Built Environments

Facade of a building at dusk with a dark gray ground floor and ornamental metal awning.Facade of a building at dusk with a dark gray ground floor and ornamental metal awning.
Scott Junhan Han (BFA 2025 ID:BE)
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Our faculty and professional orbit of interior and architectural designers inspire students to foster cultural and social change while challenging conventions.
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Dr. Carol Bentel, FAIA, FASID, FIIDA
Chair

A Hands-On Approach to Learning

Unlike most programs, from day one, students have 24/7 access to their own workspace with a state-of-the-art setup in a collaborative, design-firm atmosphere. The department’s STEM - certified coursework integrates cutting-edge technology with traditional drawing and architectural drafting, resulting in mastery of the specialized language used by today’s leading design firms. Most importantly, students develop the skills to transform visionary ideas into real spaces that positively impact human behavior and inhabited environments.


Program graduates are prepared for careers in diverse sectors of interior design, including residential, commercial, institutional, healthcare, hospitality, and corporate design. Furthermore, students gain expertise in furniture, lighting, and product design—including light fixtures, textiles, and an assortment of industry-related design materials—along with exposure to adjacent fields such as set design, interior architectural photography, sustainability, and digital rendering.

Where Our Graduates Work

  1. Cetra Ruddy

  2. Champalimaud

  3. Clodagh Design

  4. Gensler

  1. HOK

  2. Jeffrey Beers International

  3. Perkins Eastman

  4. Rockwell Group

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@sva_idbe
Student Work
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More About the Department

  • Student arranging their workspace in a maker lab furnished with a sewing machine and textile samples.
    Students examine an item from the chair lab.

    Our hands-on teaching philosophy is supported by exceptional facilities, including:

    1. Wet & dry textile labs

    2. Lighting lab

    3. Materials lab

    1. 3D printing lab

    2. Chair & stool lab

    3. State-of-the-art fabrication lab

    1. Sustainability library

    2. Computer lab

  • Our students have received numerous prestigious design honors, including:

    1. 14 national Angelo Donghia Foundation Scholarships ($30,000 each over 19 years)

    2. Hospitality Design Magazine national student awards (1st place, 2nd place, and finalist positions)

    3. IFI Design Distinction Awards (International)

    4. Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) Student Awards

    1. 2023 National Awards: John V. Nelson Memorial Scholarship, presented at NEOCON in Chicago

    2. Gensler Brinkmann Scholarship

    3. 2024 ASID Portfolio Competition: One of only three winners nationwide (the only recipient from the NY Metro area and East or West Coast)

    4. Metropolis Magazine’s Future 100: SVA students secured seven of approximately 25 yearly undergraduate interior design spots

  • SVA students gain unparalleled exposure through local, national, and international exhibitions:


    • NYC Flatiron Gallery, Chelsea (home to world-class galleries)
    • International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), NYC
    • ECC Venice Biennale – The Grand Canal, Venice, Italy


    Additionally, students leave with a CV enriched by published work in design partner organizations such as Dezeen, various competition publications, and SVA in-house publications—giving our students a competitive edge for employment and further educational opportunities.

  • Graduation Rate: 100% of the Class of 2024 graduated in four years.


    Retention: 95% of students enrolled in Fall 2022 returned in Fall 2023.

CIDA Accreditation

The SVA Interior Design: Built Environments program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).


Graduates earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Interior Design, meeting the eligibility requirements for the NCIDQ Exam (National Council for Interior Design Qualification). For more information on NCIDQ eligibility, visit the Council’s website.

STEM Classification

Through STEM education, students build strong foundations in critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and innovation. They graduate prepared to navigate the challenges of today’s world and thrive in a rapidly evolving job market—where they seamlessly apply technical knowledge to bring their artistic visions to life. SVA's Interior Design: Built Environments major (program CIP code 15.1303) is classified under the STEM CIP code list. International students with questions can contact the International Student Office.



Recent Press

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Virtual 360º Tour: ID:BE Facilities

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BFA Interior Design: Built Environments
133/141 West 21st Street, 11th floor
New York, NY 10011
Tel: 212.592.2572
Studios inside the BFA Interior Design Department.

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