Virginia Tech's Interior Design program ranked in the top five nationally for 2014

Virginia Tech’s undergraduate Interior Design program is ranked among American’s Best Interior Design Schools 2014, according to DesignIntelligence; it is ranked fifth nationally — second in the south — in the publication’s 14th annual survey. 

DesignIntelligence conducts survey research on behalf of the Design Futures Council and publishes architecture and design school rankings each year. It is the only national college ranking survey focused exclusively on design.

Rankings are based on the responses of professional practice leaders who have direct experience with the performance of recent architecture and design graduates. Survey participants, who are drawn from the Greenway Group database of leading firms throughout the United States, must verify they are currently responsible for hiring or supervising design professionals in each of the design fields for which they respond: architecture, industrial design, interior design, and landscape architecture.

The survey asked participants, "In your firm's hiring experience in the past five years, which of the following schools are best preparing students for success in the profession?" In addition, participants are queried in other areas, such as how programs rate in teaching various skills.

Virginia Tech’s Interior Design program was recognized as being among the strongest in educating students in the areas of communication, research and theory, computer applications, and cross-disciplinary teamwork. “The demand for our interior design graduates is extremely high due to their exceptional design quality and professional capability,” said Jack Davis, dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Studies and Reynolds Metals Professor of Architecture.

As part of the annual survey, DesignIntelligence also gathers data from students enrolled at the institution. In the student survey, 100 percent of Virginia Tech’s interior design student respondents reported that they believe they will be well prepared for their profession upon graduation.

Students in the Interior Design Program at Virginia Tech are challenged to think critically in their design of space and to develop solutions that not only enhance quality of life, but also protect the health, safety, and welfare of users as prescribed in the various codes and regulations that govern the work of interior designers.

The undergraduate architecture program within the School of Architecture + Design is also ranked among the top five nationally by DesignIntelligence for 2014.