Gina Pisut

Gina.Pisut@mtsu.edu

Gina Pisut

Human Sciences

Smart Classroom

LRC 109

N/A

N/A

The Interior Design Program (IDES) is a Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA) and American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS) accredited program. In recent years, technology has been increasingly integrated within the Interior Design profession. Thus, the IDES program uses multiple software programs, such as Revit and SketchUp Pro, to develop the skill set required for these careers. Originally, the computers in LRC 108, 109, and 112 were scheduled to be replaced in summer 2023. However, due to budget constraints and enrollment numbers, this replacement date has been paused. The current computers in these classrooms, which were replaced in 2018, do not meet the 2023 requirements of these high-end programs for 3D rendering. In addition, multiple programs must be used at the same time to complete design projects, and multiple programs cannot be run at the same time successfully. This results in computers shutting down and a lag in the completion of projects and content comprehension. It is imperative these students have the technical skills necessary for the technology-based design field of interior design. These IDES classrooms are all computer aided design studios used for 18 different classes per year. Technology improvements will directly benefit 93 (University Power BI data) undergraduate students currently enrolled in the IDES Program as of fall 2022, as well as a comparable number of students in subsequent years. Advancing the instructional technology in the Interior Design Program is critical in attracting perspective new students and to remain competitive in producing industry ready graduates.