Published: December 20, 2008 09:01 pm      

Interior design class enrolling now at MSU

Local Business

Beginning in January, Mountain State University will offer an interior design course on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Robert C. Byrd Learning Resource Center on the MSU campus in Beckley, according to Megan Constantino, media relations specialist for the university.

“The course’s one-evening-a-week schedule makes it convenient for students as well as those who want to learn how to arrange their home or office for added space, comfort and efficiency,” Constantino said.

She said students will learn basic principles of design including color, texture, fabrics, window treatments and the fundamental elements that make up interior environments.

“They will also gain exposure to space-planning principles, color manipulation and surface treatments,” she said.

The class will incorporate green design and feng shui principles. Some assignments will be done on a user-friendly computer-aided design program.

While it is open to anyone, the course is offered through MSU’s new graphic design program. Students work toward an Associate of Arts degree in graphic design as they learn skills that will make them valuable to businesses and organizations that require services in page layout, graphic design, photography and interior design.

“They become familiar with diverse art media, learn how to give visual form to their original ideas and experiment with a variety of media,” Constantino says.

In addition to courses in art appreciation, drawing and painting, the graphic design program incorporates studies in such career-oriented topics as interior design, art therapy, Adobe Photoshop, computer graphic design, three-dimensional design and art photography. Seniors complete a directed study practicum project, providing them with real-world experience before graduation.

Enrollment is now under way for the interior design course, which is taught by Margaret Rader, and for other spring semester courses that begin the week of Jan. 12.

Class size is limited, so prompt enrollment is encouraged, Constantino added.

For more information on the interior design course or the graphic design program, contact B. J. Redd at 866.FOR.MSU1 ext. 1716 or visitwww.mountainstate.edu.

Pace is a reporter for The Register-Herald.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com