PETALING JAYA- Each year, more and more newly-trained interior designers join the industry. First City University College (formerly known as KBU International College) for one, is proud of the caliber of its graduates.

First City UC’s Diploma in Interior Design programme is offered through the Faculty of Design & Built Environment (FDBE). The programme is taught by a team of qualified lecturers and is bolstered by the implementation of industry-relevant curricula.

While many graduates will opt to continue on with a Bachelor Degree, those who enter the workforce display high levels of industry readiness. Previous graduates have been known to secure employment with Interior Design Companies, Architecture Firms, Furniture Manufacturers and other companies in the field.

Before completing their Diploma programme, students are afforded the opportunity to participate in a graduation showcase, with the purpose of allowing them to exhibit their individual skills to the faculty’s industry partners as well as the public.

For this year’s edition just held recently, the graduating interior design students were tasked with presenting a design concept of either a Retail, Office and Commercial space or a product. Students did so by utilising their skills in various software such as AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, Google SketchUp, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.

Lim Jia Min, one of the participating students, came up with a design concept for a leading fashion outlet. Lim shared that the ground floor would feature casual wear, formal dresses and holiday clothing while the mezzanine floor would be stocked with various make-up products.

“The store’s main feature is a circle consisting of several metal pillars. These pillars symbolise the cycle of human life,” she added.

On the other hand, Neo Wei Chen’s design concept for a branded shoe store incorporated large grooves all around the ground floor.

“The store’s design is inspired by New York City’s street culture where skateboarding is popular. My inclusion of the grooves is modelled after the curves of the skateboard ramps,” Neo explained.

Meanwhile, Ng Yen How conceptualised a store layout for a premium chocolate brand. In order to appeal to their high income target market, the store was proposed to be located at an upmarket spot.

Ng decided to implement a kaleidoscope motif into his design concept as he believed it would create a sense that the chocolate was “melting”. To complement this “melting” motif, he added a spiral staircase leading towards the mezzanine floor.

The Dean of FDBE, Mr. Khairul Hazrin Hashim who was present to launch the showcase congratulated students on the success of their Interior Design showcase.

Mr. Khairul advised students to treat their portfolio as a “living entity” as it needs to be consistently improved on, as proof of each student’s skill and knowledge. Even after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree, their portfolio serves a passport for gainful employment or any start-up venture.

Moreover, the Programme Coordinator for the Diploma in Interior Design course, Mr. Leong Kooi Hoong lauded the students’ efforts as they had to prepare for their showcase while juggling their studies. As for students who planned to enter the workforce, Leong urged them to make an impact in the built environment that they will be designing.

First City UC invites all aspiring Interior Designers to begin their journey here. Students may opt to enrol in the BA (Hons) Interior Architecture & Design (3 1/2 years) or the Diploma in Interior Design programme (2 1/3 years) during the September and October intakes respectively.

During their studies, students will stand to benefit from FDBE’s association with the Malaysian Institute of Interior Design as First City UC will assist students to acquire their memberships. By attending MIID’s workshops, seminars and conferences, students will gain the competitive edge required to succeed in the industry.

In the past, this institute has also acknowledged works of excellence from the university college by awarding the MIID REKA Awards to deserving students. During the 2018 edition, First City University College was among those with the highest student submissions at nine entries.

Students of the Interior Design programmes are known to be active in student activities. Just recently, two groups of first semester Interior Design students emerged the 1st and 2nd runner-up winners at the Spritzer Eco Art Challenge. Meanwhile, in March this year, another group of students won the grand prize of USD $10,000 at the Salon Centre for Media Excellence Interior Architecture Competition.

Interested students are encouraged to visit First City UC for a course inquiry as the campus will be open every weekend in September. Those who sign up immediately are entitled to a 50% incentive off their tuition fee.