The work of interior architects is highly creative. They operate in immediat surroundings with aesthetic, functional and social aspects.

The IMIAD is one of the first internationally orientated Masters degrees in interior architecture in Europe. Part of the course takes place at a partner school (Edinburg, Istanbul, Lahti, Lugano, Stuttgart) with each school bringing its own emphases and competencies to the course. Building on an undergraduate degree, graduates receive the qualification of International Master of Arts (M.A.) in Interior Architectural Design.

The IMIAD student is trained for managerial duties, with particular competencies in design and decision-making processes. A consolidating scientific and creative curriculum involving theory and practice in Interior Design is offered.

Gaining such skills requires a practical and aesthetic mindset and a visual and creative talent. The objective of the education is to develop spatial comprehension, presentation techniques and design. To accomplish this and to be successful in their profession, students need a willingness and ability to constantly seek new information on human behaviour, the environment and culture.

Fields of operation include interior and furniture design, general and consumer information as well as education and commerce. Tasks include the design of functional spaces, material and colour choices, lighting design, selecting loose furniture and designing built-in furniture. Interior architects design both private and public spaces. They work in design agencies, trade and industry, public institutions and offices, in the media or as self-employed consultants in building industry.

Because of the different focuses and cultural contexts of the partner schools, the work of IMIAD students varies greatly in scale, materiality, conceptual emphasis and presentation technique. Furthermore, special projects concentrate on international and interdisciplinary themes.

The goal of project work in the IMIAD is to explore experimental and conceptual themes, develop creative solutions that take various interdisciplinary parameters into account, and present these solutions in an informative and aesthetic way.

International workshops form a crucial part of the IMIAD curriculum. Students from all partner schools meet on location, hosted by one school, to work in teams to develop interdisciplinary solutions for contemporary problems in a challenging, international project - beginning with analyses, continuing with developing strategies and finishing with design issues involving interior architecture, economic considerations, furniture and industrial design, and new media. The teams are assisted by local advisors, stake holders, tutors and professors from all schools, guaranteeing an international context and focusing on the development of soft skills like team work and time management.

The results are presented on location and the top projects are awared by a jury.