contributed by Sue Kirkman, ASID, IIDA, IDEC [VP of Academics, Harrington College of Design] and Malika Tarabichi [Harrington College of Design Marketing Manager]
There’s a reason Harrington College of Design, formerly known as Harrington Institute of Interior Design, is ranked the #1 college or university in Illinois for interior design.* Shaping the industry for almost 75 years, Harrington’s interior design program has a tradition of excellence found in everything from its amazing facilities and industry-current equipment to its experienced faculty and inspired students.
Harrington College of Design is a midwestern college of approximately 1,600 students located in downtown Chicago’s “Loop” area. By offering a 129.5 credit FIDER-accredited Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design, a 67.5 credit Associate of Applied Science degree in Interior Design, a 34 credit Diploma in Interior Design, and a 24 credit NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) Supported Endorsed Kitchen and Bath Certificate, Harrington is dedicated to creating the next generation of design professionals to lead and serve the global community.
Building on this tradition of excellence, Harrington aims to deliver an unmatched educational experience, offering a faculty of practicing professionals; innovative programs in design; a progressive curriculum; and a student-centered approach that is enriched by the historic, vibrant, and diverse culture of Chicago. Harrington is committed to becoming the premier school of integrated design and is recognized for innovation, creative collaboration, and passion for exploration.
Harrington has 15 full-time faculty and a pool of 135 adjunct faculty who value excellence, integrity, community, intellectual curiosity, creativity, and diversity. The faculty, who have both professional and academic credentials, contribute to the industry through their practice of art, architecture, interior design, and product design. Our faculty in the liberal arts and sciences combine the humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences, along with English and art history, into the design field to give more relevance to their courses. “Learning good technique frees the students aesthetically. We give them the training they need with an invaluable spirit of experimentation, encouraging them to explore what they only dreamed possible” (Peter Klick, interior designer and Harrington instructor).
Harrington’s curriculum is fresh, passionate, and relevant to the interior design industry. Students learn what it takes to become a professional interior designer — qualified by education, experience, and examination in order to enhance the functionality and quality of interior spaces. The interior design program provides students the necessary professional skills, including analysis of client needs, goals, and safety requirements; integration of findings with knowledge of interior design; formulation of preliminary design concepts that are aesthetic, appropriate, and functional in accordance with public-safety codes and standards; preparation of working drawings and specifications for interior construction in compliance with universal accessibility guidelines and all applicable codes; and so much more (FIDER, NCIDQ, and major interior design associations of North America).
A Harrington graduate is known for their application of progressive, industry-relevant knowledge. Career-ready students work through a curriculum that encompasses professional values and uses an educational teaching model that supports assessment, which mirrors the competitive critique and presentation found in area firms. Harrington provides an internship sequence that includes either a traditional job experience or a community-service design experience, along with coursework to prepare a portfolio and strengthen interviewing and negotiation skills, which ensures that graduates are prepared for entrance into some of the largest firms in Chicago. Additionally, students are infused with global, as well as local, awareness and social responsibility through classes on sustainability that promote a life-long design philosophy and a through a unique study-abroad program.
Located in Chicago’s famous “Loop” — the heart of one of the world’s most inspired cities — Harrington College of Design flourishes with activities and experiences that make its education unique. The campus is just steps away from some of the world’s finest cultural and artistic institutions, museums, theaters, and more. NeoCon, the largest trade fair for the design and management of the built environment, calls Chicago’s Merchandise Mart home. Being surrounded by some of the most successful interior design firms, Chicago delivers a wealth of design resources, architectural wonders, and employment opportunities.
Harrington’s classrooms extend into the city and the city into the classrooms to immerse students in the design and culture of Chicago. Near the lake, and surrounded by significant architecture and design, including Frank Gehry’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Harrington integrates the surrounding architecture and design into the student’s design education through field trips and with guest speakers from the industry. Technology further aids traditional instruction in studio, computer, and lecture classrooms.
Harrington College of Design’s urban campus was designed to facilitate the delivery of an innovative design education. Harrington has created a six-story vertical campus within a glass and granite high-rise that reflects the surrounding cityscape. At more than 75,000 square feet, the campus serves as a learning laboratory. Structural elements, plumbing, HVAC, and even some walls are left exposed or are dissected to exemplify to students the inner workings of the built environment. A unique three-story display space connects floors designed with a mix of classrooms, galleries, offices, and spaces for conversation and collaboration on projects. A specialized design library with extensive traditional archival holdings and continuously updated digital resources supports student project research.
Harrington College of Design is proud to be part of the exciting, evolving field of interior design. For more information on Harrington’s Interior Design programs, visit www.interiordesign.edu or call (877) 939-4975.
*Almanac of Architecture & Design, Greenway Consulting, 2004
