CORE 4 INTERIOR
DESIGN DIPLOMA

Program Duration: 1 Year - 4 Months (56 weeks / 1120 hours)
Your Instructors: Nikki Renshaw, Hector Alvarez

Prices: Domestic $18,995.00

Prices: International $21,995.00

Start Dates: January, May, September

CORE 4 INTERIOR DESIGN DIPLOMA - FULL-TIME

In 56 immersive weeks (1 year + 4 months), the Core4 Interior Design Diploma builds your creative, technical and professional foundation for a real career in interior design.

Designed for the modern interior design industry, this intensive program blends hands-on studio practice, spatial planning, technical drafting, digital visualization and industry-led learning.

Study with experienced interior designers, learn inside a professional studio environment, and graduate with the skills, confidence and portfolio needed to enter the interior design field or continue into advanced pathways at The Cut.

PROGRAM DETAILS

The Core 4 Interior Design Diploma is built to give you a strong, practical and industry-aligned foundation in the world of interior design. Through four core modules, you will learn how ideas evolve from concept to space planning, from material selection to technical drawings, and from design intent to professional presentation.

Throughout the program, you will work with instructors who are active in the industry, designers, architects, and technical specialists who guide you through every phase of the interior design process.

By the end of the program, you won’t just understand interior design; you’ll plan it, visualize it, document it and present it.

Whether your goal is to work in residential or commercial design, assist in design studios, support architectural firms, or move toward roles in styling, visualization or design coordination, Core4 prepares you with the discipline, skills and portfolio to succeed.

Program Structure & Hours

Duration: 56 Weeks

Hours per Week: 20 hours

  • 8 hours of lecture

  • 12 hours of lab

Total Program Hours: 1120 hours

Homework Expectation: ~12 hours/week

Delivery Method: In-class & Live Online (hybrid)

You’ll learn through demonstrations, studio projects, critiques, guest lectures, field trips and hands-on practice.

PROGRAM JOURNEY

  • You’ll learn:

    • Understand core interior design principles, including scale, proportion, balance, rhythm and spatial flow.

    • Apply colour theory and lighting fundamentals to residential and commercial environments.

    • Develop spatial awareness through furniture planning and circulation strategies.

    • Interpret client needs and translate them into functional design concepts.

    • Explore sustainability considerations and responsible material selection.

    • Build concept boards and visual narratives that communicate design intent.

    • Analyze historical and contemporary interior design styles and influences.

    • Develop clear design concepts supported by research and precedent studies.

    This module trains your design eye, strengthens your conceptual thinking, and prepares you to develop purposeful, well-considered interior spaces.

  • You’ll learn:

    • Identify and specify interior materials, finishes and textiles.

    • Understand performance, durability and aesthetic considerations of surfaces and fabrics.

    • Develop hand-drafting skills for plans, elevations and basic construction details.

    • Create technical drawings using AutoCAD for interior design applications.

    • Translate design concepts into clear 2D documentation.

    • Use SketchUp to develop 3D models and spatial representations.

    • Communicate design intent through diagrams, drawings and digital visualization.

    • Understand industry-standard documentation workflows.

    This module builds your technical confidence and ensures you can clearly communicate design ideas to clients, instructors and industry professionals.

  • You’ll learn:

    • Plan and design retail and hospitality environments

    • Understand branding and customer experience within commercial interiors.

    • Apply knowledge of building systems and building code fundamentals.

    • Design residential interiors with attention to lifestyle, function and aesthetics

    • Develop layouts for corporate and professional environments.

    • Integrate lighting strategies into residential and commercial projects.

    • Understand architectural coordination and consultant collaboration.

    • Produce detailed project drawings and presentations for multiple design types.

    You’ll develop design solutions that balance creativity, functionality and technical responsibility across diverse interior environments.

  • You’ll learn:

    • Understand the business of interior design, including project workflow and budgeting.

    • Develop client communication and presentation skills.

    • Build professional documentation suitable for design studios and firms.

    • Refine 3D renderings and presentation boards.

    • Assemble a cohesive, industry-ready interior design portfolio.

    • Prepare for entry-level roles and further academic pathways.

    • Present completed design projects with confidence and clarity.

    This module brings together everything you’ve learned into a polished, professional body of work.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By graduation, Fashion Design & Creative Arts students can:

Creative & Technical Skills

Develop cohesive interior design concepts

✔ Create professional drawings, layouts and 3D visualizations

✔ Specify materials, finishes and furnishings

✔ Produce residential and commercial design solutions

✔ Build a portfolio-ready body of work

Industry & Professional Skills

✔ Communicate design intent clearly and professionally

✔ Understand drafting standards and digital workflows

✔ Apply design principles to real-world projects

✔ Present work visually and verbally

✔ Transition confidently into entry-level design roles or further study

This program ensures you graduate industry-aware, portfolio-ready and technically capable.

CAREER PATHS

Graduates of the Core4 Interior Design Diploma leave with a strong creative foundation, solid technical skills and industry awareness that opens multiple career doors.

Career pathways include:

Interior Design Assistant

Support residential and commercial projects through drafting, sourcing and presentations.

Home Staging & Styling

Prepare properties for real estate marketing by planning layouts and enhancing visuals.

Retail Showroom or Product Specialist

Work with furniture, finishes and décor brands, assisting clients and designers.

Visual Merchandising

Design in-store layouts and branded environments.

CAD / Rendering Technician

Produce drawings, models and visualizations for design studios or architectural firms.

This diploma is built to give you real options within the interior design industry.

TUITION & GRANTS

Domestic Tuition: $18,995

International Tuition: $21,995

Additional Fees:

  • Application Fee (Domestic): $250

  • Application Fee (International): $500

  • Assessment Fee: $100

  • Materials Fee: Free

  • Textbooks: ~$2,236.44

Scholarship: Enroll now and receive up to $5,000 in student scholarships (limited to the first six enrollments).

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • High school graduation or mature student status (19+)

  • Admissions interview (in person or via Skype)

  • Letter of Intent (minimum 250 words outlining your career goals)

  • English proficiency, if applicable

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Nikki Renshaw

Nikki started her design career in her native London, UK where she completed her Bachelor’s Degree at Central Saint Martin’s school of Art. After moving to Vancouver, BC, she enrolled in BCIT where she completed the Interior Design program, and has been teaching a variety of design courses at several institutions for the past decade. Nikki has extensive experience in television, where she hosted numerous shows back in London, as well as hosting a radio show for over a decade here in Vancouver. She is an expert in marketing as she has been running her own design company for many years and has a large social media presence with over 118,000 Instagram followers. She regularly contributes to design magazines on both sides of the globe and Elle France magazine included her Instagram account @englisheccentrichome in their feature on influencers to watch in 2024. Her work has been featured in Elle Canada, UK Cosmopolitan, Vancouver Magazine, Western Living and The Vancouver Sun as well as other publications. Currently, Nikki is the Program Director for the Costume, Global Fashion Marketing and Interior Design courses at the Cut, as well as running her design business and studying for a Master’s Degree at the Arts University of Bournemouth in the UK.


Hector Alvarez

Hector, a seasoned Architect hailing from Mexico, boasts over 18 years of experience in designing and constructing his own projects. In 2012, he and his family relocated to Florida, USA, where he pursued managerial roles in Healthcare Facilities across various cities in the state. By 2015, Hector had moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to further his education in Interior Design, earning a Bachelor of Applied Design in Interior Design from LaSalle College Vancouver (LCV). During his time at LCV, Hector consistently achieved Honour Roll status each quarter, won the Best Portfolio Award at the Portfolio Show, and was chosen as the Valedictorian of his class. A month before his graduation, Hector secured a position at Urban Design Group Architects Ltd., a prestigious Architectural and Interior Design Firm based in Vancouver with over 40 years of comprehensive Architectural practice. He is currently involved in numerous Multi-Residential and Commercial Projects, with the BCCS Flagship Store, featured in National News, standing out as a hallmark of his portfolio. Throughout his career, Hector has been committed to nurturing and developing new talent in the design industry. As a College Instructor, he teaches Software (AutoCAD, Sketchup), Design (Residential, Commercial), Senior Project, and Portfolio Development.

LOOK FOR A WAY TO APPLY?

Applying is straightforward and designed to be personal.


The application is our first opportunity to get to know you. Once you submit the form, an Admissions will reach out to you.

Join the Core4 Interior Design Diploma and begin building the skills, portfolio and industry awareness to thrive in interior design.

Please note that no enrolment deposit is required until you have been formally accepted into the program. We invite you to submit your application here below

Frequently Asked Questions

You have questions, we have answers.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our FAQ section below, use our online submission form.

 This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
The Cut Design Academy is designated with PTIB