Interior design capstone projects are usually the culminating experience for students near the end of their program, acting as a way for students to demonstrate their comprehension and integration of everything they have learned. These large-scale projects are intended to simulate a real-world design process and commission. Given their importance in showcasing a student’s abilities, interior design programs put a significant amount of focus on thoroughly assessing and providing feedback on capstone projects.
Assessment of capstone projects typically involves both formative and summative evaluations. Formatively, students receive ongoing feedback throughout the entirety of the capstone project process from their design instructor and occasionally other faculty members or design professionals. Instructors will check in on progress, provide guidance to help address any issues, and ensure students are on the right track. This formative feedback helps shape and improve the project as it comes together.
Summative assessment then occurs upon project completion. This usually involves a formal presentation and portfolio of the completed work where students demonstrate their full solution and design development process. Faculty evaluators assess based on pre-determined rubrics and criteria. Common areas that rubrics cover include demonstration of programming and code compliance, appropriate design concept and theming, selection and specification of materials and finishes, clear communication of ideas through drawings/models/renderings, and organization and professionalism of the presentation.
Additional criteria faculty may consider include the level of research conducted, appropriate application of design theory and principles, creative and innovative thinking, technical skills shown through drawings/plans, accuracy and feasibility of specifications, comprehension of building codes and ADA/universal design standards, demonstration of sustainability concepts, budget management and how the project meets the needs of the target user group. Strengths and weakness are analyzed and noted.
Evaluators often provide written feedback for students and assign a letter grade or pass/fail for the project. Sometimes a panel of multiple faculty members, as well as potentially industry professionals, will collectively assess the capstone presentations. Students may be called on to verbally defend design decisions during the presentation question period as well.
The capstone experience is meant to holistically demonstrate the technical, practical and creative skills interior designers need. Programs aim to simulate real consultancy work for clients. Assessment emphasizes how well the student operated as an independent designer would to take a project from initial programming through to final design solutions while addressing all relevant constraints. Feedback and evaluation focus on professionalism, attention to detail, competence in key areas as well as the overall effectiveness and polish of the final presentation package.
Recording rubrics, grading criteria and individual written feedback allows programs to consistently measure skills and knowledge demonstrated by each student completing a capstone project. It also provides opportunities for growth – students can learn from both strengths and weaknesses highlighted. Aggregate program assessment data from capstone evaluations further helps faculty determine if broader curriculum or pedagogical adjustments may be beneficial. The thorough and multifaceted assessment of interior design capstone projects acts as an important culminating evaluation of student learning and competency prior to graduation.
Interior design capstone projects are intended to simulate real-world design processes and commissions. Assessment involves formative feedback throughout as well as summative evaluation of the final presentation based on predetermined rubrics. Areas covered include programming, concept/theming, materials/finishes, clear communication, research conducted, design principles applied, creative/innovative thinking, technical skills, specifications/feasibility, codes/standards, sustainability, budgeting, meeting user needs and overall professionalism. Multiple evaluators provide written feedback and assign grades/ratings to gauge student competency in key designer skills upon completing their studies.