Top Interior Design Program in the U.S.
The Pratt Institute graduate program in interior design is the top ranked program in the nation, according to the "U.S. News and World Report" Guide to America's Best Graduate Schools and the "Design Intelligence" professional survey.
Many companies come to Pratt every year to interview students for internships and permanent positions. Interior design alumni are employed by firms such as the Switzer Group, Bloomingdales, Herman Miller, Chase Manhattan Bank, and Doral Hotels.
An Architectural Orientation
The graduate interior design program at Pratt is notable in that it employs an architectural orientation with an emphasis on spatial design, rather than on surface embellishment. Students learn to consider the effects of space on the human spirit and take required courses in subjects such as design, construction, exhibition design, color and materials, lighting design, and computer aided design and drafting (CADD).
A Practical, Well-rounded Educational Approach
Students tackle design projects in commercial, institutional, contract hospitality, health care, and residential work. They are also encouraged to pursue eclectic elective coursework from any department in Pratt Institute. Internship opportunities are an integral part of the Pratt graduate interior design education as well.
A Choice of Thesis Options
There are several options available for the student culminating thesis program in the final year. The traditional track may take the form of a significant and complex design project or an academic research-oriented study of emerging issues and problems. An alternative track is the Exhibition Design Intensive which offers students a 1-year immersion in exhibition design.
Technical Proficiency Required
Incoming students are required to have a certain level of technical proficiency. To that end, Pratt offers a summer class that develops students' skills in various drawing media and equipment; freehand sketching, and orthographic projection (plans, sections, elevations). Other topics include line weights and types, symbols, scale and dimensions, lettering, presentation and rendering techniques, and 3D drawing (perspective and isometric projection).
Accomplished Faculty
Pratt's interior design faculty members are accomplished practicing professionals with varied backgrounds and interests.
Of note is Professor Jon Otis, a Pratt teacher for over a decade, was recognized by "Design Intelligence" as one of the Most Admired Educators. Mr. Otis' work has been widely published in magazines and design journals. He has worked with such diverse corporate clients as Nike, Mercedes North America, Calvin Klein, Esprit, Tandus Carpets, Metro Furniture, and Wolf Gordon Wallcoverings. His professional focus areas include interior architectural design, exhibition design, product design, and visual and sensory communication design.
Adjunct Associate Professor Jack Travis is another acclaimed professional on Pratt's interior design faculty. Mr. Travis' interests include building awareness of the contributions of "Black Culture" to environmental design and African-American participation in the interior design field. His well-known clients have included Spike Lee and Wesley Snipes for residential design, and Giorgio Armani SPA for commercial design.
Commitment to Sustainability
Pratt Institute has made a determined commitment to sustainability and, as such, has been recognized by The Princeton Review and the United States Green Building Council as one of 286 "Green Colleges."
Pratt interior design students have been featured in a design community online publication for creating the first green residence hall room. The students had renovated the kitchen, bathroom, and living area, which were outfitted with energy-efficient lighting, new storage and shelving options, and new furniture using wood from the original residence hall.
On a campus-wide scale, Pratt is working to reduce its greenhouse gases by 30 percent, develop plans for a carbon neutral campus, build campus-wide intelligence around sustainability, and ensure that ecological literacy becomes a central tenet of design education.
Small Class Sizes within a Diverse Setting
Students at Pratt benefit from small class sizes -- with an average class ratio of 10:1 -- combined with the academic variety afforded by the second largest independent college of art, design, and architecture in the United States. Pratt Institute in total serves approximately 4,800 students across four different schools; the graduate school itself is home to about 1,400 students.
Green Urban Campus, Conveniently Located
Pratt is located in Clinton Hill, on a 25-acre campus of green lawns, trees, and historic buildings in a premier renovated Victorian neighborhood in Brooklyn. Students can enjoy a traditional campus experience while being just 25 minutes from midtown Manhattan.
