Course Syllabus

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3215/5508 Professional Practice of Interior Design

Instructor

Genesis Okken

Phone Number

(239) 595-8457

Email

gokken@dcp.ufl.edu

Office Hours

M/W 1 pm  via Zoom, Personal Meeting ID: 716 983 8934 

Teaching Assistant

Dagmar Rittenbacher, d.rittenbacher@ufl.edu 

Credit Hours

3 credits

For questions about course content, your grade or other personal issues, use the Canvas mail tool.  Expect a response within 24 hours on weekdays.  You may also send chat IMs and video requests through the Zoom application. 

Syllabus file for download

Course Information

This course addresses current issues affecting interior design practice, ethical parameters of practice, business formation, management, and marketing, and specific procedures involved in project management.  The course provides an understanding of Interior Design within a larger social, economic, and political context.  It addresses individual student career planning, including strategies for securing employment.  Class format is a combination of short presentations, discussions sessions, and in-class activities. 

Course Objectives

  • The interior design program provides exposure to the current and relevant events that are shaping contemporary society and the world (CIDA Standard 4d)
  • Students have awareness of the nature and value of integrated design practices (CIDA Standard 5a)
  • Students have awareness of the contexts for interior design practice; impact of a global market on design practices; breadth and depth of interior design’s impact and value; components of business practice (CIDA Standards 6a-d)
  • Students understand types of professional business formations; elements of project management; instruments of service: contract documents, transmittals, schedules, budgets, and specifications; professional ethics and conduct (CIDA Standards 9e-g)
  • The interior design program provides exposure to career opportunities an interior design education can afford and the options for advanced study; role models who are qualified by education and experience in interior design (CIDA Standard 6i-j)
  • The interior design program provides exposure to the role and value of legal recognition for the profession; professional organizations; life-long learning; public service (Council Standard 6k-n)
  • Students are able to express ideas in written communication (CIDA Standard 9c)

 

Course Requirements

Recommended textbooks

  • Winchip, S. M. (2012). Professional Practice for Interior Designers in the Global Marketplace.   New York: Fairchild Publications, Inc.  ISBN: 978-1609011383.
  • Bender, D. (2017).  Design Portfolios: Presentation and Marketing for Interior Designers.  New York: Fairchild Publications, Inc.  ISBN: 978-1501317248.

All required readings will be provided via Canvas. 

 

Minimum technology requirements

A student’s computer configuration should include:

  • Webcam
  • Headphones with built-in microphone
  • Broadband connection to the Internet and related equipment (Cable/DSL modem)
  • Iclicker Cloud (Reef) (free for students) to respond to polls and in-class quizzes
  • Microsoft Office Suite installed (provided by the university).

 

Minimum technical skills

To complete your tasks in this course, you will need a basic understanding of how to operate a computer, how to use Zoom, how to use iClicker, and how to use word processing software.

 

Materials/Supply Fees

IND 3512: $9.99 for Honorlock

IND 5508: There is no supply fee for this course (Exams will be proctored via Zoom). .

 

Honorlock

You will need a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam, a microphone, and a photo ID. The webcam and microphone can be either integrated or external USB devices.

Honorlock requires that you use the Google Chrome (Links to an external site.) browser; furthermore, the Honorlock extension (Links to an external site.) must be added to Chrome.

For further information, FAQs, and technical support, please visit Honorlock.

 

Zoom

Zoom is an easy to use video conferencing service available to all UF students, faculty, and staff that allows for meetings of up to 100 participants.

You can find resources and help using Zoom at https://ufl.zoom.us.

 

Course Policies

Class sessions will occur via Zoom on Mondays Period 8 (3:00 pm – 3:50 pm) and Wednesdays during Period 7-8 (1:55 pm – 3:50 pm) and will consist of material presented by the instructor as well as class discussions based on readings. The iClicker tool will be used in most class sessions. Groups will be formed at the beginning of the semester to enable in-class group activities and exercises. These activities will provide the opportunity to apply material learned from readings and presentations.    

Reading Assignments will be posted in Canvas on each module’s page and draw from different sources.  These short readings will be assigned to be completed outside of class and will be followed-up with reading quizzes proctored at the beginning of class sessions.

Assignments throughout the semester will help students navigate and acquire internships.  These will include: resume, cover letter, teaser, portfolio, business documents and contract.  Projects and assignments are to be presented for interim or final review as scheduled.  No projects will be accepted late except by special accommodation by the DRC. 

There will be two exams, a midterm and a final.  The exams must be taken at the scheduled time and will use Honorlock.  You must notify the instructor before the exam is scheduled if there are extenuating circumstances. 

Requirements for make-up exams, assignments, and other work in this course are consistent with university policies that can be found at catalog.ufl.edu/UGRD/academic-regulations/attendance-policies/

As this is an online class, you are responsible for observing all posted due dates, and are encouraged to be self-directed and take responsibility for your learning.

Be on time for class sessions. Note that attendance is required and critical to the learning process. You are expected to be both on time and engaged throughout the class period. The instructor should be notified ahead of time regarding any necessary absence. 

 

Grading Policy

The format for this course is a combination of presentations, discussions, and student participation within in-class exercises.  Assessment will occur through examination, evaluation of student projects and exercises, and evaluation of effort and class participation, as indicated below:

Projects                                                               45%

Class Exercises/ Participation                            15%

Reading Quizzes                                                 10%

Midterm exam                                                     15%

Final exam                                                          15%

Grading Scale

Percent

Grade

Grade Points

93 – 100.0

A

4.00

90.0 – 92.9

A-

3.67

87.0 – 89.9

B+

3.33

83.0 – 86.9

B

3.00

80.0 – 82.9

B-

2.67

77.0 – 79.9

C+

2.33

73.0 – 76.9

C

2.00

70.0 – 72.9

C-

1.67

67.0 – 69.9

D+

1.33

63.0 – 66.9

D

1.00

60.0 – 62.9

D-

0.67

0 – 59.9

E

0.00

See the current UF grading policies for more information.

 

UF Policies

University Policy on Accommodating Students with Disabilities: 

Students with disabilities requesting accommodations should first register with the Disability Resource Center (352-392-8565, https://disability.ufl.edu/) by providing appropriate documentation.  Once registered, students will receive an accommodation letter that must be presented to the instructor when requesting accommodation.  Students with disabilities should follow this procedure as early as possible in the semester.

 

University Policy on Academic Conduct:

UF students are bound by The Honor Pledge which states, “We, the members of the University of Florida community, pledge to hold ourselves and our peers to the highest standards of honesty and integrity by abiding by the Honor Code.  On all work submitted for credit by students at the University of Florida, the following pledge is either required or implied: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid in doing this assignment."  The Honor Code (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/process/student-conduct-honor-code/) specifies a number of behaviors that are in violation of this code and the possible sanctions.  Furthermore, you are obligated to report any condition that facilitates academic misconduct to appropriate personnel.  If you have any questions or concerns, please consult with the instructor or TAs in this class.

 

Netiquette and Communication Courtesy: 

All members of the class are expected to follow rules of common courtesy during, before, and after class, in all email messages, threaded discussions, and chats. 

 

Getting Help

Technical Difficulties:

For issues with technical difficulties for Canvas, please contact the UF Help Desk at:

Any requests for make-ups due to technical issues should be accompanied by the ticket number received from the Help Desk when the problem was reported to them. The ticket number will document the time and date of the problem. You should e-mail your instructor within 24 hours of the technical difficulty if you wish to request a make-up.

 

Health and Wellness

  • U Matter, We Care:  If you or someone you know is in distress, please contact umatter@ufl.edu, 352-392-1575, or visit umatter.ufl.edu to refer or report a concern and a team member will reach out to the student in distress.
  • Counseling and Wellness Center:  Visit counseling.ufl.edu or call 352-392-1575 for information on crisis services as well as non-crisis services.
  • Student Health Care Center: Call 352-392-1161 for 24/7 information to help you find the care you need, or visit shcc.ufl.edu.
  • University Police Department: Visit police.ufl.edu or call 352-392-1111 (or 9-1-1 for emergencies).
  • UF Health Shands Emergency Room/Trauma Center: For immediate medical care in Gainesville, call 352-733-0111 or go to the emergency room at 1515 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608; ufhealth.org/emergency-room-trauma-center.

 

Academic and Student Support

 

Course Evaluations

Students are expected to provide professional and respectful feedback on the quality of instruction in this course by completing course evaluations online via GatorEvals. Guidance on how to give feedback in a professional and respectful manner is available at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/students/. Students will be notified when the evaluation period opens, and can complete evaluations through the email they receive from GatorEvals, in their Canvas course menu under GatorEvals, or via https://ufl.bluera.com/ufl/. Summaries of course evaluation results are available to students at https://gatorevals.aa.ufl.edu/public-results/.

 

Tips for Success

Here are some tips that will help you get the most of this course while taking full advantage of this format:

  • Schedule "class times" for yourself. It is important to do the coursework on time each week. You will receive a reduction in points for work that is turned in late!
  • Read ALL of the material contained on this site. There is a lot of helpful information that can save you time and help you meet the objectives of the course.
  • Print out the Course Schedule located in the Course Syllabus and check things off as you go.
  • Ask for help or clarification of the material if you need it.
  • Do not wait to ask questions! Waiting to ask a question might cause you to miss a due date.
  • Do your work well before the due dates. Sometimes things happen. If your computer goes down when you are trying to submit an assignment, you'll need time to troubleshoot the problem.
  • To be extra safe, back up your work to an external hard drive, thumb drive, or through a cloud service.

 

Privacy and Accessibility Policies

For information about the privacy policies of the tools used in this course, see the links below: 

COVID-Related Practices

Some of our class sessions may be recorded via Zoom. Students who participate with their camera engaged or utilize a profile image are agreeing to have their video or image recorded.  If you are unwilling to consent to have your profile or video image recorded, be sure to keep your camera off and do not use a profile image. Likewise, students who unmute during class and participate orally are agreeing to have their voices recorded.  If you are not willing to consent to have your voice recorded during class, you will need to keep your mute button activated and communicate exclusively using the "chat" feature, which allows students to type questions and comments live. The chat will not be recorded or shared. As in all courses, unauthorized recording and unauthorized sharing of recorded materials is prohibited.

 

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due