“As a result of our excellent track record, industry professionals look to us when hiring new graduates.” It was this sentence that drew my attention to Ryerson University School of Interior Design. Their intensive (yes their own website admits its intensity) four year degree program has an amazing reputation. And now I know why. The application process is similar to other schools, with a drawing test, written test, portfolio interview and transcripts all considered. It is also highly competitive, with “1,000 applicants for the 84 spaces”. On my interview day I asked about the graduation hire rate, and was told it was 90%. I was excited. Then, on my first day at Ryerson, I learned that while 90 students were accepted in my year, only about 40 were in the graduation class that year. I’ll let you do the math on that one.
With famous alumni such as international award-winning designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg, Ryerson University was an easy first pick for my design education.
As mentioned in “Fashion in the Heart of Toronto”, being downtown is exciting and an essential part of your education.
Location, Location, Location
Ryerson School of Interior Design is located in the heart of downtown Toronto. In the design industry this makes a big difference. Large companies, such as HOK, Yabu Pushelberg and others have offices in Toronto. As mentioned in “Fashion in the Heart of Toronto“, being downtown is exciting and an essential part of your education. I moved downtown in my first year and haven’t left (now entering my last semester of fourth year). Some students commute up to two hours each way on a daily basis. Many find commuting very difficult, with large projects (which may not withstand the rigours of TTC transportation), short deadlines, and the stress of travel, more chose to move to the city by fourth year.
Living downtown also makes completion of the “Passport” easier. The Passport is a continuous assignment over the four year degree program, with submissions each semester. It is essentially a journal of mandatory outside-of-class-time experiences: art shows, additional lectures, and exhibitions. The premise of this assignment is great – it encourages students to be more involved with the Toronto Design scene. However, being required to write about it when you’re busy doing other things makes it less interesting. I think the Passport is a great experience for those in the Lower School (first and second year) but it seems redundant in the Upper School (third and fourth year).
Classes and Curriculum
The Ryerson curriculum is regularly updated and is reviewed by CIDA, the governing body for interior design school accreditation, and recognized by ARIDO (The Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario). I, like many first years, found first year classes terribly irrelevant sounding. However Ryerson’s Lower School has an amazing collaborative project known as Vertical Studio. It is a collaboration between first and second year students to redesign a location in Toronto, every year the project specifics are modified. I found learning from peers to be the best way to learn.
Class sizes at Ryerson are generally small (15-23 students), which is ideal for a design school. Ryerson professors give a lot of one on one time, with critiques of your work as you develop it. They are just as concerned about your process as your result.
Liberal Studies are another requirement for your degree. These classes are usually taken outside the School of Interior Design, and allow students to take classes in a variety of areas, such as Business, Caribbean Studies, Women’s studies, etc. This general education is common to many programs; however, there is one class that sets Ryerson apart from other interior design schools. Our Professional Practice Practicum (also known as Internship) is an outstanding 400 hours of required work time within the field (compared to only 60 hours at other schools). The internship is usually completed during the summer of third year and may be paid or unpaid. It is the student’s responsibility to find a placement. Ryerson will provide postings and guidance, but students are required to create a portfolio, resume, and cover letter themselves.
My Internship
My internship experience was unique compared to many of my classmates. Internships are the best way to learn about yourself and the work world. I only completed half of my internship in a design office. I worked at an amazing company called Tomas Pearce Interior Design Consulting. Interning in a medium sized company, I was fortunate enough to work with every member of the team, and see almost all aspects of the design process. From inspiration, to design process, to material selection and finally set up, my time there was well-rounded and the people were great. School can only prepare you so much (which Ryerson did) and then work experience is what puts all those classes together.
The other half of my internship I spent in Ghana, Africa. I was one of two interior design students chosen to accompany a team led by Ryerson Department of Architectural Science (also including students from Fashion, RTA and ECE) to a remote town called Kpedze Todze. Our goal was to build a two-classroom kindergarten school in four weeks. The design took place over four months prior to our departure, with weekly meetings in the Architecture school. Ryerson University is extremely interested in continuing with projects such as these, and I am very grateful to have been able to participate. Through my entire university experience, from Vertical Studio to Ghana, Ryerson has given me the skills and tools I need to start a successful career.
Tips for Getting In (and staying in)
1. Learn how to learn to draw. I know you’re probably thinking, how can you get into a design school without an arts background? Well, you can, and I did. I had a technology background with many of my high school classes consisting of Math and Science. Drawing was a challenge for me, and one everyone should embrace. The School of Interior design doesn’t care if you’re a natural artist; they have drawing techniques that they require you to know. Many of my classmates with amazing natural artistic abilities struggled to follow Ryerson’s drawing standards.
2. Take physics in high school. Although it is not mandatory for acceptance to Ryerson, it is a recommended class, and I strongly recommend it. You may be fine without physics for the first couple years; however, when it came to calculating heat loss, light loss, and a variety of other concepts, arts-only students became highly frustrated.
Follow what they say on paper. When applying; if it says fifteen pages for a portfolio, make sure you submit fifteen pages.
3. Follow what they say on paper. When applying; if it says fifteen pages for a portfolio, make sure you submit fifteen pages. They aren’t kidding when they say they won’t even look at your portfolio if it doesn’t meet requirements. I know of friends who applied in the wrong format and had to re-apply. Also, when they say a project is due at 5:00pm and you submit at 5:01pm they will give you a 0. This is to prepare students for the work world, where contracts are lost if they are late.
4. Prepare for hidden costs. Supplies can easily mount to $2000, and printing costs for your projects are often around the $200 mark each semester. Holding down a part-time job during school is difficult, so my advice is, prepare, prepare, prepare.
5. Be creative and let your professors know it. This is why they teach, for the fire of young ambitious students. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or share opinions, finding a job in this field is about making contacts and earning references. The Year End Show is an amazing place for students to showcase their work and find jobs after graduation.
6. Prepare for all-nighters. Or two. The workload is overwhelming, even the best students who don’t procrastinate find themselves pulling all-nighters. The frustrating part is that when assignments are given out professors joke “oh this one is a double all-nighter,” and talk as if all-nighters are a required part of the experience, not as a terribly unhealthy thing to do.
Ryerson University is a great school which every student (after recovering) is proud to be a part of.
Final Thoughts
Ryerson University is a great school which every student (after recovering) is proud to be a part of. The Interior Design program is intensive and thrilling. If you’re looking for a program that will take you where you want to go, then this is the one for you. After completion, a Masters in Architecture is still an option, or you can start your three year journey to becoming a registered interior designer.
Be sure to visit my website http://francescadare.com.
To learn more about how to become a registered interior designer, or to learn more about the profession visit http://www.arido.ca
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Nancy
parmida
Carlos Wong
Catherine
Claire
Lydia Ravi
As a fellow Ryersonian from FCAD, I salute to the Interior Design students for their hardworking work ethic. I can totally relate to the all-nighters and waiting in line for rushed print jobs.