Relevance of construction project management in the interior design curriculums

Interior Design as a profession has gained prominence in the construction industry of UAE and the Middle East Region in the last two decades. The complexity and the nature of buildings being constructed in this region has forced design consultancies and the construction companies at looking into Interior Design as a specialised consultancy. The dearth of Interior Design Professionals has led to dependence on architectural and engineering consultants taking over this crucial role in executing interior projects. This has led to a renewed demand for locally trained Interior Design Professionals. The education sector has responded to this demand through the emergence of regionally and state funded universities and foreign universities opening their branch campuses in the region and offering a range of Interior Design Programs. The curriculums reflect the values of universities and the focus of the programs range from understanding Interior Design through the core area of Arts, Construction Science and Engineering. Construction Project Management is a core area being given renewed importance by design consultancies and the construction industry in a deadline oriented market. Though engineers have had a traditional forte in the area of Construction Project Management; Architects and Interior designers have slowly made inroads into this area in the past few decades. Interior Designers specialising as construction project managers are in demand world over. The education sector has responded to this demand through programs in design education that has a focus in the area of Construction Project Management. The paper looks into the relevance of Construction Project Management in the Interior Design Curriculums for the Middle East Region. Research Methodology for the paper included literature review, questionnaire for students of Interior Design & Interior Design Consultancies and the construction industry, Group discussion with Academia and the industry.