No abstract

This study aimed to explore the compatibility between the outcomes of academic interior design programmes and the needs of the labour market in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to fill gaps and ensure sustainable development. The study reviewed nineteen academic interior design programmes in different regions, both public and private institutions, and distributed two questionnaires to graduates and employees that assessed seven stages related to the design process and project management. The sample in this study consisted of sixty graduates and nineteen employers in the fields of design or architecture who hire local interior designers. The results indicated that interior design programmes do not fulfill the needs of the market because some regions do not have interior design programmes or the programmes are limited to women, and the image of interior design professions is not clear in some regions due to limited information in the community. Some study plans need to be updated and reviewed based on the latest changes in the labour market. The results also showed that graduates had good knowledge of and skills in the field of interior design, with some shortfalls in the project management skills required in the labour market, such as budget calculations and writing work contracts, timetables, and reports. This limitation may be due to a lack of communication between institutions and the labour market and weak academic guidance for students when choosing elective courses that support these skills. Finally, it is clear that the graduates had good communication, negotiation, persuasion and decision-making skills. The result of this study should help administrators of interior design programmes develop curricula that fulfill the needs of the labour market and help enrolled students increase

The COVID-19 pandemic has led most countries to adopt precautionary isolation measures to prevent the spread of the virus. In this context, teaching through online studios has become a necessity. This study aimed to identify students' practical experiences in fully online interior design studios and determine whether these experiences differ according to students' educational levels to help improve and ensure the quality of online design education. The participants were 69 female interior design students. A questionnaire was applied using five axes, namely virtual learning environment, curriculum and illustration tools, students' experiences, interaction with the teacher, and overall satisfaction and hopes. The results showed that the newer students had a positive experience with the online design studio, while there were statistically significant differences between the answers of students at different levels. It was noticeable that the students' experience on all axes was different, and the level of satisfaction among the new students in Studio 2 was higher than among the students nearing graduation in Studio 6. The findings of this study will benefit the academic programme and technology developers in creating a suitable online learning environment for each profession.

Developing a design for a domestic space is associated with the evolution of the needs of both individuals and societies. Hence, the problem has emerged through multiple different types, names, various considerations of its design and many dimensions associated with it, including psychological, social, cultural and economic dimensions. The purpose of this study is to establish a conceptual frame for design considerations regarding domestic space emerges, with the determination of the common constants between different types of domestic space, and reorganizing these constants so an interior designer can apply them can help achieve the desired physical and psychological comfort for the users. This can only occur if we consider that achievement of the physical and psychological comfort for the users is usually a result of the efficiency of design of the Functionality and Aesthetic System of space. Through this study, the conceptual constants of domestic space are determined to include the concepts of Family, Social Relationship/Community, Privacy, Security, Safety, Protection, Comfort/Relaxation/Warmth, wellbeing, Emotional territory, Control and agency, Familiarity, Centrality/Continuity, Freedom, Self-expression/Self-identity/Expression and Personal Identity/Personal character/Practices of personalization and Place attachment. The results of this study can be considered a scientific addition in the field of domestic space design because they discuss the basic concepts associated with the domestic space from the perspective of specialists in the field of interior design. In addition, they represent a rich guide for architects, designers and students in this field and serve as an important reference for education and awareness of society members about the basic concepts associated with domestic space.

The aim of this paper is to examine the advantages and disadvantages of a virtual gallery as a substitute for the Saudi Arabian schools of higher education in Arts, Design & Architecture which frequently organise exhibitions. Virtual galleries provide new opportunities for architects, designers, artists and experts of other disciplines to lay foundation for new social networks. These networks may establish interdisciplinary knowledge collaborations beyond global geographical barriers. Additionally, it will be an excellent opportunity for students at Saudi Arabian universities to lower the cultural barriers that separate male and female students. Virtual galleries can enrich students' learning, enhance professional skills and also offer savings in term of practical costs (time, money and efforts) required to visit physical exhibitions.