We explored how beginning-level interior architecture students develop skills to create mental visualizations of three-dimensional objects and environments, how they develop their technical drawing skills, and whether or not physical and computer generated models aid this design process. We used interviews and observations to collect data. The findings provide an insight on what kind of difficulties students experience during their learning process and how they overcome those difficulties. The results of the study indicate that the students' lack of skills in technical drawing and in creating 2D and 3D mental visualizations negatively influenced their design process. Using the existing body of literature, we discussed the findings and suggested teaching strategies to improve the learning process for the beginning-level interior architecture students. The findings of this study allowed us to have a better understanding of the student design and learning process.We explored how beginning-level interior architecture students develop skills to create mental visualizations of three-dimensional objects and environments, how they develop their technical drawing skills, and whether or not physical and computer generated models aid this design process. We used interviews and observations to collect data. The findings provide an insight on what kind of difficulties students experience during their learning process and how they overcome those difficulties. The results of the study indicate that the students' lack of skills in technical drawing and in creating 2D and 3D mental visualizations negatively influenced their design process. Using the existing body of literature, we discussed the findings and suggested teaching strategies to improve the learning process for the beginning-level interior architecture students. The findings of this study allowed us to have a better understanding of the student design and learning process.