DI Library: MID Library Hub: Interior Design Fundamentals

Interior Design Fundamentals

This section of the guide provides helpful books, ebooks, websites, and other resources related to interior design fundamentals. This page includes recommended books and ebooks. Navigate this section using the topics on the left.

Secretary Carson visits Virginia Tech Exhibit with Secretary Wilkie in Arlington, VA [Photograph]. (2019, July 24). U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s photostream on Flickr. This image is in the public domain.

Recommended Books and Magazines in the DI Library

Interior Design Magazine
Each issue features some of the best interiors from across the country and around the world.
Design School Wisdom: Make First, Stay Awake, and Other Essential Lessons for Work and Life by Brooke Johnson (Editor); Jennifer Tolo Pierce (Editor)
Call Number: NK 1505 .D474 2014
On everything from trusting your instincts to nurturing your curiosity, staying inspired to mastering typography, the lessons inside this book are a guide to life, design, and the innumerable ways the two intertwine.
Interiors: Design, Process, and Practice by Stephanie A. Clemons
Call Number: NK 2116.4 .C54 2021
From its historical roots to best business practices, this study of interiors introduces the reader to the processes, skills, and practices foundational to good design, with an emphasis on the elements and principles of design, the design process, visual communications, and selecting materials, furnishings, and accessories.
On Style: Inspiration and Advice from the New Generation of Interior Design by C. Dellatore
Call Number: NK 2110 .D45 2019
50 profiles of today's top up-and-coming interior designers who together reflect the future of design, along with their tips for achieving great style.

Log in to Read Ebooks (DI Students, Faculty and Staff)

To read these ebooks, click the links below and use your Microsoft 365 login credentials (your DI email address and password).

You can also click the LIRN Library tab in Canvas, which will take you to the LIRN Library Portal and log you into all of the library resources. Need help? Contact the DI Library.

Recommended Ebooks - login required

Designing: An Introduction (ebook) by Karl Aspelund
Explores the multi-faceted world of professional design, including a history of design, the elements and principles of design, the design process, and designing 2D, 3D and virtual environments. Also covered are topics such as ergonomics, sustainability, and individual designers from a variety of disciplines. Available through Fairchild Books ID Library (login required).
The Design Process, 4th edition (ebook) by Karl Aspelund
Explores the design process from the initial Inspiration to Identification, Conceptualization, Exploration/Refinement, Definition/Modeling, Communication, and all the way through Production. Focuses on developing a solid foundation in design critical thinking. Available through Fairchild Books ID Library (login required).
Foundations of Interior Design (ebook) by Susan J. Slotkis
Surveys design history, the elements and principles of design, professional practice, and more, providing an introduction to the creative, technical and business aspects of the interior design profession. Available through Fairchild Books ID Library (login required).
Interior Design Fundamentals (ebook) by Steven B. Webber
Provides an introduction to the basics of interior design, design thinking, and the design process. Topics include spatial well-being, color theory, professional practice, finishes, furnishings, lighting, environmental systems, and more. Available through Fairchild Books ID Library (login required).
Meanings of Designed Spaces (ebook) by Tiiu Poldma (Editor)
A collection of articles by and interviews with renowned design academics and professionals exploring how people make meaning using design today, and how "designed space" both shapes and is shaped by technology, business, ethics, culture, sustainability, and society. Available through Fairchild Books ID Library (login required).
The Fairchild Books Dictionary of Interior Design (ebook) by Mark Hinchman
Illustrated definitions of historic and modern terminology that all interior designers should know for both the residential and commercial sides of industry. Available through Fairchild Books ID Library (login required).