News and Media

Published: Nov 9, 2011


SAVANNAH, Georgia - The Savannah College of Art and Design's interior design department has earned the two No. 1 rankings for its undergraduate and graduate programs from DesignIntelligence's 2012 edition of "America's Best Architecture and Design Schools." It is the first time in the ranking's history that one university has received top honors for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

DesignIntelligence, the publication and rankings body of the Design Futures Council, has been leading industry-driven rankings for the past ten years. The top honor for SCAD interior design was vetted by "professional practice leaders with direct experience hiring and supervising the performance of recent […] design graduates." The rankings determine which schools are "best preparing their students for success in the profession," and for the 2012 study, the undergraduate and graduate interior design programs at SCAD both earn the no. 1 place among all other interior design schools in the country.

The rankings also specify SCAD's interior design program as no. 1 in the "skills assessment" break down of programs for both communication and cross-disciplinary teamwork, in further support of the program and the university's unparalleled strengths in preparing students for careers. According to James Cramer, DesignIntelligence publisher and founding editor, "These programs are graduating students who are able to tackle complex and difficult work, create and share knowledge, and invent new design solutions in their fields."

"The rigorous interior design program at SCAD puts our graduates at a highly competitive level when they enter the profession, and the recognition from DesignIntelligence validates the tremendous dedication of our faculty and talented students," says Khoi Vo, chair of interior design at SCAD. "Employers often seek out SCAD graduates as their top picks, citing great communication skills, creative design thinking and excellent technical proficiency."

SCAD's program in interior design is one of the largest and most professionally engaged interior design programs in the United States. Students benefit from the expertise of award-winning, full-time faculty members who share a common belief that a holistic educational framework guides future professional development and inspires life-long learning. The SCAD interior design Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, (accredit-id.org, 206 Grandville Ave., Suite 350, Grand Rapids, MI 49503).

In addition to the top rankings SCAD's interior design program receives, DesignIntelligence also names SCAD professor Margo Jones as one of the 25 Most Admired Educators of 2012. Professor Jones' deep experience in the design field, her mentorship of students, her coordination of the interior design internship program, and her career advising are recognized in this top honor. Professor Jones has helped talented SCAD students secure "internships and full-time positions in design firms, architectural firms and Fortune 500 companies." SCAD faculty has been celebrated in DesignIntelligence's 25 Most Admired Educators list since the 2010 edition.

DesignIntelligence's top rankings attest to the professionalism and unparalleled quality of SCAD's interior design programs and faculty.