Module 2: History of Style, Decoration and Architecture

This comprehensive module takes you on a fascinating journey, beginning with the origins of decorative finishes seen in cave paintings and ancient dwellings, and leading you through the history of design and architecture right up to the present day.

Full of visual images and rich information, Module 2 will help you uncover the meanings and messages behind the styles and decorative images you encounter throughout history.

Module 2 Course Preview

Why This Module Matters

Understanding design history is essential for every interior designer. By exploring how architecture, decoration and style have evolved, you’ll:

Learn to recognise architectural and decorative details influenced by Greek, Roman, Egyptian and later movements.
Incorporate historical styles into your own designs, adding originality and depth.
Appreciate how past movements influence the present and continue to shape the future of design.

What You’ll Learn

Introduction to Design History
Why design history matters and how it shapes interior practice today.
Key Historical Movements
A guided tour from Ancient Greece through to Contemporary and Minimalist trends.
Art, Furniture & Cultural Influences
How material culture and furniture design reflect social and artistic change.
Linking Past to Modern Design
How historical motifs and methods inform contemporary interiors.

What You’ll Do

Analyse Historical Styles
Examine how form, ornament and proportion define each period.
Identify Historical Influences
Trace cultural, technological and material drivers across styles.
Recognise Characteristic Features
Spot signature exterior and interior details — spires, cornices, motifs and more.
Apply Historical Knowledge
Use historical references thoughtfully in contemporary design projects.

Module Topics

In Module 2, we will cover the following topics and beyond:

Introduction to History of Style, Decoration and Architecture
What is Design History?
Why Learn Design History?
About this Design History
Classical
Ancient Greece (1000–100 BC)
Ancient Rome (500 BC–500 AD)
Byzantine (500–1500)
Moorish (700–1500)
Romanesque (800–1200)
Gothic (1150–1400)
Renaissance (1400–1600)
Baroque (1590–1725)
Rococo (1715–90)
Neoclassical (1714–1850)
Palladianism – Britain (1715–1800)
Georgian / Colonial – Outside Of Britain (1714–1830)
Federal – USA (1780–1830)
Greek Revival – Britain (1790–1850), USA (1830–60)
Furniture Designers
Empire – France (1799–15)
Industrial Revolution (1760s–1850s)
Victorian (1837–1901)
Gothic Revival

Italianate
Queen Anne
Victorian Interiors and Furniture
Arts and Crafts Movement (1870–1910)
Art Nouveau (1880s–1914)
Art Deco
French Art Deco (1920–39)
American Art Deco (1925–39)
Art Deco Around the World
Modernism (1917–33)
De Stijl (1917–31)
Bauhaus (1919–33)
Le Corbusier
The International Style (1930s–70s)
Post-World War II / Mid-Century Modern (1940s–60s)
Pop (1960s–70s)
Postmodernism (1970s–90s)
Minimalism (1990s to Today)
Contemporary
Sustainable Architecture and Design
Sustainability in Design History

Module Outcomes

By completing Module 2, you will:

Gain a comprehensive knowledge of style, decoration and architecture from antiquity to today.
Learn to identify and interpret decorative and architectural features.
Incorporate historical references into your own creative work with confidence.
Understand the enduring influence of design history and its role in shaping contemporary practice.

Guidance Every Step of the Way

As with every stage of your learning, our expert tutors will guide you through Module 2 with passion and insight. They’ll help you make sense of historical detail, connect past and present, and show you how to apply these influences to your own designs.