What do you need to study?
Equipment & Resources
The equipment and resources that you require to study your NDA course may differ, depending on the subject and study level.
Computer & Software
All interactive course content within the Virtual Learning Studio (VLS) can be viewed on any device with an active internet connection.
To complete any assignments or projects, we recommend all students have access to a laptop or personal computer. This can be either a Windows or Mac OS X based machine.
Computer & Software
Operating System
Windows 7 (minimum); Windows 10 and above (recommended), Mac OS X 10.10 (minimum); macOS 10.13 (recommended)
Processor
64-bit Intel CPU (Intel Core Duo CPU, 2 GHz or faster recommended)
RAM
4 GB (minimum); 8 GB (recommended)
Hard Drive
12 GB free space (not including software installation)
Screen Resolution
1024 x 768 or greater
Browser
Latest versions of: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome (recommended for VLS use), Firefox, Safari (macOS).
Software Suggestions
Diploma Students
An office package, such as MS Office or OpenOffice; which includes a word processor, a spreadsheet application and a presentation application (e.g., Word, Excel and PowerPoint).
Diploma courses teach manual drafting techniques, therefore CAD software such as AutoCAD is not required to complete your course. AutoCAD is however, still free to access for all NDA students*
Degree Students
A graphical editing application, such as Adobe Photoshop. A computer aided design application, such as SketchUp (free web version available), AutoCAD (Free to all NDA students*) or VectorWorks.
Please visit the official software websites below for full minimum system requirements;
Interior Design Software Course
Learn skills in AutoCAD 2D, SketchUp and Photoshop – a great package to prepare you for your first interior design project. You will build on skills you’ve already learned in manual drafting during your professional diploma course studies, and create computer-drawn floor plans and elevations with great ease, speed and accuracy, using AutoCAD 2D.
You will then transform your 2D drawings into 3D models and scenes using SketchUp, and also learn how to enhance and adjust images using Photoshop to create impactful presentations.
Design Equipment & Materials
In addition to your online study and use of computer software, students may/will also be required to complete work by hand. Please see below a list of recommended design equipment, materials and resources for each NDA course subject.
The majority of recommended items are available to purchase online as a ‘kit’ from the NDA Art Shop, at student prices.
Interior Design
Garden Design
Soft Furnishings
Other Resources
Interior Design
Recommended (to complete work by hand)
- A3 Paper
- A3 Tracing Paper
- A3 Card or Mountboard
- HB Pencil
- Fine-line Drawing Pens 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1
- Scale Ruler
- Set square (this does not have to be adjustable)
- Circle Template
- Scalpel and spare blades
- Hard Edged Rubber
Optional (For a professional finish)
- A3 or A2 drawing board with parallel motion
- 0.5 Propelled Pencil & Refills
- Masking Tape
- 30cm Flexicurve
- 30cm Ruler (plastic)
- 30cm Ruler (steel)
- Putty Rubber (Soft)
- Cutting Mat
- Artist Pastels and/or Pastel Pencils
- Colour Wheel
Garden Design
Recommended (to complete work by hand)
- A3 Paper
- A3 Tracing Paper (60gsm) or Layout Paper for Pencil Drawings
- A3 Tracing Paper (90 or 120gsm) for Inked Plans
- Fine-line Drawing Pens 0.5, 0.3 and 0.1
- HB Pencil
- Scale Ruler
- 30cm Ruler (steel)
- Set Square
- Circle Template
- Compass with Extension Arm
- Scalpel & Spare Blades
Optional (For a professional finish)
- A3 or A2 drawing board with parallel motion
- 0.5 Propelled Pencil & Refills
- Adjustable Set Square
- Masking Tape
- Putty Rubber (Soft)
- Hard Edged Rubber
- Artist Pastels and/or Pastel Pencils
- Colour Wheel
- A3 Graph Paper
Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making
Recommended (to complete work by hand)
- Access to a Basic Domestic Sewing Machine
- Curtain Pelmet & Return
- Button Maker
- Pencil Pleat Heading Tape (7.5cm) – 2 Metres
- Interlining – 1.5 Metres
- A3 Size Heavy Duty Buckram/Vilene (Approx 30cm Width)
- Continuous Zipping – 3/4 Metre & Zip Slider
- Self Adhesive Soft Loop Velcro – 1/2 Metre
- Sew On Velcro (Loop 3m & Hook 10cm)
- Fusible Buckram (Stiff) – 3 Metres
- Piping Cord – 4 Metres
- 4 × Lead Penny Weights
- 6 × Plastic Rings & 2 x Brass Rings
- 8 × Plastic Buttons (front and back)
- 3 × Safety Toggles
Optional (For a professional finish)
- Access to a Professional Sewing Machine
- A1 Cutting Mat
- Cutting Grid
- Cushion Template
- Rotary Head Rail
- Rotary Cutter & Spare Blade
- 60cm Ruler (steel)
- Fabric Scissors
Fabric Requirements
Please view/download the Online & In-Studio Course Fabric Requirement List. This outlines the fabric and equipment needed for each Unit of your Professional Diploma in Soft Furnishings & Curtain Making.
Other Resources
Recommended
- Access to an A3 Scanner or Photocopier
Optional
- Access to a Digital Camera
Degree Students
- Access to books or recommended reading online
NDA Art Shop
Please visit NDA’s online Art Shop which provides bespoke Interior Design, Garden Design and also Soft Furnishing & Curtain Making Kits. These include the essential equipment you will need to study each specific NDA course plus optional items that will allow you to complete your work to a professional finish.
