İç mimarlık eğitim programlarının pratiğe etkisi: Türkiye örneği

The rapidly advancing digitalization, the influence of technology, and major developments in artificial intelligence are reshaping the definition and characteristics of many professions including that of interior architecture. This transformation also affects interior architecture education, which is fundamentally based on interior space design. This study seeks to find answers regarding how the current education system of the profession should be integrated with future digital systems. In other words, it focuses on identifying what additions or changes might be necessary to the core structure of the current educational model implemented in Turkey. In doing so, the study aims to serve as a guiding framework for future academic research on similar topics and for prospective changes in undergraduate interior architecture education. Within the scope of this study, a comprehensive investigation was conducted into the current undergraduate education processes in interior architecture and the necessity of courses related to spatial design in digital environments for the future. In this context, alongside three different field studies forming the core of the research, technologies such as AI, VR, AR, MR, and XR; the metaverse and online education systems; ERP programs; parametric design software; and digital freehand drawing programs are examined in the literature review section to support the main topic. Furthermore, to better understand the relationship between interior architecture education and digital transformation, the accreditation standards of interior architecture education and its general course groupings are also analyzed. The research addresses questions concerning the need for interior architecture education to keep pace with technological and digital advancements. Corresponding hypotheses and objectives are also presented. To test these hypotheses, the study includes fieldwork in Ankara, Turkey, consisting of one survey and two brief interviews. Using the QFD (Quality Function Deployment) method, data was collected from a total of 467 participants, including interior architecture students, faculty members, and professionals from various sectors of the field. The results of these studies largely confirm the research questions and hypotheses. Consequently, the study reveals the necessity of a sustainable and interactive curriculum design to bridge the gap between interior architecture education and technological/digital advancements. Keywords: Interior architecture education, digital design, artificial intelligence, innovation, digital drawing programs.