Tests on texture, features on furniture, and principles of patterns; these are all things one would learn in Paly’s new semester elective course, Interior Design, which will be offered during the 2008-2009 school year.

The administration has decided to add Interior Design, a semester course, in the efforts to increase the school’s home economics program. Currently, the only home economics classes offered at Paly are the Foods courses.

Paly teacher Teresa McDermott plans to teach the Interior Design course and has been looking at Gunn and Cañada College’s Interior Design programs to get an idea of appropriate coursework and lesson plans for Paly’s course.

According to McDermott, Interior Design will be offered to all grades, with no prerequisites required. The class will be an intro course, “teaching principles, color, drawing and reading floor plans, and space function.” The course will also teach how to design on a budget. McDermott explains that a lot of the course subjects will be based on the students’ desires.

“Since it’s a first year class, it really depends where the interest lies [with the students],” McDermott said.

Interior Design was first introduced at Paly’s Choice program, which took place in the library last Thursday evening. A poster was set up which expressed the courses emphasis on teaching students how to “design functional and enjoyable living spaces”, “learn about architectural history and design styles,” and “select furniture and fabrics to coordinate any room.”

Interior Design will be a vocational education course, which students are required to take for 10 credits. While the class will be offered next year, it will only take place if the course gets enough people to sign up for it.

“I hope for at least one class per semester, but it would be great to have two each,” McDermott said.

Many believe this course addition will be beneficial in allowing students more elective options.

“I would probably not take it [Interior Design], but it’s interesting as an alternate class,” sophomore Ian Shubert said. “It’s good to offer as many options as possible, I might consider taking it over another vocational education class.”

While McDermott hopes to expand Paly’s home economics program even more, she feels the introduction of an Interior Design course is a positive first step.