This seminar course uses readings and projects to explore the emergence of interior design as a distinct form of professional practice. Starting from the gradual separation of interior and furniture design from architectural practice in the mid-nineteenth century, students will research the evolution of the discipline in relation to social and technological concerns such as sustainability, globalization, and the profession’s emphasis on human factors. Theories and projects that have defined the scope and methods of interior design, particularly since the early 20th century, will be examined in context.