John F. Pile

This is a textbook. Reading text books is fun! This book contains a basic overview of the field of interior design. It covers history, the design process, planning a design, human factors, social responsibility, different materials and interior elements, color, lighting, furniture, special needs, internal technical systems, and various other things. Reading a text book on interior design makes it clear that the field is much more than decoration. Interior design (at least, good interior design) is focused on how space is used and making sure that use is effective. As such, I find that this book has a closer tie to environmental psychology than many of the other books I have read in the general area of architecture and interior design. I enjoyed learning about interior design, and I appreciated the fact that 550 pages go a lot faster when there are lots of pictures. =)… (more)

Resource for designing, especially home and office interiors. Provides history, analysis of materials, tools (computers, programs) for planning, creating, and executing designs.

While the spectacle of a world of spaces that all look remarkably similar, seems to loom, and the professionalization of designers has led to the excesses of commercialism and short-term profiteering, those of us interested in long-term values and social prosperity have to learn all this. We fail to manipulate the media of color, lighting, textiles, furniture, signage and accessories at our peril.… (more)