Design Institute of San Diego

It's been a while since I graduated from DI. I have had a successful career but I credit that to hard work. I can't say I recommend this school unless you can afford it. I beg you not to take loans to attend DI. When I was a student they made it very easy to apply for loans and make it sound like I would make great money even as a third year student. But in reality I am still paying these loans 20 years after I graduated. It's the interest that kills you. Tuition has skyrocketed since I was a student so please save yourself and go to a state school for a fraction of the price. If you can pay cash it will be a fine option. But don't let them convince you that you will be able to repay these loans at the current rate on a designers salary.

SERIOUSLY, DO NOT GO HERE! Over priced & complete waste of time. I learned more in my fifth grade art class than I did my entire time at DISD. They're in business to make money. ILL SAY IT AGAIN, do not go here.

Why does everyone assume that a school is only there to help them? It is a business, they sell a service, therefore they charge. I am currently a second year student at the Design Institute, and love it here. I have never had any of staff be anything but amazingly helpful and considerate. Also, if you research other Institutions that offer Interior Design as a curriculum, you will find that they cost much much more than Di, and don't seem to have as well rounded a syllabus.

All I really want to say here was already stated, a school is a business. Don't expect it to give you anything for free, or comp you in any way. You are paying for the education you are receiving, so make the most of it, and you will get the most out of it.

I am a senior and will be graduating in December. I've been at DI the entire time. It has flown by.

Have there been "issues" over the years I've been a student at DI? Yes, of course there were there are ALWAYS a few issues when dealing with any entity. The rub is in how they are resolved. The admin. staff, like the teaching staff is excellent. They are working hard at their jobs which is to care for, run, and maintain a business, and deliver the best education they can with the best staff, expectations, concern, and opportunities. DI does not play with our future. They are fully accredited, highly respected, and recognized nationally (maybe even internationally). In the time I have been a student I've heard nothing but positive feedback from professionals in the field regarding the quality of DI's program.

DI is always evolving, finding new and innovative ways to teach us.

I am a 52 year old student. I started at DI in 2009 and I was afraid. I was afraid of being older, fat, uncool, and out of the loop. How silly was I? The school is filled with an eclectic mixture of older and younger, thin and fat, male and female, artist and business minded people - you name it.

I didn't think I could draw either. I thought "What kind of designer can I be when I can't even draw!" Well let me tell you that the drawing they TEACH you to do is amazing. If you can hold a pencil or a marker they can teach you to draw well enough to get your ideas across in a professional way.

Staff was amazing, from my first class to my last class. Maybe one or two teachers could use some improvement, but seriously that's nothing in a school this size and the benefits students get from the other teachers is astounding!

My teachers have written textbooks, worked on national projects, had art shows, received awards, sat on boards, they are of the highest quality.

You will learn about building systems, architecture, art, geography, materials, drafting, CAD, Photoshop, and that doesn't even cover all of the design learning..... color, systems, textiles, furniture design ...let's just say it's a GREAT education.

Last but not least during our final year we are given detailed assistance getting ready for, obtaining, and completing a 180 hour internship with the design firm of our choice. In that partnership school and field work together to cover any gaps in knowledge, or strengthen in preparation for graduation and a great career!

Don't let fear hold you back. Go see Paula in admissions and listen to what she has to say. From financial aid to student services everyone makes it perfectly clear that they are at their jobs to do the best that they can for each student.

Also, I am a student with special needs. I have ADHD and anxiety disorder and did not think I could succeed in school. My younger years proved that to me. I was never a "good" student. With my official diagnosis and letter the school bent over backwards to work with me.

Teachers literally changed how they deliver information in some cases, to be sure they all showed concern and wanted me to succeed.

My GPA is around 3.5, and that's amazing to me.

It's going to be difficult to leave the support and the people I've come to consider a big part of my life, but I know that I will belong to a very special group.... DISD Alumni

Cate Padilla

I graduated from DISD in 2010 and started my own firm a couple years later. I now have four full time staff, a studio in La Jolla, have been published in multiple national magazines, am in charge of my time and LOVE my job! And because of the success of the business I was just able to pay off my student loans in full just 6 years after graduating. I could not have accomplished my career without DISD!

I am a recent graduate and I give 4 stars because DI taught me that it's important to always have something to work towards. Recently, some people asked me to speak about my DI experience. Since I'm very busy and important these days,if only in my own mind, I'll just show you the speech. You decide, does this sound like something you want to commit to? Because, don't kid yourself, this is a commitment. DISD will change your life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3mf2I51jEM&feature=youtu.be

If you want to be buried in debt and struggle for the rest of your life, barely learn anything and not be able to find a design job,or you do end up finding a design job but pays like $12.00's an hour, then go ahead! DISD is the perfect place for you. Unless you don't have to worry about student loans bc your mommy and daddy are taking care of that for you. So I was one of those unfortunate people who graduated like 7 years ago when nobody was hiring. Sallie Mae was calling me at least 100x a day, I couldn't even afford to put gas in my car, I was working at all these shady places that paid me like $8 an hour slaving away. I am in a better situation right now but I am in a whole different industry but I still can't even afford to pay rent sometimes bc of my student loans. I calculated how much I should be making a year and it said I should be making at least 60,000 a year to pay the minimum of what I'm making now and not struggle on a daily basis but I am making half of that.
Also, don't you guys think it's ridiculous when DISD is sending out job posts that are paying like $10-$12 an hour to the graduates? Or job posts that requires like 8 years of experience? Lol.
And finally, yes, I am bitter for wasting 4 years of my life at DISD thinking that I was going to become this fancy interior designer but my dreams turned into a total nightmare.

All I have to say about Design Institute is that it is an amazing program all around. I started out of high school and knew nothing about design other than that I liked unique restaurants and places. I quickly gained knowledge of every aspect in the design field. I owe almost everything I know about design to the institute.. The teachers are amazing and are working professionals, the staff is there to help/support, and the other students are just as passionate about design as I am. It is hands down one of the best schools for interior design in socal. I highly recommend the program.

I am so excited that my daughter will be graduating with a bachelor degree from DISD. She has learned so much and I am so proud of her accomplishments!
There is so much more to interior design than just interior decorating and I can't wait to see what is in store for her.

My daughter graduated from DISD last year. As a parent that has invested time and money to be able to say just that, I feel compelled to give my honest assessment of what this school has to offer. Earning a BFA degree from DISD is not a given, but the architectural / design community has a very high regard for those that do. Real world training of the business, attention to detail, meeting deadlines and presentation of design concepts is not an afterthought.....it's a requirement to graduate from this school. The administration and faculty knows what it takes to prepare their students to succeed in the marketplace and seeing the job placement numbers of each graduating class proves it.

I remember visiting DISD 3 years ago to get to a gut feeling of what this school had to offer and also if it had the right stuff. I came away with an appreciation of a very clean campus, new computers and equipment, ample room sizes for classrooms, a happy student body, and a security service for peace of mind given the computer labs stay open till all hours of the night.

As the saying goes....'if you do one thing, you'd damn well better do it right.'

Design Institute of San Diego gets it....and I highly endorse this school.