At the same time, it highlights its crucial role in the transformation, professionalization, and consolidation of interior design in the country, promoting, nurturing, and even exporting interior design from Uruguay to the world.
The only university program in Uruguay that trains professionals in interior design
This race, which began on March 15, 2004, has been instrumental in professionalizing the sector and establishing interior design as a vital tool for human well-being. Before its creation, interior design in Uruguay lacked a university program that combined theory, practice, technology, and the social sciences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOleUyB_SnQ
Universidad ORT Uruguay exactly that kind of integration. Today, those who decide to study Interior Design in Uruguaynot only acquire conceptual, theoretical, and practical knowledge of the highest caliber, but also benefit from small class sizes, which facilitate interaction with professors and classmates; as well as compact schedules, which allow them to maximize their productivity throughout the day.
Learn about the Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design
A historic year marked by institutional recognition
Recognized by the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) since 2005, the Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design is a pioneer in the country. Its comprehensive approach and commitment to academic excellence have enabled its graduates to gain admission to graduate programs at prestigious international universities, further strengthening its global impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWiNUvD-nfk
At the 2024 Teaching Excellence Awards, where Paula Ceretti, a professor and assistant coordinator of the Interior Design program, was recognized as Teacher of the Year in the short-term degree programs category; the dean of the School of Architecture, Architect Gastón Boero, described this anniversary as a “historic year for the degree program,” highlighting its successful track record. In this regard, the dean noted:
“The degree program is not only producing professionals with a 90% employment rate, but it is also bringing a higher level of professionalism to the field in Uruguay.”
These past two decades have not only have made interior design a more solid, visible, and valued discipline, but they also boosted students’ early entry into the workforce, with an employment rate that, as the dean mentioned, currently exceeds 90%.
One of the factors that facilitates this early entry into the labor market is the attainment of an intermediate degree, which allows students to start working even before they graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
This practical approach is reinforced by the opportunity to gain on-site internships in collaboration with NGOs that are socially responsible, reinforcing the commitment to the community, and by internships at prestigious companies and firms, which expose students to the realities of the job market.
In this regard,Architect Ricardo Chelle, ME, academic coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design, stated that “the program trains its students to become professionals capable of creating designs that improve quality of life and generate meaningful experiences,” adding that:
“The teaching methodology provides students with a well-rounded education that integrates technology, design, and the social sciences.”
- You might also be interested in reading: “Interview with Architect Graziella Blengio in 'Getting to Know Our Designers'”
A well-rounded education with a global perspective and international reach
From its inception, the degree program has aimed to provide a well-rounded education: design, technology, ergonomics, management, and a solid foundation in the humanities.
This combination prepares graduates to tackle complex projects, optimizing spatial and functional quality. Thanks to this approach, the program currently boasts a very high employment rate, an indicator that demonstrates the high demand for interior design professionalstrained at ORT.
In turn, the graduates of the Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design find opportunities at highly prestigious firms, opening doors to international careers.
- You might also be interested in reading: “Interview with Designer Vanessa Núñez: Luxury Interior Design from Miami”
The program promotes academic exchanges, and the faculty offers students the opportunity to participate in exchange programs with universities in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, allowing them to take courses at prestigious international universities and pursue national and international graduate programs, thereby further broadening their educational horizons.
The school is known for its highly cosmopolitan atmosphere, which enriches the educational experience. This cultural and academic diversity fosters interaction with different perspectives, an aspect that encourages creativity and the exchange of ideas.
Find out what graduates of the Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design do
A flexible environment with cutting-edge technology
The degree program is distinguished not only by its academic rigor but also by its flexible learning experience. Thanks to the HyFlex® model, students can choose between in-person and online classes, making it easier to adapt to a variety of personal and professional circumstances.
In addition, they have state-of-the-art technology for hands-on learning, with up-to-date 3D design tools and software, and all the material available online, ensuring that knowledge is always within reach, without geographical or time constraints.
This flexible environment also fosters an entrepreneurial spirit, as learning marketing and entrepreneurship as part of the degree program is a distinct advantage. Graduates can join established companies, but they can also start their own design studio, capitalizing on the growing domestic market.
- You might also be interested in reading: “AI Tools for Architects and Designers”
Recognition, prestige, and cultural diversity
Over the course of its 20-year history, the bachelor's program has received numerous accolades that reflect its academic quality and its impact on interior design.
In 2024, for example, its students stood out by winning all the awards at the 2024 Acher Design Competition, a competition that evaluates creativity, functionality, and technical skill. This achievement not only validates the excellence of the academic training but also the ability of its students to lead in a competitive market.
In 2023, the international reach of the bachelor's program was further solidified by the participation of alumnus Javier Nadal in the Archiprix Workshop Rebuild Ukraine, an event that brought together professionals from around the world to propose design solutions to post-war challenges.
In addition, that same year, Architect Jorge Mígues, a faculty member of the program, presented his work at the prestigious Port Gallery in Barcelona and at Captaloona Art in Madrid, demonstrating the level of excellence that characterizes the members of this academic community.
In 2023, Dis. Andrés Buencristiano, another professor in the bachelor’s program, was named the most outstanding man in the field of design and decoration at the 17th edition of the “Most Outstanding Men of the Year.”
Other achievements include student participation in the Expo Prado 2021, where they designed the façade of the Israeli Embassy’s booth, which was recognized as the best of that edition.
These are just a few of the awards and recognitions received by ORT’s Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design—projects that demonstrate how the program bridges theory and practice, enabling its students and faculty to excel in real-world settings.
Learn more about the awards and recognitions for the bachelor's degree program
A well-established discipline in a dynamic market
The Bachelor's Degree in Interior Design has fueled the growth of an increasingly demanding market that is aware of the importance of interior design in everyday life.
Today, clients are looking for comprehensive, customized solutions, and ORT graduates respond with creative proposals that are attuned to users’ needs and perfectly tailored to the context.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnHYJTeIlCs
This trend is evident in a rapidly growing field, where graduates have the opportunity to work in residential, commercial, institutional, and even international settings.
By choosing this degree program, students not only acquire technical skills but also develop ethical values and a sense of social responsibility. Through outreach activities and collaboration with various NGOs, participation in community projects, and an understanding of design as a tool for well-being, the program goes beyond mere aesthetics, focusing instead on the positive transformation of the environment.
- You might also be interested in reading: “What does an interior designer do?”
20 editions of "Design Your Room," 20 years of making dreams come true
In addition to promoting employment opportunities and comprehensive training, the School of Architecture supports initiatives that foster creativity from an early age. One example is the annual contest Design Your Room, aimed at 9th and 10th graders nationwide, which awards full and partial scholarships to young people with outstanding design proposals for their own personal space.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRKKILUo2zk
This contest, organized with the support of Radio FM Like, has now has edition, and the winners received scholarships to pursue a degree in Architecture or a Bachelor’s degree in Interior Design at Universidad ORT Uruguay.
Together, these editions received hundreds of projects, strengthening the connection between the faculty, prospective students, and the industry by encouraging emerging talent and an early interest in interior design.
- You might also be interested in reading: “Meet the winners of the 20th edition of the “Design Your Room” contest”
Looking to the future
Over the past two decades, the degree program has marked a turning point, establishing itself as the most comprehensive option for those wishing to study this discipline in the country
Twenty years after its founding, the bachelor’s program continues to look toward the future. With the market in constant flux, the program is poised toward new decades of innovation, research, and contributions to society.
By seamlessly integrating all its distinctive features—intermediate degree, employment rate, marketing and entrepreneurship, international exchange programs, flexible course schedules, technology, on-site training, internships, small class sizes, compact schedules, access to graduate programs, eligibility for the Pension Fund, a cosmopolitan faculty, and strong professional networks—into the academic experience, students receive a well-rounded education that prepares them to face the challenges of the present and the future.
Thus, Uruguay’s first and only Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design celebrates 20 years transforming the way spaces are conceived, designed, and lived in, offering an invaluable contribution to the discipline, professional development, society, and people’s well-being.