Pedagogical Innovation in Interior Architecture Education: Integrating a User-Experience Learning Model for Spatial Service Design

This study presents the results of comparative classroom research exploring pedagogical
innovation in interior architecture education through two approaches: the conventional design
studio model and a user-experience-based learning model. The research examined how
different instructional modes shape students’ design processes, learning outcomes, and
capacity for innovation in experiential architecture and new service design. In the
conventional approach, students typically follow a linear process, beginning with site or user
research, gathering requirements, and programming before developing design proposals.
While effective for cultivating technical and creative skills, this process often privileges form
and representation over the lived experiences of users. By contrast, the user-experience–based
model required students to begin with experiential inquiry into user needs, unmet
expectations, behaviors, and emotions. Reframing the design process around user insights
encouraged students to move beyond conventional problem-solving toward empathetic and
reflective design thinking. Both approaches produced aesthetically strong outcomes;
however, the latter generated designs enriched with experiential architectural qualities,
innovative spatial programming, and service-oriented solutions that integrated offline and
online experiences. The research sample consisted of 18 third-year interior architecture
students who engaged in both models through a flagship store design project. Their outcomes
were compared in terms of technical skills, reflective insights, and the originality of their
proposals. Findings suggest that while conventional pedagogy reinforces established
competencies, user-experience–based learning represents a significant pedagogical
innovation that cultivates empathy, adaptability, and leadership. These insights highlight the
value of user-focused teaching models in advancing interior architecture curricula