Architecture involves the study and transformation of the built environment, from the scale of furniture to the scale of the city. The goal of an architectural education is to develop a synthetic thought process of critical thinking and creative problem solving. Creative thinkers must address all aspects of the built environment in its cultural, social, and ethical context.

Interior design involves the study and transformation of the environment at the human scale. Interior designers understand how the design of furnishings, function, and space can improve the quality of life.