The idea... Institute (Institute of Interior Design, Environment and Architecture) was founded at the Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle in the summer of 1999. The purpose of this registered institute is the promotion of teaching and research in interior design with a special focus on international and interdisciplinary projects. Priority is given to research projects for which industry or craft business do not have or find development funds of their own. Pursuing these sort of projects will provide students with opportunities to gain valuable insights into various concepts and will encourage them to deal with changing demands in the disciplin of interior design.

Founding members are are the Professors Axel Müller-Schöll, Ludwig Ehrler, Uli Kühnle, Peter Reimspieß, Sibille Riemann, Johann Stief and Hermann Weber from the faculties of art and design and Prof. Kurt Mehnert of the University of Applied Sciences Anhalt Dessau.