What was the former name of The New School, where formal education of Interior Design began?

The correct answer is that the former name of The New School was the New York School of Applied and Fine Arts. This institution has been pivotal in the history of interior design education, serving as an early and influential platform for teaching design principles and fostering an environment that integrated various aspects of art, architecture, and design.

The New School has a significant legacy in the evolution of interior design curricula, which often blended technical skill-building with an appreciation for the aesthetic and cultural dimensions of design. This historical context is essential for understanding the foundations of interior design education and its development over time.

In contrast, the other options, while they may reference institutions that focused on aspects of design or art, do not accurately represent the historical name of The New School where formal education in interior design was substantially rooted. Each of those institutions may have contributed to the field in different ways or at different times, but none hold the same historical significance regarding the beginnings of interior design education as the New York School of Applied and Fine Arts.