Interior design to me is… way more than just decorating. *shudders* It’s being able to design inspiring spaces that meet all the desires of your client in response to the environment around it while utilizing sustainable practices. It’s researching the psychology of the user as well as the codes involved to create functional spaces that are also aesthetically pleasing.
Professionalism - the conduct, aims, or qualities that characterize or mark a profession or a professional person (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
NCIDQ-
The NCIDQ is the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. The purpose of the NCIDQ is to maintain a standard for interior designers through examination to ensure the health safety and welfare of the public. Once you have passed the exam you are given a certificate number that indicate your qualifications to the general public.
Title Acts- A title act regulates the use of a title, such as “interior designer.” Different states have different title acts. A title act doesn’t require you to be licensed to practice interior design; they just govern the use of the term. Title acts help the public by providing an identifiable title that consumers can see and know that a minimum level of professional qualifications has been met.
Until recently in Florida, to be called an interior designer you had to go through at least three years of school, complete a two year internship, and then pass the NCIDQ exam. However, you can now call yourself an interior designer as long as you are doing non-construction work in a residential project. I feel this is unjust to those who are paying to go to school and that are taking the exam. It is ridiculous to think that one day a mail man can wake up and decide to start his own interior design practice having no education requirement.
Practice Acts- require those practicing interior design to be licensed. Those practicing under supervision of a licensed designer are not required to become licensed. This is great for those, like me, who need to accumulate the experience and professional skills to eventually become a licensed designer.
Licensure is the granting of a license giving permission to practice. Licenses are issued in order to regulate activity that is believed to be dangerous or a threat to the public.
ASID/IIDA –
ASID is a community of people driven by a common love for design and committed to the belief that interior design, as a service to people, is a powerful, multi-faceted profession that can positively change people’s lives. (www.asid.org)
IIDA –
IIDA, with respect for past accomplishments of Interior Design leaders, strives to create a strong niche for the most talented and visionary Interior Design professionals, to elevate the profession to the level it warrants, and to lead the way for the next generation of Interior Design innovators. (www.iida.org)
Hi Ciera!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your definition of Interior Design. You mention it is "researching the psychology of the user as well as the codes involved to create functional spaces." Research and psychology is such an enormous part of design. We must fully understand who we are designing for and the effect our design will have on them.
Will you be taking the NCIDQ? And if so when do you plan on taking it? A few years after you have graduated and have some experience in the industry? Or right after graduation, so you can begin practicing on your own?
I will be taking it, but not for a few years. I'm pretty sure one of the prerequisites is that you complete a two year internship before you are eligible.
ReplyDelete"Interior design to me is… way more than just decorating." I couldn't agree more, I wish the community would understand that when I go to class frieday nights I'm actually in a classroom, not shopping at home goods for accent pillows.
ReplyDelete"It’s being able to design inspiring spaces that meet all the desires of your client in response to the environment around it while utilizing sustainable practices." I think sustainability is such a huge factor in our profession that it should definitely be included in our definitions.
"It’s researching the psychology of the user as well as the codes involved to create functional spaces that are also aesthetically pleasing." I also agree with this portion of your defintion. Understanding human factors and being educated on current codes and standards seperates us from every decorator in the world. Could you imagine a "decorator" cracking open a graphic standards book?! Hah.
All in all you developed a very accurate definition of interior design.
I totally agree with your description of Interior Design. It is such a shame that so many people think of us as just "decorators".
ReplyDeleteI do think, however, that as designers, we are expected to create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing...which is where people get the idea that that is all we do.
I have to agree with the majority that design is not decorating, and that people should be educated about the difference. Unfortunately with new laws the public will continually be blindly to the difference. In addition to knowing the difference between a designer and a decorator they will still be hoodwinked because the public does not know the difference between a licensed designer and an unlicensed designer. Furthermore, as Wal-Mart has proven the price outweighs the quality.
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