Whats to deregulate?

As a interior design student, I oppose the deregulation of registered Interior Designers. I understand the skepticism on the necessity of legislation of what some might call “decorating”. For the general public, there isn’t a way to stand out from behind the cloud of Interior Decorators without much confusion taking place. Designers have to establish some kind of separation from the decorators, for there to be a barrier between what design is and what is decoration. The profession of Interior Design and the service Interior Designers provide is much more than what is shown on television. Interior designers educate themselves beyond what is displayed on shows such as HGTV. They educate themselves by attending classes and going to school to learn.  Interior Designers don’t just provide a service but we help protect the public. The definition of Interior Design is “a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals. “

 Receiving a degree in Interior Design requires skill in many cross disciplinary fields.  The public or “interior decorators” may not be aware that Interior Designers may receive a four-year CIDA accredited degree in Interior Design and become certified by the NCIDQ examination that tests minimum standards for Certified Interior Designers.  The profession of what interior design is misunderstood and misrepresented. Overall, we do more than just pick paint colors and throw pillows. We protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public. Protecting the public requires an understanding of codes; commercial and residential.  The International Building Code (IBC) is a model building code developed by the International Code Council (ICC). It has been adopted throughout most of the United States.  A registered Interior Designer by practice must adhere to the following codes as they directly impact the safety of interior space design.  Understanding codes are not something that can be learned in a day. It takes education and understanding and practice to fully get the reasoning for codes that are used daily in design. 

The difference between qualified and unqualified interior designers impacts everyone.  Without a clear understanding of important regulations, an unqualified designer might inadvertently violate code or even create life-threatening hazards. It is not enough to say that you have gone to school and now you are qualified to be an Interior Designer. It takes education, experience and examination to produce a well rounded designer.