Capitol Day: A Student's Perspective

Before attending Capitol Day with IDC-Oregon, I didn’t know what to expect. More importantly, I could never have comprehended the impact this event would have on me. Perhaps this is because I am a new Interior Design student, and just learning about the profession, nonetheless the surrounding legislation.

I first heard of IDC-Oregon when my university was going through the process of becoming reaccredited. We met with members of the board, and was appalled to discover that commercial Interior Designers need no license to practice in Oregon. As a student among many who are dedicated to learning the profession, I was worried what this would mean for my career. More importantly, I became overwhelmingly worried about the protection and welfare of Oregonians. From then on, I became committed to IDC-Oregon.

Before Capitol Day, I researched and prepared myself so I could become acquainted with a few concepts:

• IDC-Oregon is an organization of professionals, students, and educators dedicated to enact licensure for commercial Interior Designers
• IDC-Oregon is committed to protecting and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of Oregonians by being dedicated to enact licensure that will hold commercial Interior Designers accountable.
• Commercial Interior Design licensure would eliminate exclusivity among Oregon building professionals by establishing equitable licensure.

Attending Capitol Day was exciting and new territory for me. When meeting with legislators, I mainly listened to other IDC members and their professional experiences. I realized it was just as important to attend Capitol Day to meet with legislators as it was to meet fellow IDC members.

As the day came to a close, I realized how much more I learned about the Interior Design profession and goals of IDC-Oregon:

• Commercial Interior Designers have an incredible broad scope of work that includes approximately 90% of the interior of a building; including space planning, egresses and exits, while extensively abiding by fire, building, and ADA code.
• Commercial Interior Designers have a great and significant responsibility to the public. After investigation of fires and other building disasters, many injuries and deaths have resulted from improper designs, finishes, and fixtures by Interior Designers that were not knowledgeable of fire, building, or ADA code. This is a tragedy that cannot continue. For any designer or building professional, it is our greatest duty to protect and serve all who enter commercial Oregon spaces.
• Oregon will continue to commit to a greener future by utilizing licensed Interior Designers who are trained in sustainable, energy-efficient practices.

This is an exciting time for commercial Interior Designers. I encourage anyone and everyone to become involved with IDC. Licensure for commercial Interior Designers is a promise to ourselves and Oregonians that there is a future of sustainable spaces which protect the health and safety of our citizens, and are designed by a team of equitably licensed professionals.

My name is Molly McDonald and I support IDC-Oregon for the future of Interior Design licensing.

Membership: IT'S FREE!

IDC-Oregon is excited to announce a change in membership pricing: FREE, LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP! Join us and sign up now!

Annual membership dues are no longer required. Though membership is without charge, we highly encourage you to sign up for recurring donations to support the ongoing effort to pass commercial interior design licensing for the Oregon profession.

Existing Members:
As a result of this change, you may have received an email from PayPal about your recurring payment cancellation. Your membership has not been cancelled, only your annual membership dues. If you have further concerns about your PayPal account, contact PayPal Customer Support toll-free at 1-888-221-1161.

Please contact info@idc-oregon.org if you have any questions regarding the membership fee update.

Summer Splash Annual Member's Meeting

Kick-off summer with IDC-Oregon!
Register: http://idcsummersplash.eventbrite.com

Building Safety Month: Energy & Green Building

Week 4: Energy & Green Building Safety

Americans typically spend 90% of their time indoors and indoor air quality on average is 9x worse than outdoor air quality. Every interior design project, whether it involves space planning and construction or new carpet, furniture and a fresh coat of paint, may affect the health of building occupants.

A Qualified Interior Designer…

• Creates design solutions that offer occupants access to day light and views, impacting comfort and increased productivity.
• Specifies and evaluates products that are compliant with US EPA air quality standards that limit formaldehyde or other unhealthy volatile organic compounds (VOCs) often found in carpet, wall covering adhesives, cabinet construction and othe building materials.
• Understands a building's environmental control system as it relates to the health and welfare of the occupants and ensures good indoor air quality by referencing guidelines such as the SMACNA IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction.

Support registration of Interior Designers to ensure consumer safety. Work with a Registered Interior Designer to go green, save energy, and improve your indoor environmental quality.

Spring Fling Mixer & Annual Fundraiser

Join in on the fun! Celebrate spring and help raise money for our lobbying efforts.

RSVP: http://idcfundraiser.eventbrite.com

Building Safety Month: Backyard & Pool Safety

As the weather heats up, IDC-Oregon encourages you to stay safe in your backyard this summer.

Week 3: Backyard & Pool Safety

Every year, accidents take place in unsafe backyards, accounting for 350 children under five years old drowning in swimming pools, 800 reported injuries and more than 20 deaths resulting from deck collapses (according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). While everyone needs to be aware of the potential dangers of barbeques and grills, lawn equipment and toys, homeowners can trust a qualified interior designer to design safe outdoor spaces for their enjoyment.

A qualified interior designer…

• Evaluates the site and existing conditions to design a deck that maximizes views, minimizes negative environmental conditions, complements the architecture, and specifies slip-resistant, durable, weather-resistant, and sustainable materials.
• Provides efficient and effective space planning to support the desired functions of the outdoor space while improving the connection between interior and exterior spaces.
• Ensures that all users, including children and the elderly, can safely navigate the deck by integrating code requirements, designing railings that minimize falling and stairs with wide treads and comfortable risers, and specifying flooring surfaces that prevent tripping.

Photo credit: Lovinger Robertson Landscape Architects of Eugene, OR

Building Safety Month: Disaster Safety and Mitigation

It was a big week for building safety across the nation. President Barack Obmama signed a proclamation last week declaring May as Building Safety Month. "Robust codes and standards for our buildings play an important role in keeping us safe," the President states in the proclamation. Read the article here.

Week 2: Disaster Safety and Mitigation

Hurricanes and tornadoes, wildfires and floods, oh my! With extremes of heat and cold increasing in intensity and frequency, the demand for a better house is on the rise that limits the destructive effects of natural disasters while keeping occupants safe and comfortable. When designing for both disaster mitigation and energy efficiency, some measures can work on two levels; protecting the building and its occupants while also increasing energy efficiency. Find out more about disaster preparedness and safety at the ICC Building Safety Month website. (Adapted from Home Energy)

A Qualified Interior Designer…

• Specifies fire code compliant finishes to prevent flames and smoke from spreading.
• Creates design solutions in building or retrofitting areas of refuge to ensure the highest level of occupant protection in the likelihood of severe weather.
• Assists occupants with safety by developing a space planning design for an evacuation strategy in exiting a building when such circumstances arise.