I’d like to take this time to reflect on the legislative work we’ve accomplished in the past year and present our direction for the upcoming board year. IDC-Oregon made progress in our efforts to develop a greater awareness and understanding of the interior design profession in terms of legislation. We collaborated with IIDA on two important legislative forums as well as attended monthly board member legislative round table discussions.
The guest speaker for IIDA’s August forum was Dr. Mike Stinziano, national legal council for IIDA. Dr. Stinziano spoke about IIDA National’s Government and Regulatory Affairs purpose and policies for securing legislation for interior designers in each state. He presented what’s at stake and why legislation is important for the interior design profession in an honest and fair light and reminded everyone that all politics are local. He explained the purpose of interior design legislation is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public and he shared information about the various organizations opposing legislation.
Opposition is not uncommon in any legislative effort and our situation is not unique. Opposition appears to arise mainly from fear, lack of communication, and the inability or interest to read legislative bills thoroughly and thoughtfully. Fear of legislation is a common response from designers who have been practicing for a long time and are concerned their ability to practice design or call themselves an interior designer may be in jeopardy. One of the main questions surfacing from Dr. Stinziano’s presentation was what does the issue of health, safety, welfare really mean?
Responding to this interest in the impact of our work on the health, safety, welfare of the public, IDC-Oregon in collaboration with IIDA invited Dr. Denise Guerin to speak about how the health, safety, and welfare of the public is directly related to the work we do. Dr. Guerin presented a two-hour, .02 CEU session defining these terms, providing specific examples, and leading the audience through an exercise to develop a clear understanding of how professional interior design contributes to health, safety, welfare and provides substantial value to people’s lives. The exercise involved identifying solutions for design problems encountered for a particular client, project, building type, and end user. Participants were asked to write one example of a design solution in which our knowledge was drawn upon to protect people’s health. This exercise was repeated for safety and again for welfare.
This exercise was no simple task. It required reflecting and thinking deeply to provide real evidence from our practice that we protect people’s health, safety, and welfare. This exercise related to learning in interior design education, experience or examination. Dr. Guerin’s point was well made: As socially responsible interior designers it is incumbent upon us to engage and practice at a deeper level providing evidence-based design for the work we do.
A recent article in Perspective Magazine (Summer, 2008) entitled Designers are Motivators addresses the impact our work has on health, safety, and welfare. In this issue designers are encouraged to enter into a dialogue with their clients about ways design can create safer, healthier environments. The author, Jan Stone, speaks to the responsibility of interior designers to create environments that encourage physical activity and a healthier lifestyle. As Michael I. Goran, Ph.D. states in the article; “Designers have a unique opportunity to address the obesity problem through identifying and creating aspects of the workplace, homes, schools, and urban and community plans that promote a healthier lifestyle” (p. 29). Stone is intrigued about whether something as simple as a well-placed stair could be a solution for convincing people to walk rather than use an elevator. She acknowledges that well placed stairs are not the solution to reversing obesity however she notes, “From creating collaborative work environments that encourage constant movement to allowing for plentiful daylight access, interior designers can have a direct positive impact on public health and well-being” (p. 29).
The work of interior designers affects many people and we have a responsibility to understand the benefits of designing an environment that is supportive, gets people moving, and provides a richer experience throughout. Research has produced evidence that the work of interior designers can have a positive impact on the health of people. Craig Zimring, Ph.D. states “Change brought on by interior designers can’t happen fast enough, especially considering the CDC obesity map” (p. 32). This change requires interior designers to be aware of the evidence that links design to health and behavior outcomes (p. 32).
Legislation of the interior design profession entails much more than meets the eye. It requires a commitment to 1) unification by defining who we are, 2) requiring specialized knowledge of the profession though education, and 3) being thoughtful of practicing evidence-based design.
IDC-Oregon is committed to elevating awareness of legislation for the profession through educational forums that continue to raise the knowledge level of entry-level design professionals and advancing the knowledge and growth of practicing professionals in 2009 and beyond.
Please join our growing membership to define and shape the future of the interior design profession.
Sincerely,
Peg Suzio, Past President IDC-Oregon
