Thursday, January 10, 2008

Collaboration Newsletter - Interior Design Titling

I would like to update everyone on national legislative efforts underway on IIDA, ASID, NKBA, and NWSID’s behalf. In particular, Caren Martin, Ph.D. has produced a wonderful response to an article titled Designing Cartels: How Industry Insiders Cut Out Competition, a report that examines Interior Design Titling. While I will not present details of the Designing Cartels article, I believe Martin’s response is a wealth of information relevant to our interest in securing a Professional Status of the Interior Design Profession.

Martin's response in the article, perhaps inadvertently, draws attention to the “confusion that exists in the public realm about the title 'Interior Designer'" thus observing that the authors of the rebutted report don’t understand the difference between 'interior designer' and 'interior decorator'. She feels that given this widespread public disconnect it is even more pressing for the interior design profession to demonstrate their value with respect to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.

Martin writes, “One characteristic of a profession is regulation of its practice”. Regulating a profession requires engaging in a legislative process that is both extensive and complex. It “relies on a broad basis of input from all stake holders and is successful when all parties have negotiated to secure the best outcome for the public”. Martin acknowledges efforts for pursuing legislation encompass gathering sponsors and educating legislators prior to the introduction of the legislation. Therefore it is particularly important for the Interior Design community to work together, and with legislators, to make the case that there is a compelling public reason for regulating their practice. Currently there are 26 other states, including The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and all eight Canadian Provinces with interior design legislation in place to protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens. To learn more about states and provinces with legislation regulations go to: IIDA Advocacy

Beyond addressing consumer protection, legislation may serve to qualify and define other essential professional elements of interior design practice, as it has for over 8,400* professions regulated in the United States today.

Martin’s analysis of the data presented in the Designing Cartel article concludes a measure for success which interior design legislation campaigns need: education, examination, and experience. For interior design this includes 1) identifying the relationship of interior design with the health, safety, and welfare of the public, 2) provision for a formal education, and 3) monitored experience in the field.

Checking IDC-Oregon's efforts against Martin’s sense for interior design legislation across the country is one way to gauge our efforts are staying focused on the same issue - Defining the Profession.

In the next legislative corner I will be writing about Denise Guerin and Caren Martin’s publication The Interior Design Profession’s Body of Knowledge. This work talks about the importance of developing a specific body of knowledge necessary to define and support a profession whose work is considered *“reliable and of high value”. Read and download the 230 pages at: http://www.careersininteriordesign.com/idbok.pdf

Sincerely,
Peg Suzio, Past President IDC-Oregon


To read *Martin’s publication go to: https://netfiles.umn.edu/users/cmartin/Martin%20IJ%20Rebuttal
To read Designing Cartels report go to: http://www.ij.org/publications/other/designing-cartels.html