The Future

The same thing that has the interior design profession down the media is the same thing that has made the interior design profession popular. The future of the Interior Design profession is going to continue to grow because professionals are faced with having to meet rising expectations, rising awareness, rising levels of quality of life, the and rising requirements of the law to make safe spaces and the responsibility is left to Designers. Bottom line is the population will require the need of functional spaces. We are left then with questions of how are we going to meet these challenges? This is where Interior Designers step up to the plate and take care of the responsibility of showing the world what we can do “Design a space”, why  we do it, “Because we care about the people and space they use. We want to make you feel better, in a place that works for you.”   We as designers need to prepare ourselves and future generations of designers to be able to handle the growing demands of the people. This profession is growing it will continue to grow and people are going to understand what we do, why we do it, and why they need us.   

Changing the Portrayal of the Interior Designer

There's no doubt that all the spotlight attention that the media has put interior designers made "Interior Design" a household name the truth is Interior Design originates from decorating but has grown to be its own identity. So let me be clear Interior Decorator is not an Interior Designer. The way the media portrays the interior design profession, causes confusion about the difference between interior designers and interior decorators.

TV shows and magazines, give the impression that Interior Design is simplistic enough for any average person to perform, or pricey, elaborate and intended only for high-end residential clients. The problem is that the media does not know how to show the difference between both and now interior designers in all disciplines, including corporate, healthcare and retail are left with the responsibility with distinguishing themselves from decorators and explaining their qualifications. The website of The United States Department of Labor has a list of an Interior Designers Duties which include:

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-designers.htm#tab-2

 

Duties

Interior designers typically do the following:

·         Determine the client’s goals and requirements of the project

·         Consider how the space will be used and how people will move through the space

·         Sketch preliminary design plans

·         Specify materials and furnishings, such as lighting, furniture, wallcoverings, flooring, equipment, and artwork

·         Prepare final plans using computer applications

·         Create a timeline for the interior design project and estimate project costs

·         Oversee installing the design elements

·         Visit after the project to ensure that the client is satisfied

·         Search for and bid on new projects

When looking up the definition of an Interior designer in the NCIDQ website everything becomes clear. However, when looking up the definition of an Interior Designer in the dictionary decorator come up. It is up to us to make the distinguishing difference and make the NCIDQ definition clear everyone including the media.

 

http://www.ncidq.org/

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.

Ethics in Design

Ethical behavior is a system of moral principles

Professionalism and ethical behavior in the workplace can benefit your career and improve your working environment. Business ethics is what constitute right or wrong behaviors in the business world and the application of moral principles to any situations that may arise in an industry setting.

 Understanding examples of professional and ethical behavior can help you to develop your own effective work habits. Be conscious of how you treat co-workers and your workplace attitude and you can improve your productivity and effectiveness.

Unethical behavior can emerge when people are motivated by self-interest, when people become careless, or they just might not see any harm in their behavior. As an Interior Designer to have good ethical behavior we need to know where our boundaries lie in terms of what is acceptable to our colleagues, ours customers, and the communities that we work in. This in turn becomes our code of ethics were integrity, honesty, being accountable, being equal, being aware of our obligations, and upholding good values come into play.  As designer our ethical behavior shows our clients that we respect them and that we have their best interest in mind. As designers we have an obligation to protect the public health and safety and this is our ethical behavior.

Professionalism and Design Education

Professionalism means to have a professional status, methods, character, or standards.

Professionalism is basically, the knowledge that an individual carries about a certain field. It is extremely important that every individual that wants to call themselves a Interior Designer provides themselves with the education and licensing that is required to be a designer. It is our way of proving that we have basic knowledge in our field. Design Education is the teaching of theory and application in the design of products, services and environments. The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) establishes standards of capability for interior design professionals.

The NCIDQ protects public health, safety and welfare by identifying interior designers who have the knowledge and experience to create interior spaces that are not just aesthetically pleasing, but also functional and safe.

Interior designers who meet NCIDQ's requirements for education and experience and pass the rigorous NCIDQ Examination are assigned a unique NCIDQ Certificate number that attests to their qualifications for employers, state regulators and the general public.

In addition to developing and administering the examination, NCIDQ provides research and expertise that informs state and provincial licensing laws and regulations for the interior design profession. Bottom line to be a Interior Designer you must be educated this is the Interior Designer's way to show our capability and protect the public. By just getting our education we are showing good characteristics of professionalism because we showed that we can adhere to our commitments and living up to our commitments every single time is a mark of a true professional. This will make you a trustworthy professional. Valuing the time and effort spent by others is never taken for granted by a professional.
Conducting yourself well in office, following a certain set of work principles and setting an example for others will make you a good role model.
Laying high standards for your work performance from time to time and always doing your best in all that you do, speak volumes about your professionalism at work, and getting your education shows the high standards we have.

The Value of an Interior Designer

                     Most of the time when I get approached and get asked what I am going to school for, I explain, “Well, I’m going to school for Interior Design.”  Of course I get the response , “Oh, I love to decorate” THE BIGGEST MISCONSEPTIONS OF INTERIOR DESIGN! Well, what most people do not know is that Interior Designers do so much more than just decorating a space, we make functional spaces. However, I can understand with the media's perception how people can get this misconception. The truth is that large corporation’s hire Interior designer to make spaces that function and that make people feel comfortable. When people feel comfortable they work better, or spend more. For those who are still unsure what interior designers do here is a list of task that are related to Interior Design that can be found on the NCIDQ.org website:

·         Research and analysis of the client's goals and requirements; and development of documents, drawings and diagrams that outline those needs

·         Formulation of preliminary space plans and two and three dimensional design concept studies and sketches that integrate the client's program needs and are based on knowledge of the principles of interior design and theories of human behavior

·         Confirmation that preliminary space plans and design concepts are safe, functional, aesthetically appropriate, and meet all public health, safety and welfare requirements, including code, accessibility, environmental, and sustainability guidelines

·         Selection of colors, materials and finishes to appropriately convey the design concept and to meet socio-psychological, functional, maintenance, lifecycle performance, environmental, and safety requirements

·         Selection and specification of furniture, fixtures, equipment and millwork, including layout drawings and detailed product description; and provision of contract documentation to facilitate pricing, procurement and installation of furniture

·         Provision of project management services, including preparation of project budgets and schedules

·         Preparation of construction documents, consisting of plans, elevations, details and specifications, to illustrate non-structural and/or non-seismic partition layouts; power and communications locations; reflected ceiling plans and lighting designs; materials and finishes; and furniture layouts

·         Preparation of construction documents to adhere to regional building and fire codes, municipal codes, and any other jurisdictional statutes, regulations and guidelines applicable to the interior space

·         Coordination and collaboration with other allied design professionals who may be retained to provide consulting services, including but not limited to architects; structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, and various specialty consultants

·         Confirmation that construction documents for non-structural and/or non-seismic construction are signed and sealed by the responsible interior designer, as applicable to jurisdictional requirements for filing with code enforcement officials

·         Administration of contract documents, bids and negotiations as the client's agent

·         Observation and reporting on the implementation of projects while in progress and upon completion, as a representative of and on behalf of the client; and conducting post-occupancy evaluation reports.

http://www.ncidq.org/AboutUs/AboutInteriorDesign/DefinitionofInteriorDesign.aspx

So, yes if you pay me I will decorate for you, but I will also help you design your place so that you will feel and work better.