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Interior Design

A professional interior designer is qualified by education, experience and examination to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces for the purpose of improving the quality of life, increasing productivity and protecting the health, safety and welfare of the public.

Recently, Interior Designers in Florida won a battle against the deregulation of their profession. This wasn’t the first time this issue had been brought up and, unfortunately, it won’t be the last. As it stands, Florida no longer has a title act and schooling and licensure are not required to offer interior design services for residential spaces. Those in favor of deregulating the profession argue that schooling is unnecessary, as is certification by a test they claim is irrelevant. They even went so far as to speak for every single interior design student in the state of Florida at a subcommittee meeting this year, claiming that all students feel that the four year schooling and two year interning requirements are unneeded. What they weren’t counting on were students actually showing up to the meeting. As one of those students, I feel that regulation of interior design is absolutely necessary.

Those in favor of deregulation claim that students learn nothing of codes in school. If that’s the case, then how do I know that to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act aisles need to be a minimum of 3’ or that nothing can protrude from a wall more than 4”? I also know how much square footage is needed per person in a business occupancy. I learned these things in a class called Materials and Codes. In that class I also learned about materials that could potentially be hazardous to users of a space. How can they claim that we learn nothing of use?

Deregulation fans also claim that four years of schooling is more time than needed to learn everything there is to know about interior design, and feel that working for two years under a licensed designer is unnecessary. I will be the first to say that I’ve learned a lot in school, however it’s all theoretical. As someone who is currently remodeling her living room, I found that not everything works out perfectly like they do in books. What we’re taught is the best case scenario. The best way to learn is in a real world scenario.

At the subcommittee meeting one of the speakers claimed that people wouldn’t be hurt if she placed a light in the wrong place. This simply isn’t true. In two of my previous classes, Human Factors and Lighting, we learned that improper placement of fixtures and use of the wrong types of lamps can cause issues such as eye strain, fatigue, and even psychological disorders. Every choice an interior designer makes has a direct impact on the users of a space. It is scientifically proven that even colors affect a person’s mood (prisons are being painted pink, instead of red, for a reason).

As far as the NCIDQ is concerned, this test sets a standard of knowledge and capability. This test ensures that people without the education necessary are not putting the lives of people at risk.

Again, an interior designer’s job is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. How would someone know how to do this without the proper education and experience?