To certify or not to certify, that is the question. News is floating around that, yet again, there is a push in New York City to require interior designers to be certified if they are legally to use the title: Interior Designer. The IDLNY (Interior Designers for Legislation in New York) has pushed the issue to its recent incarnation where a proposed legislation requiring certification sits before the New York State Assembly. We reported that a Town Hall meeting on the subject was scheduled for later this month at Knoll, but we see that it has been postponed until further notice. What's going on, ya'll? And what do ya'll think?
Some of the central issues surround not only weeding out non-serious 'interior designers' from using the term, but also allowing TRUE Interior Designers to sign off on some drawings that previously required the signature of a liscenced architect. This would not be good for architects, now would it? Can I stil be a Decorator? MGR
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Comments (3)
To be honest, I think it is a ploy to keep those who already pump money into ASID, etc. employed while presenting a barrier to those who aren't "part of the club".
I can understand Architects being licensed. They *build* things (well, ok, they make the plans so other people can build things from spec). People could die if their buildings are not sound. The same goes for the people who actually build the structure.
"Interior Design" is a matter of taste, and anyone can do it Yes, some will do it better due to training, but that isn't always the case. I don't know anyone who has hired in ID without seeing their work. From this, the client knows what they are getting into. If for some odd reason the client gets something that they aren't happy with, well, that is between the client and the designer (and possibly the court system).
But really, this debate is about the people who spent gobs of cash on their training/education trying raise the bar of entry to what ostensibly is an art form. Bollocks to them!
as someone getting ready to enter an interior design program as a third and hopefully final career change, this is all new to me. i understand your points- is it really necessary to be certified to do something that doesn't entail the fate of some unknowing stander-by? but then i think of real estate agents and insurance agents. they are certified and can't practice without a license. and we all know they don't hold anyone's fate in their hands. no professional artists or designers are certified. and while bad design is although bad design is subjective it can definitely hurt.
however, if in the end, being certified means that i will not be grouped in with people that throw up a wallpaper border and buy all coordinating bathroom accessories and call themselves designers then certified i will get.
>>i think of real estate agents and insurance agents. they are certified and can't practice without a license. and we all know they don't hold anyone's fate in their hands.
Oh, but they do hold the fate of a person in their hands. Say I am an "insurance agent". I sell you some insurance, and you pay me every month. When you need to get a hold of me, I am gone. If I am certified and licensed, the theory is they are easily tracked, should something happen. Of course, personally, I think the licensing scheme should only be for companies, not each individual agent. Let the corporation take the hit if they failed in the hiring process. Really, "insurance agents" are just sales people.
As for Real Estate agents, there are laws (much like the insurance industry) about zoning, etc. that the agent needs to be aware of, so they can do a proper job.
There are no laws on the books saying you can't put polka dots, stripes and paisley all on the same wall, although perhaps there should be.