The profession of Interior Design is a constantly evolving, complex form of art, business and people. As a designer, you’re expected to keep pace with changing technologies and stay competitive with competing firms, while racing to meet deadlines and client requests. It’s definitely easy to get caught up in the overwhelming job field that is Interior Design, and easily forget how to advance your practice and principles.
To help, IIDA released their Be an Advocate brochure, a guided series of actions a Designer can take to have a positive influence on the practice and the design community as a whole. Be an Advocate is vital to the progression and longevity of the design community, as it provides tips and information on how to talk, engage and recognize Interior Design.
“Personally, I think the ‘Public Perception – What’s In and What’s Out’ piece is very important,” Emily Kluczynski, Director of Advocacy, Public Policy, and Legislative Affairs, offered. “It provides Designers the examples of words and phrases that can help them talk professionally and accurately about what they do. Whether explaining the profession to legislators or clients, this word bank is a great piece to know.”
Be an Advocate supports the Interior Design professional by directly giving advice on how to correctly speak as an individual Designer or as a representative of a design firm. The brochure is also incredibly beneficial with regard to ever-changing state design legislation; including registration, certification, licensure, stamp and seal abilities, and permitting laws.
“If you don’t have laws in place yet, find out how you can get involved with advocacy efforts from your local Chapter,” Kluczynski said. “Follow their lead and use the advocacy brochure to help learn the basics about the profession as it relates to regulation.”
To find out more about the Be An Advocate brochure or to request printed copies for distribution to your Chapter, firm, or business, please contact Emily Kluczynski at ekluczynkski@iida.org or call 312.379.5128
View the brochure online ⇒
IIDA | Design Matters 
I like the list of words that are can be used, but the one word we all still hear and need to explain the difference between is “decorator” & even designer to some extent. Some decorators don’t know the difference nor does the general public and although we think of this as an outdated word, it is still very popular. As an advocate for interior design for almost 25 years I can say that knowing how to differentiate yourself from a decorator, architect & non-professional “designer” is not always easy. Keeping the definitions clear and to the point helps, but until we as a profession can accurately define the difference so that the general public understands we’ll still be referred to as a”decorator”. I would like to see a good useful definition that is accepted by all professionals including those who truly are decorators and are proud of their skill, talent and knowledge, Knowing where you “fit” in the whole design profession makes talking and advocating for interior design easier for everybody.
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