Interior Design Legislation: Why it Matters

Written By IIDA New England Communications Committee
 
 

Interior Design Legislation
Why it Matters

It is a common misconception that interior designers and interior decorators share the same role - creating beautiful spaces. In reality, their roles, responsibilities, and qualifications differ significantly. Interior design is the art and science of creating safe, functional spaces by applying specialized knowledge to the planning and design of interior environments that enhance and protect quality of life.

 
 

Another distinct difference is that Interior Designers can become NCIDQ-certified by the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ), the premier certifying organization for interior design professionals. NCIDQ certification ensures that interior designers have met established standards for education, experience, and examination, reflecting their ability to protect public health, safety, and welfare through competent interior design practices.​ Passage of the NCIDQ examination is required for interior design licensure/registration in every regulated jurisdiction within the United States and Canada except California.

There are currently twenty-nine states, DC and Puerto Rico, and all Canadian provinces that have some level of legislation in place relating to the regulation and recognition of the interior design profession. Jurisdictions with Practice Acts require certification and registration to practice in that jurisdiction. For those with Title Acts, registration with the jurisdiction is optional and comes with a protected title. Some Title Act jurisdictions grant additional practice rights like permitting privileges. However, the majority of IIDA New England Chapter states including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont have no regulation in place.

Lack of regulation and designation can profoundly affect the career of a certified interior designer in these states, by preventing them from practicing to their fullest abilities. Despite years of education, training, and being fully qualified to work in a code-impacted environment, interior designers are restricted from independently stamping and submitting their drawings for building permits. This requires that architects or engineers be retained to redraw and stamp drawings, often imposing additional costs on the client. Lack of professional designation from the state also prohibits interior designers from independently bidding on work that requires registered professionals, such as federal government projects, limiting a designer’s opportunity to compete for commercial design work.

Fortunately, in recent years, the industry has gained significant momentum and strengthened advocacy efforts to enhance recognition and independent practice rights for interior designers. Recently, Massachusetts legislation passed out of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. Late last week, the bill passed the Senate Ways and Means Committee and is on its way to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration. This is a result of the hard work and dedication of the IIDA New England Advocacy Committee and members of the IIDA community. If passed, this bill would create a voluntary path for qualified interior design practitioners certified through education, experience, and examination to become registered in Massachusetts and allowed to submit their own drawings and documents for building permits. The bill would also increase the economic impact of the profession by giving qualified interior designers the chance to start new small businesses, many of which would be women-owned.

This recent legislative progress represents a significant step toward recognizing the distinct and valuable contributions of interior designers within the construction industry. The IIDA NE Advocacy Committee is keeping the momentum going by reaching out to member constituents across the state to connect with their legislators and ask for their support of the Bill.

Designer Monologues the Podcast from IIDA New England with your host Katie Corcoran Garcia is officially LIVE!! On this show, we’ll share the stories behind the design of repurposing, developing and reshaping our communities. Incubated from the minds and skills of New England’s talented design community, you’ll hear how visual inspiration can come from nature, our history, current trends and more as we take you on a story-telling journey behind design. 

Check out our latest episode here. 

My time serving as IIDA New England President winds up this month and looking back, it seems like just yesterday that I took the gavel. It has been a busy and rewarding year for me, and I am pleased to say that the state of our chapter remains strong.

It’s exciting times for our chapter in terms of advocacy. The Massachusetts Senate passed an act relative to advancing the profession of commercial interior design. Under this legislation, commercial interior designers would have the opportunity to become registered professionals in the state of Massachusetts. We are very close to the finish line.

All members should consider getting involved and volunteering with IIDA New England chapter in some capacity when your career and life schedule allows – it can extend your professional network and be rewarding in many ways.

Thank you members, for your continued participation and enthusiasm in our professional community, and sponsors for your incredible support and advice. Finally, I'd like to give a special shout-out of appreciation to our Chapter Board of Directors and to our Board Advisors for their tireless work on behalf of IIDA NE for all the resources, guidance and support they provide each day. Thank you all!

In closing, I wanted to say that I have enjoyed working with and meeting so many of you through various committees, events, and communications. I am excited to be passing over the torch to Colleen Wallace soon, who is our current President Elect. She will do a fantastic job and I know you will be in good hands with her, and the rest of our talented and dedicated board. But I won’t be going far, staying on the board to finish out my term as Past President. If I can ever be of any help to anyone, please reach out. I truly enjoy connecting with all of you and doing what I can to support our inspiring New England design community

 

 Deepa Venkat, IIDA

President, IIDA NE Chapter

 
 

Be sure to check in with the IIDA New England calendar for upcoming events (both virtual and in-person) offered in our community. Here's a sneak peek at some upcoming events:

Also, be sure to keep an eye on our IIDA New England job postings, which are updated regularly!

Check out the list of IIDA New England Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) Class of 2023 and the Leadership Exploration & Development (LEAD) Class of 2023!

Do you have an idea that you would like to share with the design community or see highlighted here in The Wire? Share your ideas here. 

 
 

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IIDA New England Communications Committee
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