Ten Things You Can Do
Ten Things You Can Do to Make a Difference for the Interior Design Profession
1. TALK TO A FACULTY MEMBER. Ask your professors about the issues and challenges facing the interior design profession. Request that they also address them in class.
2. ATTEND A MEETING OF YOUR STATE’S INTERIOR DESIGN LEGISLATIVE COALITION. Learn what issues are affecting interior designers in your state and how you can help. This is also a great opportunity to network with practicing interior designers.
3. PREPARE FOR AND TAKE THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR INTERIOR DESIGN QUALIFICATION EXAM. Passage of the NCIDQ exam identifies you as having met the minimum standards for professional practice of interior design. Show that you have met these high standards of education, experience and examination.
4. WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR LEGISLATORS. Educate them about the interior design profession, its specialized education and the benefits interior design offers the public.
5. MEET WITH YOUR LEGISLATORS. Visit the state capital and talk to your legislators about the importance of legally recognizing the interior design profession.
6. MEET WITH LOCAL BUILDING CODE OFFICIALS. Building officials are as important as legislators to the interior design profession. The building official’s primary goal is to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public. Educate your local building officials on how interior designers are trained in these areas.
7. SHARE YOUR PORTFOLIO. Many people, including legislators and potential consumers of interior design services, don’t understand the full scope of interior design practice. Use your portfolio as a tool to educate your friends, family, legislators and building code officials about the interior design profession and your specialized education and training.
8. MAKE CONNECTIONS WITH THE LOCAL PRESS. Use the media to educate your community about interior design. Invite the media to events that showcase the work of interior design students. Explore the opportunity to place a feature about your school’s interior design program or an interior design student in local programs and publications.
9. ASK A FRIEND TO JOIN YOU IN THE ACTIVITIES LISTED HERE. Set an example for a friend or fellow student by personally asking him or her to work with you on these activities.
10. BY SHARING THIS LIST with your fellow interior design students, you will encourage others to become involved and your efforts will be multiplied.
