SDA: Springfield Design Association promotes professionalism

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Cheryl Doran, ASID, is president of the Springfield Design Association.|ret||ret||tab|

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The buzz on the street is, "Did you watch yesterday's Trading Spaces'?" |ret||ret||tab|

I hear people talking all the time about how they loved what Laurie did to that dining room, or how Doug painted the ceiling, or how Frank came up with this great idea. |ret||ret||tab|

Well Springfield, you have great local designers at your fingertips. |ret||ret||tab|

You might say, "On Trading Spaces,' they get $1,000 each to redesign their space." Ask yourself if it's really about the $1,000, or do you like the great ideas these designers have? Everyone has a budget; it is the creativity and functionality that designers can provide that will make your new house, building, or remodel a success. |ret||ret||tab|

In saying this, I would like to introduce the Springfield Design Association to those that are not familiar with our organization. We are a peer organization of ASID and a professional association comprised of commercial and residential interior designers, furniture dealers and representatives, students, wholesale suppliers and distributors, architects, builders, and others that are supportive to the design environment. |ret||ret||tab|

The SDA strives for professionalism among its membership. Formed in 1985, its aims and purposes were and continue to be to provide a positive and supportive environment to all levels of interior designers in our region, to increase professionalism, to keep our members current on new developments, to support and encourage students entering the design field and to inform and educate the public.|ret||ret||tab|

Many of our designers have become professional members of national organizations such as the American Society of Interior Designers, the International Interior Design Association and the Missouri Interior Design Council. |ret||ret||tab|

Professional members of these organizations must pass rigorous acceptance standards. They must have a combination of accredited design education and/or full-time work experience and pass a two-day accreditation examination through the National Council for Interior Design Qualification.|ret||ret||tab|

Along with the professional members, SDA also has supportive business members that help educate the designers with continuing education classes, new developments in technology, and new trends on colors, materials and finishes. |ret||ret||tab|

Some of these supportive members include carpet, tile, and paint contractors and distributors, furniture, wallcovering, cabinet and hardware manufacturers, artwork suppliers and lighting representatives.|ret||ret||tab|

The SDA also supports and encourages students interested in entering interior design careers. |ret||ret||tab|

We host Interior Design Career Day for area high school and college students. We also award two college scholarships every year. This year the winners are Melissa Lepper and Jeannine Smith from Southwest Missouri State University's interior design program. |ret||ret||tab|

For SDA membership information or a list of our local qualified designers, contact Cheryl Doran, ASID, at 865-1672 or email cdoran@pphae.com. |ret||ret||tab|

For more information about ASID, IIDA, NCIDQ, or Missouri Interior Design Council visit their Web sites: www.asid.org, www.iida.org, www.ncidq.org or www.ecodev.state.mo.us/pr. |ret||ret||tab|

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