Springfield Design Association promotes professionalism

The Springfield Design Association 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.

We work to keep our members current on the new developments in the field of interior design and related fields. We support and encourage students entering interior design and we try to inform and educate the public about interior design.

To increase the level of local professionalism in our industry, many of the designers have become professional members of national organizations such as ASID, the American Society of Interior Designers, and IIDA, the Inter-national Interior Design Association. Most recently, many area designers have applied and become Registered Com-mercial Interior Designers in the state of Missouri.

To become professional members of these organizations and a registered designer in Missouri, it is necessary to pass the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam. This council serves to identify to the public those interior designers who have met the minimum standards for professional practice by passing the exam. Certification by NCIDQ gives the interior designer a sense of personal achievement and contributes not only to the individual's professional recognition but to the recognition of the profession as a whole.

Oldest organization

The American Society of Interior Designers is the oldest and largest professional organization of interior designers with the largest residential and commercial members. ASID was founded in 1975 with the consolidation of the Am-erican Institute of Decorators and the National Society of Interior Designers. With more than 30,000 members, the society establishes a common identity for professional businesses in the field of interior design.

Professional members of the society must pass rigorous acceptance standards; they must have a combination of accredited design education and/or full-time work experience and pass the 2-day accreditation NCIDQ examination.

The society promotes professionalism in interior design services and products for the workplace and home. To keep up with the unique needs of its members, the society conducts independent research on topics related to the practice and business of the profession.

ASID designers receive the most current information about appropriate materials, technology, building codes, government regulations, flammability standards, design psychology and products performance.

IIDA commitment

The International Interior Design Association is a professional networking and educational association of more than 10,000 members in more than 30 chapters around the world. Founded in 1994, it was the result of a merger of the In-stitute of Business Designers, the Inter-national Society of Interior Designers and the Council of Federal Interior Designers. IIDA is committed to enhancing the quality of life through excellence in interior design and advancing interior design through education.

The association advocates for design excellence; nurtures a global interior design community and maintains educational standards. It responds to trends in business and design; and it provides su-perior information about interior design and related issues.

IIDA also requires its professional members to pass the NCIDQ exam. The association offers a full range of continuing education opportunities in interior design and business practices.

The Missouri Interior Design Council, established in 1998 by the state legislators, is responsible for developing, im-plementing and administering the rules and regulations to qualify to be a Registered Commercial Interior Design-er in the State of Missouri. Again, the designer is required to pass the NCIDQ, have a minimum of two years diversified experience and be a graduate of a four-year interior design program from an accredited institution.

Springfield Design Association

The Springfield Design Association continues to service our area design community by offering educational programs the second Tuesday of each month. We visit with our vendor members learning new industry developments and tour recently completed commercial design projects such as the recently completed Marriott Residence Inn. We support the local ASID Student Chapter and host an Interior Design Career Day for area high school and college students.

SDA also strives to give back to our local community. Most recently we assisted the Camp Fire Boys and Girls Club with space planning and funds to acquire some new furnishings for their facilities. We also award two college scholarships in area interior design programs. Our 2001 winners are Cherie Smith and Laura Daly from the Southwest Missouri State University Interior Design Pro-gram.

For SDA membership information, contact Mary Martin, ASID and a Registered Commercial Interior Design-er at 869-1069, extension 117. For more information about ASID, IIDA, NCIDQ, or Missouri Interior Design Council visit their Web sites: www.asid.org, www. iida.org, www.ncidg.org or www. ecodev.state.mo.us/pr.

We as professional interior designers are qualified by education, experience, and examination to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces. We strive to improve the quality of life, increase productivity and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

(Mary Martin, ASID, is president of the Springfield Design Association and a designer with G&M Office Products in Springfield.)