Interior Design Profession Continues Efforts in Strengthening Legislation following North Carolina Success

March 18, 2022– Madison, WI – The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), in coordination with the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), and the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ), announces today the passage of Senate Bill 344 in Wisconsin. The bill successfully codifies holistic interior design legislation and significantly expands the scope of interior design in Wisconsin.

Sponsored/introduced by Senator Dale Kooyenga and Assembly Member Cody Horlacher, and signed into law by Governor Tony Evers, the new legislation reinforces the critical role of Wisconsin interior designers who protect occupant health safety in their work through robust practice rights and a strong scope of practice.

The bill removes several barriers for designer registration and establishes the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) as the bureau in charge of the industry’s certifications. The legislation further allows designers in Wisconsin to stamp and seal construction documents.

“The work accomplished with our practitioners and local chapter, alongside our associates and colleagues at IIDA and CIDQ, to pass this historic bill is crucial to our plans to legally establish interior designers as an integral part of public safety,” said ASID CEO Gary Wheeler. “Combined with our recent victories in other states like North Carolina, the passage of this legislation in Wisconsin is key to advancing the profession across the country and proving interior design’s [or designer’s] power to impact lives.”

IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO, Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA adds, “I am pleased to see legislators acknowledging the skill, talent, and critical value of interior designers and their practice. The work they do is vital not only to inspire and empower, but also to create safe, healthy, and highly functional environments. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of passing this bill—one we’ve been striving to achieve for years. It is a marker of significant and important progress for the profession, IIDA, the industry, and design at-large.”

“We are thrilled to see the continuation of U.S. jurisdictions instituting and modernizing reasonable interior design regulation” said CIDQ CEO Thom Banks. “CIDQ has always been a staunch supporter of policy that allows qualified, certified interior designers to practice independently and to the fullest extent of their professional capabilities. Such policies protect and uphold public health, safety, and welfare, and we applaud the hard work of the Wisconsin Legislature, IIDA and ASID members in supporting the public protection and passing of this historic legislation.”

The passage of the Wisconsin bill follows the passage of a similar bill in North Carolina in 2021, which represented a major step forward for interior designers’ recognition as a distinct profession. Recognizing the extensive knowledge of designers concerning ADA-friendly features, fire safety codes and other safety solutions, the new legislation is more holistic and reflective of modern interior design.

Before ASID, IIDA, and CIDQ secured the industry-changing bills in Wisconsin, North Carolina, and other states, interior design was limited in its role in public safety. Now, with extended capabilities, designers can actively engage in fostering safe environments with their understanding of general and specific safety codes.

“As we build upon our advocacy success, this legislation is a true demonstration of how successful work in one state can positively impact legislation and ASID members in other states,” said Wheeler.

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About ASID

The American Society of Interior Designers believes that design transforms lives. ASID serves the full range of the interior design profession and practice through the Society’s programs, networks, and advocacy. We thrive on the strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships among designers of all specialties, including workplace, healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and residential. We lead interior designers in shared conversations around topics that matter: from evidence-based and human centric design to social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability. We showcase the impact of design on the human experience and the value interior designers provide.

ASID was founded over 40 years ago when two organizations became one, but its legacy dates back to the early 1930s. As we celebrate nearly 85 years of industry leadership, we are leading the future of interior design, continuing to integrate the advantages of local connections with national reach, of small firms with big, and of the places we live with the places we work, play, and heal. Learn more at asid.org.

About IIDA

IIDA is the commercial interior design association with a global reach. We support design professionals, industry affiliates, educators, students, firms, and their clients through our network of 15,000+ members across 58 countries. We advocate for advancements in education, design excellence, legislation, leadership, accreditation, and community outreach to increase the value and understanding of interior design as a profession that enhances business value and positively impacts the health and well-being of people’s lives every day. IIDA.org

About CIDQ

The Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) is a nonprofit organization that develops and administers the NCIDQ Examination. The NCIDQ Examination is the broad-based exam for all interior designers and serves as the foundation from which to build for those moving into specialty design areas. NCIDQ Certification is required for the practice of many types of interior design in regulated jurisdictions throughout North America. CIDQ's membership is made up of U.S. state boards and Canadian provincial associations that regulate the profession of interior design. NCIDQ Certification is the industry's recognized indicator of proficiency in interior design principles and a designer's commitment to the profession. Professional interior designers who possess the NCIDQ credential have distinguished themselves by demonstrating a specific set of core competencies, supported by verified work experience and a college degree. They have proven their expertise in understanding and applying current codes established to protect public health, safety and welfare. Learn more at CIDQ.org.

Media Contact

ASID
Lindsey Koren
202-924-0977
lkoren@asid.org

IIDA
Erin Baebler
Jo Communications
630-417-3483
erin@jo-communications.com