Interior Design 101

Interior Designer: a person who specializes in designing architectural interiors and their furnishings. - Merriam Webster Dictionary

In general, most interior design can fit under one of two categories, commercial and residential.

Acronyms associated with Interior Design:

ASID is the American Society of Interior Designers. It was created in 1975 in order to join student and professional Interior Designers to advance the profession and more successfully be able to change the lives of people in a positive manner.

Source: www.asid.org

NCIDQ is the National Council for Interior Design Qualification. It sets a minimum standard for Interior Designers. An Interior Designer must pass the NCIDQ examination  in order to be a card holder telling the public he or she is a competent professional.

Source: www.ncidq.org

IDEC is the Interior Design Educators Council. IDEC is a non- profit organization that advances the profession of interior design by improving resources for educators and students.

Source: www.idec.org

CIDA is the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. CIDA was created in 1970 in order to set a standard for the education of interior design.

Source: http://accredit-id.org

IIDA is the International Interior Design Association. IIDA was created in 1994 to join together the most talented Interior Designers around the world.

Source: www.iida.org

AIA is the American Institute of Architects. AIA began in 1857 to serve society by being the voice of professional Architects.

Source: www.aia.org

What’s the difference between interior design and interior decorating? According to NCIDQ, Interior Designers use their knowledge of human behavior to make interior spaces functional and safe. An interior decorator’s job is to make a space look attractive. An interior designer is also able to be an interior decorator but a decorator is not properly qualified to be a designer.