An architect-wanna-be read our July 20th post ASID Blames Child Neglect on Poor Design, and though clearly irritated, could not defend the article; all he could say was something to the effect of, “more bitching and moaning from IDPC.” Methinks the witty sarcasm of my post went over his head. We – the interior design community of America – are laughing our collective butts off at yet another opportunity to observe the increasingly irrelevant ASID shoot themselves in the foot! More to come….I have three whole sections dedicated to ASID in our upcoming August newsletter.
In actuality, all the hand-wringing, sniveling, and desperate tirades are coming from the pro-regulation camp. The architect-wanna-be admits in another post that he “has disdain” and “wastes many bytes Grrrr’ing and Arrrrrr’ing about” IDPC and the monumental strides we have made in protecting interior designers’ rights and livelihoods and changing the future of interior design. Since 2006, we’ve beat back 113 bills which would have expanded or enacted new regulations, and not a single new title or practice act has passed; with the help of our ally, the Institute for Justice, we’ve re-claimed our First Amendment right to the title “interior 
designer,” because the courts agreed (sorry wanna-be-architects!) that it accurately describes our work. The architect-wanna-be’s are distressed because the momentum is on the side of design freedom, and they are powerless to stop it. $7 million lobbying and 30 years of bullying designers to march in lockstep with their elitist and discriminatory agenda down the drain. Waaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!
The architect-wanna-be’s appear to also be extremely unhappy about the excitement generated by the new Residential Interior Design Exam (RIDE) certification.[1] It is entertaining to watch them flail and trip all over themselves as they spew inaccurate vitriol in a rather desperate attempt to protect their precious but unpopular NCIDQ:
- IDPC’s official position has always been that we advocate private certification as a means to gain higher proficiency as well as enhanced marketability. We oppose government mandating of ANY exam. If the architect-wanna-be’s can’t comprehend this fundamental recipe of IDPC, then they clearly miss the entire menu of the Freedom Movement. Which is why we are eating their lunch.
- The RIDE is not the first private certification we have endorsed, nor will it be the last. We endorse the Certified Green Designer (CGD) and two additional areas of certification are currently being looked into. We aim to partner with like-minded organizations that offer quality courses and certifications. It’s a win-win-win-win scenario for us, them, the design community, and ultimately, for consumers.
- IDPC did not create the RIDE. The Designer Society of America created and own the RIDE (although we did contribute accurate, factual information for the section on design regulations). IDPC’s sole mission is to protect the design community.
For more detailed information regarding the NCIDQ, please read the industry white paper on this topic, “The Myth of the Three E’s of the Interior Design Cartel.”[2]
To practice interior architecture, become an architect.
Patti Morrow, Director
[1] RIDE certification: http://www.residentialinteriordesigncourse.org/benefits.cfm?ref_id=IDPC
[2] Myth of the Three E’s: http://www.idpcinfo.org/THREE_E_s.pdf
