The Future of Interior Design

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          When thinking about the future of design I think about how I personally, can contribute to the industry. I think that the industry, being as new as it s, has a lot of foreword progression to make. I believe that it is up to the young, newly educated designers to focus on spreading the true word of interior design.

          Because of so many common misconceptions, interior design is considered decorating. In Florida, in particular, the threat of deregulation is continually being presented, and as an industry I fell it is important to fight for what we know is the truth, and to prevent the profession from ever becoming deregulated.

          Because of this, I also feel that many interior designers are going to practice under architects simply because of their license and insurance. Most interior designers today have gone through at least the minimum amount of schooling required to become licensed, but because of the amount involved in the testing process choose not to and practice under someone who has.  I feel that with this threat, most interior designers are going to study architecture rather than becoming licensed in interior design.

          I feel that it is very important to continue to practice interior design as a separate profession because there is so much more involved than just with architecture alone. The majority of the general public don’t think about who designs the interiors of commercial spaces and automatically assume that it was an architect. This is all the more reason to continue practicing interior design, and solely interior design.

          If the profession continues the way it currently is headed, then interior design will no longer be considered interior design, but rather interior architecture, which do not include all aspects of the design process. Although decorating does play a plat in the process, it is not entirely what the job entails, and in the eyes of the general public, it is.

          I feel that thorough education and the continuation of practicing evidence based design, will help to keep the industry alive and interior design its own profession.

Reality vs. Perception

­          With all of the hype on HGTV, there is a misconception that these designers live such a glamorous life and complete projects in little to know time. I think that this TV network is entertaining to an extent but far too misleading when it comes to the truth of interior design. Some of the shows are about the designers and the spaces themselves, rather than trying to renovate a space in some unrealistic amount of time. In addition to having faulty claims in what interior design really is, there are a handful of designers that call themselves interior designers when in fact they are really just decorators.

          I first started my design endeavors in the field of architecture, and quickly realized that I wanted to also pursue a degree in interior design. I felt that it took more knowledge then what just has an architect has to offer when designing an entire space. After starting school I came to realize that the majority of the people enrolling in the interior design program, were under the impression that this was a program for decoration.

          Unfortunately, because of HGTV, so many people that get into the industry are under the impression that their education is going to revolve around creating inviting spaces using color and décor, and that they will be able to perform in a short amount of time to complete an entire project. Because these shows are purely made for entertainment, they film over a period of time and then cup video clips to suit the half hour block. If gives a glamorous perception, not truly showing what really goes into a project, and who actually performs what work. Although the stars are in charge of picking out the decorations and furniture, it does not show what goes on behind the scenes. In most cases the designers are not licensed, so in turn they have to hire architects or licensed designers to sign and seal the contracts in any construction required. Simply because the architect or licensed designer is not the star of the show, the majority of the time they are omitted from and shot, and only included in the credit.

          The real profession of interior design is comprised of a multitude of understandings, in both the exterior and interior of a building or home. Although it is primarily up to the architect to design the exterior or shell of a space, it is up to the interior designer to be able to understand what is needed to be done in order to make the inside of a space functional and aesthetically pleasing. It takes a lot of planning to effectively organize a space and compile a collection of spaces within it. Once the space is able to be utilized effectively, sometimes a decorator will come in to finish off the space, but an interior designer is more than qualified to complete the space.

          Although some shows on HGTV do include some of the construction process, they always seem to finish a project in an incredible amount of time. This makes the process seem incredibly simple and fast when in fact it take a lot more time then implied.

          HGTV does offer a few shows that simply highlight the finished product and inform the viewers of the different aspects and features of the space. This makes the practice present within the industry look very unrealistic for most to ever obtain in their lifetime. These however, are some of the most realistic shows on HGTV. They don’t try to portray people performing work out of their field of expertise.

          I feel that HGTV has given the profession of interior design a false identity. The channel try’s to portray the field as glamorous and very fast paced, when in fact it takes a lot of time to properly plan and execute a project. Once the process has been completed, the outcome is something more then the designer had ever imagined.

Ethics and Universal Design

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Ethics in design is something that always needs to be considered. There are many ethic and moral issues pertaining to design that don’t get though about on a normal basis, or don’t get thought about at all until a situation arises. Designers are faced with question and problems involving their morals in which they subconsciously answer daily in their work. It is up to the designer to be able to work thorough these problems and face whether or not they can complete the project, depending on their moral values. I believe it is also up to the designer to practice universal design in order to maintain a fair practice. While trying to maintain an ethical design firm, practicing Universal Design will ensure that the space is fit for all users, and also show that you are making an effort to provide services to everyone. 

While maintaining an ethical behavior within the work environment, a designer may be confronted with many tasks that they don’t feel comfortable working on. Maybe one doesn’t agree with the type of project, what the project entails, or whom the work is for. It is up to the designer to be able to confront either their boss or the client, and explain what the circumstances are, holding them back from completing the project. Sometimes designers refuse to inform their boss how they truly feel about a project they are working on, and in turn don’t work as hard or put forth as dedicated of an effort simply because they don’t agree with what they are doing. Sometimes designers feel threatened by their bosses and won’t approach them regarding circumstances such as this. It is important to be able to communicate about problems as such because it is u not fair to the client to not be giving their project your complete attention while designing. 

Ethics is something that needs to be considered in multiple different aspects when it comes to designing. As long as the designer has an ethical background and morals to go along with it, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about. Designers have a lot to think about when leaving the work place or taking on another position. Most of the stuff designer’s work on is in correlation with other designers, making it so you don’t own the drawings. It is up to the designer to be able to ethically make decisions regarding the work they have completed. It is also the designer’s responsibility to report unethical behavior to their boss. Other designers within the firm may act in ways that you don’t agree with, leading to behavior that is not fit for the firm. Some designers have been know to steal drawings, claim they can provide services they aren’t entitled to, and some have even been known to call themselves interior designers when in fact they have had no professional or educational training at all. Although it may not seem like the right thing to do, it is better off you having them be confronted rather then they practice something and have the client be at fault. 

Practicing Universal Design is also something that is considered ethical, and at the same time it is the only thing that makes sense. Many people think that practicing the ADA codes is called designing for everyone, when it is not for everyone, it is for those considered disabled or incapable of maneuvering the space. Practicing Universal Design entails so much more then that. Universal design includes everybody, not just those with special needs. Although providing for those that are handicap, it also provides for women that are pregnant, those injured, children, elderly, and the average human being.  Designing for everyone is much more ethical then just making sure disabled people are able to use the space. If everyone is included, then there is room for expansion to include whatever walk of life occupies the space. I believe it is important to educate interior designers on universal design, so more than just the ADA codes can be pursued.