AHEAD OF THE TREND

AHEAD OF THE TREND

The benefits of ASID membership and engagement.

The difference between being an Allied member becomes clear once joining the vibrant community of Florida West Coast Chapter. To separate the decorators or someone with a flair for decorating from professional designers, ASID joins those who have a combination of formal design education and/or full-time work experience and have passed a prominent accreditation examination, administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ). NCIDQ Certification is required for the practice of many types of interior design in regulated jurisdictions throughout North America. “ASID designers have thousands of hours of education, experience and training, which give them the skills to deal with more than the furnishings and finishes,” says says Holly Dennis, ASID-FWC community chair for Sarasota and former president. “They use analytical problem-solving skills and process complex technical data essential to your project needs and complexities. ASID designers act as consultants and project managers to create an overall project roadmap, managing procurement, supervising contractors, and overseeing budgets.”

The resources inherited from becoming a member include Professional Development—career stage programming that focuses on the impact of design, the business of design, leadership development and community partnerships. ASID regularly plans several CEU’s (Continuing Education Units) for its members, including online programing of various webinars and courses—designed to help members expand their knowledge, elevate their practices and grow their business. Other tools assist in research, contracts and better practices that empower the designer—no matter the stage of their career. Additionally, they receive the most current information on the market including appropriate materials, technology, building codes, government regulations, health and safety standards, design psychology and product performance. Further, ASID designers are sworn to abide by the Society’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

The organization also holds many networking opportunities with its built environment colleagues, which include the local chapters of AIA (American Institute of Architects), CSI (Construction Specifiers Institute) and industry partners. The Florida West Coast Chapter especially, is on top of hosting in-person engagements throughout the year with industry experts and thought leaders, to initiate trade programs and business solutions. Members also benefit from Research & Knowledge Management—tapping into ASID’s well-equipped research team, whom provide economic, sector, career stage and of course, design data and market research. “We are continually striving to improve the value proposition for all of our members by providing a sense of community, design resources, and enhancing partnerships,” says Dennis.

For young or up-and-coming designers, aligning with ASID means tapping into these invaluable resources needed to advance a rep utable career in the profession. It distinguishes those apart from the list of other potential hires who may not be knowledgeable or specially trained in design considerations such as Florida light or heat control, dog/kid friendly fabrics or special plumbing requirements. Hiring an ASID designer gives clients peace of mind—safeguarding a project from a beginner’s oversight or wrong judgement call. Aside from ensuring advanced professionalism, leading industry know-how and the highest quality of service of its manufacturers, suppliers and designers, the ASID Foundation provides members with professional insurance, as well as students with scholarships. Today, the foundation funds over $100,000 annually to various research and scholarship initiatives to help build the growing community of interior design professionals.