- STANDARD STATE APPLICATION QUESTIONS -
1. The name, address, telephone number, and organizational affiliation of the person(s) designated to represent the applicant.
- Patti A. Neer, ASID
President, Colorado Interior Design Coalition
Von Naeber Design
PO Box 1018
Golden, CO 80402-1018
- Jaculine Harrier-Coss
Treasurer, House Design & Interiors
709 Clarkson Street
Denver, CO 80218
909-837-0872
2. What is the occupational group for which the applicant is seeking regulation? Is this group known by more than one name? If so, please specify.
- Interior Designers
3. Identify the associations, organizations and other groups representing the practitioners in this state and estimate the number of Colorado practitioners in each group.
- Colorado Interior Design Coalition # To be provided
- American Society of Interior Designers # To be provided
- International Interior Design Association # 209 in Colorado
- National Kitchen & Bath Association # To be provided
4. Describe the functions performed by members of this occupational group. Note which functions are unsupervised or supervised and by whom. In addition, indicate functions which are similar to those performed by other groups and identify those groups. How do the functions performed by this group vary from the other groups functions?
- The professional interior designer practices independently or as a member of the
overall design team, is a person qualified by education, experience and examination who identifies, researches and creatively solves problems pertaining to the function and quality of interior environments. He/she performs services to include consultations, programming, space planning, design analysis, drawings, specifications, and installations in connection with interior spaces, the specifications of fixtures and their location, furnishings, reflected ceiling plans, and the fabrication of non-load bearing elements of interior spaces of buildings. All drawings and documents are prepared relative to the design of interior spaces in compliance with applicable building and safety codes.
- Some persons believe that an interior designer and an interior decorator have similar functions. While both have decorating skills, and are concerned with aesthetics, interior designers have comprehensive professional training and technical responsibilities, and must have an understanding of:
- -flame spread ratings, smoke, toxicity and fire rating classification of materials;
- -space planning for public and private facilities;
- -national, state and local building codes and standards;
- -the needs of disabled and elderly persons, and other special need groups;
- -ergonomics;
- -lighting quality and quantity;
- -acoustics and sound transmission.
Other persons believe that what an interior designer does and what an architect
does are similar. An architect deals with the design and construction of a structure; and interior designer deals with the interior spaces. While, as in the case between architects and engineers, some gray area does exist, we believe there is a clear demarcation between have the knowledge necessary to understand building components and their respective roles, and the knowledge necessary to design and construct those elements. A professional interior designer fits in the first category; an architect in the latter.
In summary, in increasing numbers, buildings are designed, not as completed objects, but as "shells" into which tenants and others do their own design. Think of the numerous examples of completed exteriors with incomplete interiors; shopping malls, office buildings, hotels, apartment complexes. Restoration and rehabilitation projects are also examples of spaces where the exterior and infrastructure were completed, long before the interiors were designed. Architects and engineers are trained and licensed to design structural and building systems. The interior designer's expertise is needed in the planning of the interior elements of a building within a structure, in concern with the architectural characteristics designed by the architect.
5. Describe the client group(s) with which this occupational group deals.
Interior Designers deal with several different areas of design practice. Clients include:
- Commercial
- Financial Institutions
- Industrial Facilities/Complexes
- Public Spaces
- Transpiration Terminals
- Day Care Centers
- Government
- Schools & Educational Facilities
- Fire Stations
- Courts
- Historic Preservation
- Public & Community Spaces
- Healthcare
- Hospitals
- Satellite Facilities/Outpatient Treatment Centers
- Clinics
- Rehabilitation Centers
- Senior Living Centers
- Hospices
- Retail
- Shopping Centers
- Mass Merchandisers
- Duty Free Shops
- Department Stores
- Food Stores
6. Describe and provide examples of typical work settings of this group.
Interior designers in Colorado work as independent practitioners or as owners of design businesses in both the residential and commercial arena. Other interior designers are employees of design firms and architectural firms, government
agencies, as facility planners for individual business, planners for commercial
furniture dealers. Because of the complexity of the profession many designers specialize in an area of design such as medical facilities, special needs groups like children, elderly or handicapped, hotel and restaurant design, retail store design, and layouts of offices and open office systems.
7. Does the applicant propose licenser, certification, registration, or another type of regulation?
The Colorado Interior Design Coalition believes that the Sunrise Review process will help determine the appropriate level of regulation consistent with ensuring that qualified professionals can practice interior design work in Colorado.
8. What would be the impact of the proposed regulation on the supply of practitioners in the occupation, including the degree to which existing practitioners would be precluded from practice?
It is not our intent to preclude interior designers currently working in the field. On the contrary, we are requesting this legislation in order for interior designers to continue practicing their own profession in the State of Colorado. Newly developed ICC building codes state that those persons who are permitted to submit building plans and documents to building departments are limited to those:
Once local building departments start adopting the new ICC and IRC, most professional interior designers will no longer be able to function in their profession. In the state of Colorado the only two professions that meet the criteria set in the codes are architect and engineers. Without legal recognition by the State of Colorado, many interior designers and interior design firms will be put out of business.
9. To what degree would the proposed regulation either directly or indirectly affect the cost of goods or services provided by the occupational group? Specify those costs as they exist now and as they would change after the imposition of regulation.
The proposed legislation would maintain options for consumers thus keeping
costs of goods and services lower. Under the new ICC and IRC codes without legal recognition for interior design, many projects which do not currently require and architect would then require and architect thus adding substantially to costs for consumers.
10. What is the applicant seeking to gain through regulation of the occupational group?
Colorado Interior Design Coalition, acting as the representative of the interior
design community in Colorado, is seeking legal recognition by the state so that
we can remain in business.
11. Indicate how the public would be protected by regulation of this occupational group.
Consumers would be given the choice of whether to work with an interior designer if that is what their project requires, instead of only being able to use the services of an architect or engineer thus holding down project costs as discussed under Question 9.
The interior design of structures and environments significantly affect the welfare, health, and safety of the public. The public has the right to know that the individuals in whose hands they place their trust and their dollars are qualified by education and training to practice their profession. Licensing establishes standards of competency including education, experience and examination, which are enforceable. This results in the confidence is quality professionals and an avenue of recourse to address any grievances-both for the public.
Considering the significant amount of dollars spent on interior design goods and services, and the thousands of individuals who currently call themselves interior designers, licensing will let the consumers know that the individual they are hiring to do the job is qualified. At this time, anyone can start a business in this field with no qualifications at all. Yet, design mistakes are expensive to fix and could be dangerous. Registration creates standards of competency that are enforceable. This means that the consumer also has a means of recourse if there are any problems. At this point in time, there is no place to go in the vast majority of cases if the consumer feels wronged.
12. Within the usual practice of this occupation, document the physical, emotional or financial harm to clients resulting from failure to provide appropriate service, or erroneous in incompetent service. Give specific, verifiable examples.
Every decision interior designers make, in one way or another involves life safety and the quality of life. Some of those decisions are almost second nature - specifying furniture, fabrics, carpeting, etc., that are safe and meet or exceed fire codes. Some are more complex, like space planning that provides proper egress. It is more than just having the knowledge to apply codes, standard and rules of taste. It is a matter of judgment, based on the situation and the needs of the client, who relies on me to create a space that is both pleasing, functionally efficient, and safe.
13. Do clients have access to this occupational group directly, or are they referred by members of another occupational group?
Clients have direct access to independent Interior Designers and Interior Design Firms. Some designers work for furniture dealers and architectural firms; their services are available through those firms.
14. Are clients routinely referred to practitioners in this group; If so, give examples who refers clients and for what reason.
Interior Designers are referred to clients through other clients and advertising, contractors, architects, furniture dealers, design centers and industry associations.
15. Does the current lack of regulation of this group make its practitioners ineligible for third party insurance payments or federal grants?
To the best of our knowledge the answer is no, but the Colorado Interior Design Coalition will investigate this further.
16. Describe the minimum competencies necessary to enter this occupation.
Currently in Colorado there is no regulation of the interior design industry and anyone can decide to call themselves an interior designer. Minimum competencies could be taken from the membership requirements of:
International Interior Design Association: two-year degree, professional membership requires passing the NCIDQ testing, six years experience (school, practice). Associate membership requires a two-year Certificate plus practice.
17. List institutions and program titles offering accredited and non-accredited programs in Colorado to prepare practitioners for entry into this occupation. What is the cost of completing these programs? If programs are not available in Colorado, what is the cost of out-of-state programs? If no formal training or education is required, how does the practitioner learn the occupation?
The following programs are currently available in Colorado:
- Colorado State University - Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design - 4-year program
- Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design
- Colorado Institute of Art
18. Is there an examination currently used to measure qualifications for entry? If so, who constructs and administers the examination? Please submit documentation on the validity and reliability of such exam.
The National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is an independent, non-for-profit organization whose purpose is to provide the public with the means to identify interior designers who have demonstrated the minimum level of competence needed to practice interior design. As with most licensing and registration requirements "the primary purpose of licenser or certification is to protect the public. Licensing requirements are imposed to ensure that those licensed possess knowledge and skills in a sufficient degree to perform important occupational activities, safety and effectively. NCIDQ, whose representatives are composed of practitioners and educators, recognizes the importance of issues that affect health, safety and public welfare which are the basis of the NCIDQ examination.
Candidates who apply to take the NCIDQ examination must demonstrate an acceptable level of professional work experience and completion of related course work. The minimum examination requirements include two year of formal interior design experience and four years of full time work experience in the practice of interior design. Passage of the examination is required in twenty jurisdictions in the United States and eight provinces in Canada which regulates the profession of interior design. Since its inception in 1974, over 13,500 designers have successfully completed the examination and are NCIDQ certified.
NCIDQ examinations are developed by interior design practitioners, educators, and a test development consultant, based on a current job analysis study of the profession. The analysis examines the knowledge required and the tasks performed by interior design practitioners. The study results are then used to establish the examination standards. The examination measures performance based on the cognitive domains of recall (knowledge of interior design), application (understanding the use of information), and developmental (judgment required of a professional). Panels of testing and interior design experts determine that examinations are valid, reliable and establish minimum competency standards in the field.
As part of its ongoing effort to ensure the accuracy, relevance and psychometric quality of the examination, NCIDQ completed an Analysis of the Interior Design Profession in 1998 and is now engaged in the revision of the examination based on the analysis. Columbia Assessment Services, Inc. (CAS), a testing service that specialized in the development, administration and analysis of examinations, and a representative panel of experts in interior design provided the leadership for linking the structure and content of the examination to the 1998 study.
Approximately 32% of the present NCIDQ examination content directly measures knowledge of life safety issues. Within the Building and Interior Systems content area questions address issues such as types of construction and materials for both building construction and interior construction. The Codes/Standards Knowledge content area includes questions on life safety, building codes, barrier free design and testing standards. More specifically, code requirements for fire resistance ratings, occupant load, means of egress, occupancy classifications, accessible routes and fixtures and classification/ratings of materials are addressed.
19. Is this occupational group affiliated with an association which sets and enforces standards? If so, please explain the process and standards.
The two major professional associations have an Ethics committee that oversees their members. Either other practitioners or members of the public can submit a complaint which then is reviewed and appropriate disciplinary actions, which can include legal action, are taken.
20. What federal, Colorado State, county, or local laws currently apply to the practice of Interior Design.
No current Colorado state, county or local laws currently apply to the practice of Interior Designers.
21. What type of private credentialling is or could be available as an alternative to government regulation?
The new building code regulations will only recognize those professions and professionals who are "legally recognized" by the state in which they are practicing. If and when these are adopted it will be confusing for the public to decide what kind of service they need and who can best provide it. A state licenser or registration system will help the public know better who is the best choice for the services they need, by educating them relative to their choices.
22. If the occupational group has been deregulated (sunsetted) by the General Assembly, and the applicant is requesting re-regulation, the applicant should provide documentation on harm and consumers since deregulation that necessitates re-regulation by the state.
Interior Designers have never been regulated in the state of Colorado.
23. If the occupational group is a former applicant re-submitting a sunrise application, please include updated information that will substantiate the request for regulation.
Inquiries were made, but not followed through.
Sunrise Review Application July 1, 1999
Colorado Interior design Coalition
