Elevating Our Profession: Making Our Voices Heard

What is Advocacy?

IIDA works to raise the visibility of our members, to educate public officials about the value of what we do, and to generally increase awareness and understanding of our work and the impact we make in our communities.

Contact:

VP of Adovocacy
advocacy@iidanc.org


Why does Advocacy matter?

The goal of IIDA’s advocacy efforts is to ensure that Commercial Interior Designers can practice to their fullest abilities through robust interior design legislation. Interior Design legislation helps establish and maintain professional standards that protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public. IIDA firmly believes that legal recognition, achieved through licensing, registration, and certification, brings uniformity to the profession, defines responsibility, and encourages excellence in the Interior Design industry.


What is Commercial Interior Design?

Any code-impacted interior environment requires Commercial Interior Design. This includes all public and corporate spaces such as civic buildings, offices, and hospitality, retail, and entertainment spaces—essentially, anything that isn’t a private residential interior. Interior design encompasses the analysis, planning, design, documentation, and management of interior non-structural/non-seismic construction and alteration projects in compliance with applicable building design and construction, fire, life-safety, and energy codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines for the purpose of obtaining a building permit, as allowed by law. Qualified by means of education, experience, and examination, interior designers have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect consumers and occupants through the design of code-compliant, accessible, and inclusive interior environments that address well-being, while considering the complex physical, mental, and emotional needs of people.


Ways to Get Involved

Become NCIDQ Certified

NCIDQ Certification is the industry’s nationwide recognized indicator of proficiency in interior design principles and a designer’s commitment to the profession. IIDA argues that the qualifying exam for certified or registered commercial interior designers in California should be the NCIDQ exam.

Join The Effort To Educate Local Officials

We need committed individuals from every district willing to meet with their representatives and lobby for upcoming legislation regarding how interior designers practice in the state.

Fill out this quick form to help us build our network of design advocates in California. We occasionally call upon this network to represent our membership and educate public officials about the impact we make in our communities.

Know Who Your Representatives Are

Find out who represents you in California’s State Senate and State Assembly by visiting findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov and searching both your home and work addresses. Once you know who represents you, follow them on social media. Remember, they work for you!

Listen to a Podcast

Check out The Conversation Continues podcast from the IIDA Southern California chapter. The “Fireside Chat” series features advocacy topics and highlights the intersection of professional advocacy with equity, diversity and inclusion. Listen online or wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify | Apple

Host an Advocacy Workshop

If you are interested in holding a lunchtime or virtual introductory and interactive workshop about interior design advocacy in your office, please contact advocacy@iidanc.org.

Stay Informed

For the latest updates on Commercial Interior Design legislation, text “InteriorDesign” to 52886.

Join our Advocacy Committee

Each city center committee has a position for advocacy chair or advocacy co-chairs.


From the Podium

Check out the latest from the Advocacy newsroom.

IIDA Northern California Wins Catalyst Grant
Empowering Climate Action in Interior Design In a world increasingly aware of …
Lobby Day Rewind
Advocacy in Action for California's Interior Designers Ahead of the March 11th …
Advocating for Progress
Empowering Commercial Interior Designers in California IIDA’s Northern and Southern California chapters’ …
National Firms Support IIDA Efforts
February 1, 2024 HGA and ASD|SKY Inaugural Signatories Supporting California Registered Commercial …

Resources

ELEVATE Newsletter

A semi-annual publication from IIDA’s Northern and Southern California joint committee to elevate the commercial interior design profession in California.

<< Read our current issue

Revisit past issues >> Summer 2022 | Fall 2021 | Spring 2021 | Winter 2020 | Spring 2020

IIDA HQ ADVOCACY

IIDA’s efforts to demystify, promote, and elevate the commercial interior design industry are unique in each state. Learn more about our national efforts at iida.org/advocacy.

FAQs

Commercial Interior Design Legislation in California


Sponsorship

Thank you to our 2023 Advocacy sponsors!

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor for IIDA NC’s Advocacy initiatives, please reach out to our VP of Sponsorship Sponsorship@iidanc.org


Commercial Interior Design comes down to providing people with the spaces they need to thrive. Once I began to see the broad range and professionalism commercial interior designers encompass, I naturally began advocating to expand that professionalism.
CARRIE JOHANSEN, ADVOCACY CHAIR, SACRAMENTO CITY CENTER