ADVOCATE

The foundation of IIDA MAC is to advocate for the advancement of the interior design profession. We are dedicated to improving how we design built environments. 

We believe interior design regulation protects the health, safety and welfare of the public who use code-impacted environments, so we fight for the validity and legislative protection of commercial interior designers. 

We believe our interior design community and the built environments we design should be reflective of all humanity and we will keep growing until they are. 

We believe it is our responsibility to protect the planet for today and most importantly, tomorrow, so we will change the way we design to reduce our impact on our earth and its resources.

LEGISLATION

We believe interior design regulation protects the health, safety and welfare of the public who use code-impacted environments, so we fight for the validity and legislative protection of commercial interior designers. 

Legal recognition of interior design, achieved through education, experience, licensing, registration and certification, brings uniformity to the profession, defines responsibility and encourages excellence in the interior design industry. Interior design legislation helps establish and maintain professional standards that protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public. Interior design is currently regulated by state or jurisdiction as either a title act or practice act. Within the IIDA Mid Atlantic chapter, we have Title Acts in Virginia and Maryland, and a Title/Practice Act in the District of Columbia. Maryland only recently won an extension on their state regulation’s sunset law and Virginia is in a current battle to protect interior design regulation from lawmakers who want to reduce occupational licenses. On a national level, IIDA, ASID and CIDQ recently formed a design coalition to combine advocacy efforts and have a bigger impact. Locally, IIDA MAC is also working with ASID and CIDQ, as well as MDCID and the IIDA Virginia/West Virginia chapter to compound our local advocacy strategy for our chapter members.

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia is currently regulated with a Practice Act that includes permitting privileges requiring qualified designers to hold an active license in order to practice interior design in code-impacted environments. The practice act is regulated by the Board of Architecture, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture within the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

Maryland

Maryland currently is regulated with a Title Act allowing qualified designers to use the title “Certified Interior Designer”. The title act is regulated by the Maryland Board of Certified Interior Designers within the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing of the Maryland Department of Labor. Maryland’s sunset law (Maryland Program Evaluation Act) was just extended to July 1, 2034.

Virginia

Virginia is currently regulated with a Title act allowing qualified designers to use the title “Certified Interior Designer”. The title act is regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Interior design regulation in Virginia is currently at risk from lawmakers who want to reduce occupational licenses within the state.

Want to help advocate?

Every day in state capitols across the country, lawmakers are making decisions on issues that affect Commercial Interior Design and how interior designers practice. As the voice for the industry, IIDA advocates for its members and the profession so interior designers may practice to their fullest abilities.

text #IIDAadvocacy to stay informed of advocacy across the country and reach out to our VP of Advocacy to join our local efforts

DEI

At IIDA MAC, we recognize that our job as designers is to create welcoming environments - not only for our clients, but ourselves. We also recognize that representation matters, and part of creating a welcoming environment is a special focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Our goal is to create a diverse community of designers with unique identities, characteristics, experiences, and perspectives. The DEI Committee embraces these three pillars:

LEAD WITH EDUCATION + AWARENESS

  • Educate designers about the power of building diverse teams within the IIDA MAC community

  • Foster respectful and fruitful dialogue

  • Raise understanding of the value of diversity for both our individual design teams and our clients

EMPOWER + ADVOCATE

  • Create opportunities for our diverse designers to have a seat at the table

  • Empower leaders in the IIDA MAC community to be advocates for designers of different backgrounds

SENSE OF BELONGING

  • Cultivate a welcoming IIDA MAC community through our language, actions, and behavior

  • Advocate for interior design licensure

  • Promote the interior design profession in underrepresented communities

MISSION STATEMENT

Through intentional efforts, the DEI Committee strives to eliminate barriers, biases, and inequalities, creating a safe & supportive environment that celebrates diversity & promotes equal opportunities for growth & success. We believe that embracing diversity and fostering inclusion enhances innovation, collaboration, & overall organizational excellence. By fostering a culture of equity and respect, we aim to build a more equitable society where everyone can thrive, regardless of their backgrounds or identities.

CLIMATE ACTION

We believe it is our responsibility to protect the planet for today and most importantly, tomorrow, so we will change the way we design to reduce our impact on our earth and its resources.

Interior Designers play a crucial role in creating safe, sustainable spaces that promote health and wellbeing. Every project, specification and conversation can lead to equitable environments that enhance quality of life. It’s critical we approach every project holistically and make informed decisions through material transparency, evidence based research, and knowledge sharing. Sustainability, Health, Wellbeing and Safety should be prioritized and emphasized in every design decision.

Now more than ever, designers need to harness their social responsibility to mitigate climate change, break down biases, reduce waste and minimize carbon footprints. The impact of good design is not confined within walls. It’s a powerful tool that enriches the lives of all living things.