by Brianna Crandall — March 14, 2016—Last Wednesday (March 9), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) celebrated the passage of one of its top state legislative priorities by the Utah legislature, which may pave the way for similar legislation in other states, and affects the length and cost of interior design projects.
The Commercial Interior Design Certification Modification bill will allow commercial interior designers to sign their drawings in order to pull building permits for their scope of work on certain construction / renovation projects. Its passage is another positive step forward to breaking down the barriers to opportunity for interior designers and their businesses everywhere.
For years, Utah ASID members have worked tirelessly to create new pathways to opportunity and entrance to the profession. This is a major step forward, says ASID. As a result of the legislation, commercial interior designers will not be mandated to work under other members of the design team, such as architects, and can instead practice independently within their scope of work. This is expected to lead to more opportunities for interior design businesses to grow and open their doors for new employees wanting to practice design.
Randy Fiser, CEO of ASID, said the passage was a “great victory,” and commented:
This bill is a winning testament to securing just one basic right of interior designers. We have many more to go before we can declare a total victory for the profession. To that end, ASID will continue to lead and unite the profession in state capitals and Washington, DC, to support advancing the practice of interior design and all those impacted by it.
