ASID - American Society of Interior Designers

History

ASID was founded in 1975 when the American Institute of Decorators and the National Society of Interior Designers merged into one organization. Since then, the groups has expanded to include 38,000 members (and counting) and 48 chapters in both the US and Canada, making it the oldest and largest industry body promoting the interests of the interior design community. In addition to the 48 local professional chapters, 325 student chapters exist on campuses across the country.

Leadership and Membership

ASID is lead by an 11 member board of directors, made up of design professionals and representatives from other industry organizations. The membership body encompasses interior designers operating in all fields, from corporate to residential design, as well as students and educators.

Membership Requirements

Prospective members must meet a number of regulations before they are accepted into the organization. For the top tier professional membership, applicants must have:

• An accredited interior design degree (see FIDER - Foundation for Interior Design Education)

• Relevant work experience

• Passed the NCIDQ exam.

For the Allied membership, the requirements include:

• A Bachelor’s degree with an interior design or architecture major or a two-three year degree with a certificate of training in interior design.

• Submission of all college and technical school transcripts.

Student Members must:

• Be enrolled in a degree program that requires 40 hours of interior design related coursework. Student members may join through an ASID chapter at their school or independently.

Other levels and types of memberships exist, from educator memberships to “industry partner” memberships, for manufacturers of interior design related materials or members of other trade organizations.

There is a one-time application fee, plus yearly dues, for all members. Application fees and dues are determined by the type and level of membership.

What Can ASID Do For Me?

ASID offers many benefits to design professionals and members of the public interested in interior design.

Interior Design Professionals

ASID membership is useful in many ways. The groups provides a number of resources to keep their members up to date on the latest technology and trends in design, such as their quarterly magazine, their book center, and the e-newsletter. Conferences held by ASID throughout the year offer a way to network with fellow designers. ASID also provides an online job center allowing designers to advertise and apply for positions.

Membership in ASID also connects designers to members of the public who are interested in the market for an interior designer through their referral service. ASID membership implies a level of professional standard that is good for any resume.

Interior Design Students

First and foremost, ASID offers a ways for students to network and make contacts with professional interior designers that will be useful after graduation. The group also offers a training class for students preparing for the NCIDQ exam.

Members of the Public

ASID puts customers in touch with designers who have been vetted and who meet a number of important criteria. They also offer advice on hiring an interior designer and much more information about what you should consider before beginning any interior design project, and what to expect from the process of working with a designer.

Links

• ASID