Letter to my Florida Representatives

To the Honorable Esteban L. Bovo, Jr.

My name is Deon Bent and I am opposed to the Deregulation of Registered Interior Designers in House Bill 5005, and I ask that you take Interior Design off the list.

As a current student in the Interior Design profession, I realize that the importance of an education is more prevalent than it has been in past years. To be able to practice something you are passionate about takes hard work, dedication and perseverance all which when combined together produce success! But if this Bill will be passed, no longer allowing me to practice Interior Design, I will be devastated. To hear someone say that all the years of schooling is a complete waste of time and that it is unnecessary to attend schooling for Interior Design will affect not only me but thousands of students around me. I wanted to attend schooling for Interior Design. It was MY choice to take up a profession that I knew would cost me money and time to receive my certifications, but I was willing to do that. I was willing to take that time to become even more passionate about it.

I will also be extremely affected by this deregulation becasue of student loans. Interior Design school is not cheap. For me to take out a $100, 000 loan because I am that passionate about my future means a lot. I do not want to have to waste this money because my profession was deemed "incapable" of being regulated. You will be destroying my dreams of becoming a licensed Interior Designer because regulating this profession does not seem important to you. But on the other side, every other profession IS regulated. Education and practice is what a profession is composed of. As a consumer you trust that the product or services that you will receive are being regualted and worked on by someone who is a professional in the industry! I cannot stress enough the impact this bill will have on many people including me!

In closing, I ask that you please re-consider your stand on the issue of Interior Design and realize the demolition of one profession is not worth the pain or misery of someone's dreams.

Deon N. Bent
Interior Design Student

These design shoes were made for walking...and that's just what they'll do...I'm excited just to see what firm my shoes will take me to !

"So what are you going to do after you're done with Interior Design school?"

This question is extremely popular with me lately seeing as I only have 2 more quarters til I exit the design school world that has been my home for the past 2 1/2 years. Two more quarters til I embrace the knowledge I have gathered over the years and walk out towards a firm that one day might hire me full time. This is a scary thought somewhat although it is coated with excitement and nerves because hey, who isn't a little bit nervous in school?

If someone were to ask me 2 years ago what
was I going to do? I might have retorted back with "Own my own show on HGTV" But know the the knowledge base that I have obtained its more like I have several different avenues to explore and I am excited for all of them. Going to Interior Design school was one of the best decisions that I could have made because there is more than one career path that I can take with this major. So I guess now might be the appropriate time to answer..."What ARE you going to do next?"

First off, it is hard to say exactly what you want to dive into especially if you do not work anywhere in the field. But after taking classes and learning about everything that goes into design, I can say that I have narrowed it down to a few areas that I would be happy working in.



1. Commercial Design: Hospitality
I am really excited about hospitality design..mostly Hotels, Restaurants and places similar to that make up. I like the fact that there is some creative realm in this type of design and it isn't too limited. i would really like to brand some concept of design and have that be my mark in the design field, but of course, that comes with years of practice and years of training so I am looking forward to that.







2. Automotive Design
Not until recently, when I was in a class titled 'Professional Practice for Interior Designers' did I realize that this avenue of design was available to Interior Designers. I have a love and passion for cars. I love the interior and I love being able to customize a car...but what about other aspects of the vehicle that no one seems to pay much attention to? The dashboard is one of the most important components of the car and if this small detail became unnoticed in design, then it probably would make some consumers unhappy. I believe that knowing the anthropometrics of design and ergonomics of design could be a viable resource when designing a cars interior. I would love to dive into this field and start designing vehicles better.

These are just the top two avenue that I would like to branch out in as soon as I graduate from The Art Institute of Tampa in September. Of course, I will be interning between then and as soon as I get the approval from my director, I will post where I have my internship!
It is exciting to see that the journey it took to get from square one to almost getting ready to graduate has been more than successful. I am so excited to see the next step.

Honestly, I have to say that I am going to miss this school though. The people in the Interior Design department especially. We started out each individually on our own paths, but as time has passed, we have slowly merged into one collaborative path all on the same journey. Some of us might have taken U-turns, some of us might have speed up, broken down on the side of the shoulder, but all together we have walked hand in hand, side by side spending priceless moments together on this journey. Although I knew this day would come, I knew that 3 years from when I started, I would have to go out on my own path again, this time I have the backing and support from an entire community of soon to be designers. I can't wait to hear the success stories from everyone in about 5-10 years.

Thanks for all the support you have given whether indirectly or directly. It's more than just having a helping hand, every so often. But it is the time that we take to breathe, relax and enjoy us. Then back to study time "in the zone" of course. I am excited to see where I am led next!

Legislation Letter to Representative Esteban L. Bovo Jr.

Rep. Esteban L. Bovo Jr. Chair

204 House Building

402 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, Fl 32399-1300

Dear Representative Esteban L. Bovo Jr.

I am writing you in support of the importance of the regulation of Interior Designers as a design profession in the State of Florida. As a student in design school, I cannot stress enough the importance of regulating Interior Design as a profession. We are taught in school that upholding the professionalism of Interior Design is important. As an interior design student, we are taught that attending school and receiving a degree is not just so that I can decorate, but so that I can be accredited in the field and protects the health, safety and welfare of the general public. Many people do not fully grasp the role of Interior Designers and believe that they are simply decorators, hence dismissing the need for proper legislation. However, I have taken classes that have prepared me for working in the professional world. These classes include work on Commercial Interior Spaces and I have learned codes and regulations from the International Building Code (IBC) that are used worldwide in the professional design industry.

The definition of Interior Design according to the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) is as follows: " Interior Design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals.”

I appreciate you taking the time to fully understand our profession.

Sincerely,

Deon Bent Interior Design Student

LOCKE VS. SHORE has risen again! We need your help!

The Department of Business and Professional Regulations has placed 29 professions and vocations on their list for deregulation. Interior Design is one.

Being a Registered Interior Designer allows you to:

• Work in your business, in other businesses , or as a consultant to others on projects that are non-residential in use, or also residential in use;
• Be identified by your Professional License for pursuit of local, state and Federally-funded projects, with your own business , as a collaborator with other design professionals or as a recognized design professional team member employed within a professional practice firm;
• Prepare documents for submission for permitting;
• Also do “interior decoration” since while it is exempt for licensure there is an EXCEPTION where codes apply, and those codes or requirements by the Building Code, Accessibility Code, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Administration for Healthcare, the Hotel and Restaurant Commission or a myriad of other agency or code requirements that relate to specific- use projects. Florida considers that when codes apply to these items in their application in specific project types, the selection and design work must be by Florida design professionals, including painting specifications, wall coverings, floor covering, and surface mounted lighting, and artwork, since there are codes or requirements of some type relating to all these items;
• Select and prepare plans for all furnishings including non- movable furnishings such as filing systems, work stations and systems, whether the project work requires permitting or not.

Not having registration as a Registered Interior Designer would mean you:

• Could NOT do any of the items above;
• Could be employed by architects to work on non-residential use projects OR
• Could do residential–use projects only;
• Could sell furnishings, or products as part of ‘furthering a retail sale” as long as you did NOT provide plans with that sale that included installation of non-movable furnishings (file or shelving systems fall in here) or work stations/systems;
• Could NOT provide any selections for projects that are not residential-use only if any code applies to that product for its specific project-use, and that includes offices, healthcare facilities, gyms, schools, hotels, restaurants, etc.

Think about all this. Let me know if your State’s identification of you as a design profession is meaningful to you. This is YOUR profession and title and recognition as a design professional at stake, and all that means in terms of business, opportunity and project work. Today and for the future.

And what can you do first? We need you to WRITE a letter within the next 5 days, and it must be in Tallahassee by March 11--regarding the importance of the continuation of the regulation of interior design as a design profession in Florida. Write to:

House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee, Attention: Rep. Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Chair, 204 House Office Building, 402 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Fl 32399-1300.

IF one of these subcommittee members is also your House Representative, please write to them also, at the same address with the subcommittee name below their names:

Rep. Kenneth L. Roberson, Vice Chair
Rep. Joseph Abruzzo
Rep. Larry Ahern
Rep. Frank Artiles
Rep. Steve Crisafulli
Rep. Eric Eisnaugle
Rep. Tom Goodson
Rep. Mia Jones
Rep. Jeannette M. Nunez
Rep. Jimmie Patronis
Rep. Darryl Ervin Rouson
Rep. Irvin Slosberg
Rep. Cynthia Stafford
Rep Dana D. Young

I am including the document we used and left behind with the representatives which provides some points you can use in your letter as to what interior design regulation in Florida means. An important part includes education and that there are more than 1200 students in interior design programs now in Florida who expect to be able to graduate and once they satisfy the State’s requirements, become DESIGN PROFESSIONALS IN FLORIDA. There are at least another 1200 or more who have graduated and in the process with the same expectations…expectations that started with their paying for an education in Florida in an interior design program. And others also who moved here from other places who were not in Florida schools. A lot of very concerned students and former students, and parents, and spouses, etc. who have expectations about careers that de-regulation would totally change.

And URGENTLY NEEDED: While in past times you may have considered that, as a member of a professional interior design organization, contributions were being made on your behalf to support IDAF and its mission to monitor and protect regulations, and to fund its most important expense, our excellent lobbyist, Ron Book and his team. That is not necessarily true now and we ask you now to become a member of IDAF, and provide the urgently needed support at this critical time. Please go today and send a check to IDAF, 2106 St. Johns Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32204, or go to www.idaf-fl.org, to “Membership and Support” and the left side of the home page.

This subcommittee will hold a hearing MARCH 15 Tuesday (time unknown now) and we need everyone who can be there to be there. Please put this on your calendar and let me know if you will be attending---so important, and it is not necessary for you to speak, but to be counted and stand up in support of continued Interior Design regulation in Florida.

When we have significant issues such as this to combat, our costs will be greater and we need you efforts and your financial support more than ever and NOW!

If you have any questions, please let me know, or a member of the IDAF board. We need you!

Janice R. Young FASID, FIIDA ,RID, FL #000229
IDAF Past President 2011, 2012 , and Legislative Liaison

2106 St. Johns Avenue
Jacksonville Florida 32204-4419
T 904-384-0018 F 904-389-5152
E janice@janiceyoung.com

HGTV...so *easy apparently a caveman can do it!

This logo has been a part of television as long as I can remember being in design school. Everyone associates HGTV as some spectacular bedazzling show that takes someones ideas and in a weekend, or few days comes up with this awesome concept and VOILA! You have this crazy awesome room. Don't even think about functionality or whether or not it fits the program statement for the project. As long as it looks pretty, is well maintained and has all the bells and whistles associated with decor and decoration, then eh no biggie. YOU CAN ALL ACHIEVE THIS IF YOU ONLY BELIEVE !!

Such false hope and false advertising. I beg to differ about the whole yeah I believe that because I saw it on TV I am capable of creating this dream...this vision in my head and it will work! There is a lot more than just decoration. Picking out fabric and paint colors is just a small part of Interior DESIGN. The media is partly to blame for the misconstrudness of what we as Interior Designers do. I feel that it is our duty to inform the public of our actual job description and not leave it up to HGTV or any other media to make us seem insignificant in this world.

I happened to be watching HGTV this past week and there was a show called Designed to Sell. Basically there was this couple who wasn't sure why their home wasn't selling. It was a beautiful home with all the necessities needed to sell the home, but yet they were concerned as to what was wrong with their home. The "design team" from this show came into the house and started tearing the house apart, There were a few problem areas that could definitely be taken care of. There was a room with a deep blue wall that needed repainting, there were old pieces of furniture that could be renovated by slipcovers or getting small fabric makeovers. Throw Rugs could be removed, etc. MINOR details that were easily replaceable. Tell me how this design team spent $2,000 on this house. "renovating" the space. WHAT??

I was soo annoyed with the structure. They bought all new lights, paint, new furniture, new drapery, new cabinets, new EVERYTHING! Which was not necessary. My favorite part of the house, a fireplace with an aesthetically pleasing brick wall was COVERED UP by white paint. The designer claimed that this would make the fireplace a "focal point." Instead, the fireplace faded into the background because the walls were the same exact color as the fireplace and the only way you would know that the fireplace was there was if there were logs burning. I highly disliked that decision to take away the fireplace brick wall. This made me feel so appaled as a designer. They weren't using a design or creative aspect to make the space better. They covered up all the good design in the space.

The general public loves this and shows like this and takes those ideas that they see on HGTV and makes it seem as if oh I can buy some paint and make a fireplace and make a room look better because so-and-so from Blah-de-blah says a lil bit o paint fixes everything. There is no research behind these decisions. They are chosen because it looks good and that is not reason to
make major life decisions such as creating a fireplace in a home. Lots of research needs to be conducted as well as knowing building codes in a home or even a commercial space before you can go ahead and design anything. Plus, the general public is not knowledgable of the behind the scenes work such as the schematic planning, the code reviews, the floorplan and the revisions that must be submitted just to name a few.

I would say that having HGTV around has given more attention to the field of Interior Design. But instead of standing around clueless to the reputation we are given, we can take this oopportunity to educate the public about the correct definition on Interior Design and why Interior Design is "not so easy a caveman can do it!" (Unless of course that caveman was educated and knew exactly what was going on!)