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