My name is Adrienne Scribner and I live in Virginia and work in Washington, DC. I write this comment in STRONG support of the continued regulation of the interior design profession in Virginia.

I was self employed for over 16 years as an interior designer based in Virginia. For the past 3 years I have worked in the DC office, of a Virginia based Architectural, Interior Design, MEP firm; Baskervill. I am a Principal and specialize in Hospitality design, renovating most spaces that exist within hotels. 

If you  deregulate our profession in Virginia you will undermine all the work we have put forth in the past 30 years to elevate our profession of Interior Design. We effectively, design interiors to protect the health, safety and welfare of others within the built environment. We've been educated and tested to make sure we meet these standards. 

It is clear, eliminating regulation of Interior Design would gravely harm Virginia Certified Interior Designers, Interior Design small businesses, and others in the Commonwealth. For example:

– In order to hold a position on a corporate board for a “Professional Corporation,” the employee must be licensed or certified in their profession by the Commonwealth. Eliminating the interior design regulation would prevent interior designers from serving on the board of architectural-interior design and interior design-only firms.

– RFPs (Request for Proposals) and RFQs (Request for Qualifications) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and for Federal Government Projects that include Interior Design Services require that the Interior Designer providing these services be a Certified Interior Designer. Eliminating the regulation would bar Virginia interior designers from submitting for these proposals.

– Job postings for Interior Designers in the Commonwealth and for Federal departments typically require an Interior Designer to be a Certified Interior Designer. Eliminating the regulation would exclude Virginia interior designers from these opportunities.

Eliminating the voluntary regulation of interior design in Virginia is bad public policy. Continued regulation is vital to the practice, profession, industry, consumers, and the public’s health, safety, and welfare. I ask you to not eliminate the regulation of this profession.

Thank you for you time and consideration of this matter.

Best Regards,

Adrienne Scribner, ASID, CID