As an architect practicing in Norfolk I have the privilege of collaborating with interior designers on a regular basis on the design of buildings throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.  I submit this comment in strong support of the continued regulation of the interior design profession in Virginia.

I am convinced that eliminating regulation of Interior Design would significantly harm Virginia Certified Interior Designers (CIDs), Interior Design small businesses, and others in the Commonwealth. For example:

1. In order to hold a position on a corporate board for a “Professional Corporation,” the employee must be licensed or certified in his/her 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.

2. Typically 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 prevent Virginia interior designers from submitting for these proposals.

3. 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.

As I understand, of the 1,272 interior design establishments in Virginia 96% are small businesses of four or fewer employees. 83% of these small businesses are women or minority owned. Eliminating interior design regulation would damage these entrepreneurs and small businesses because of the reasons listed above.

Eliminating the Interior Design statute is not in the best interests of the Commonwealth. Being a Certified Interior Designer in Virginia provides the public with knowledge and confidence that a minimum set of requirements, (including education, experience, and testing) has been met. Certified Interior Designers do complex design and drafting work for large public and code-regulated projects such as hotels, hospitals, corporate offices, and multi-family housing where public life-safety is affected. CIDs have a knowledge of building codes, standards, and other laws and regulations that are essential to the safe construction of these buildings.

Washington D.C., Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky all have statutes in place for the regulation of the title and/or practice of Interior Design. In total, 27 states and two federal jurisdictions regulate interior design. To the best of my knowledge none of these jurisdictions has ever deregulated the practice of interior design.

The interior design statute is not restrictive or protectionist.  As enacted during the 1990 Session of the General Assembly the title protection law does not restrict the scope of practice and serves as the framework for the voluntary certification program. While only certified interior designers may use the title “Certified,” any individual may contract with a client to render services as an interior designer, interior decorator, or similar practitioner if the client so chooses.

In summary I believe that continued regulation is vital to the practice, profession, industry, consumers, and the public’s health, safety, and welfare. As a registered design professional myself I ask you not to eliminate the regulation of this important profession.

Thank you.