ASID responds to the IDR (kind of)

For those following the work of the Interior Design Revolution, one of the main reasons we formed was because we felt "duped" by Houzz and Ivy.  Designers were angry, fuming really, over the betrayal we felt. Once we started digging into it, we wondered... what do our associations have to say about this. Actually, what do our associations REALLY do for us? The general consensus... not much.

So, we reached out to the powerhouse of interior design associations with a letter. We received an immediate response that they were planning to meet and discuss, then get back to us, and were thrilled and optimistic that this would result in serious change. Perhaps we got our hopes up too high because the response was much less than we had hoped for.

Please comment below- we want to hear your thoughts. We also would like to make a call to the other associations we blogged about last week, to take the reigns and show us that there IS an association out there that will be worth our annual dues.

Dear Rachel, et al, Thank you for sharing the concerns. Randy Fiser, Hon. FASID, ASID CEO forwarded your request to me, Tim Schelfe, FASID, CAPS, ASID National Board Chair, and the entire ASID National Board of Directors, as promised. During our recent board meeting, and in past board meetings, we had discussions, and provided direction to the staff, on similar topics to the ones you have raised. There are many exciting initiatives in process that address some of the items noted in your letter (NOTE: recently updated contracts and in-person training at High Point and ICFF (on-line coming soon), Industry Outlook, Impact of Design Series). The ASID National Board, which is comprised of commercial and residential designers from large and small firms in major and secondary markets, educators, and industry partners, spend a majority of our board meeting strategically looking at the future of ASID and design from all angles. We have robust dialogues about the future of practice, education, manufacturing, technology, policy, codes, international commerce, and the impacts (positive and negative) to the profession and the industry. Our goal after our deliberation is always to provide ASID staff with the strategic guidance and prioritization, for them to develop value-add programs and services for our 25,000 members and the entire design industry. We also provide direction to the organization for the use of the ASID collective voice to influence public policy, public perception, and the profession. The focus of ASID on Design Impacts Lives is a direct example of how we are using every resource at our disposal to influence the understanding of what an interior designer does and the value an interior designer provides in creating spaces that have a demonstrable impact on the people that live, work, play, and heal in them. As “disruption” to the industry occurs, we fundamentally believe the best offense is to use ASID’s voice to underscore the training someone needs to create a space that positively impacts the lives of people in the space. We focus attention on why a space, designed with intent and supported by evidence, truly matters. The combination of skill, plus research, can be converted into a true dollar value (return on investment) for your professional fees. Our goal is to provide designers with the language and tools to communicate this to their clients and to help your clients understand why hiring a trained and skilled designer is imperative to positive outcomes. The result of this focused effort is truly changing the understanding of interior design. The earliest demonstrable change is in workplace design. Research is showing a shift in the criteria employees use in making decisions about the places they work. At a national scale, ASID has invested resources to acquiring earned media to communicate the impact that interior designers have on the human experience. This effort resulted in more than 9,000 media pickups and 2.14 Billion impressions, which equates to $19.8 Million in advertising value in 2017. These media placements advance the practice of interior design and the organization.
 Employees are now assessing the design of the workplace and how it supports their health and well-being. Clients are requesting interior designers that have the knowledge and skills to create healthy workplaces that support well-being. We are seeing this same shift begin to take hold in hospitality and is moving into residential. It’s still early, but change is occurring.
 While we are experiencing tremendous change in the industry, ASID has taken a position that our organization cannot be protectionist. In addition, we need to ensure that ASID does not create an environment that could be interpreted as collusion. Evolutions happen in every industry (how many of us use Lyft, AirBnB, WeWork) and it is ASID’s responsibility to:

• Ensure a level playing field,

• Making sure new entrants to the market aren’t working under a different set of regulatory policies that put consumers and professionals at risk,

• Quickly and aggressively address illegal actions,

• Educate the profession on the changing landscape, and

• Provide the community with tools and resources for a successful business.

 The ASID Board reviews our bylaws, policies, ethics, and standards for professional practice on a regular basis. The Governance Committee is beginning that review now and will take into consideration what we and you have identified as changes to the landscape. I can’t promise a specific outcome, but we are taking your requests seriously. Our professional association serves a very broad membership and profession. ASID’s membership includes a board member at a global engineering, architecture and design firm (HDR), a design principal at Gensler in New York City, and a senior director at a mid-sized commercial firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. We are also made up of a partner at a large residential firm in Chicago, an owner of a small residential firm in Sacramento, and a sole proprietor working from their home in North Carolina. We include educators and students at a major university in Colorado Springs, a design school in Savannah, and an extension program in Los Angeles. The ASID Board and staff work very hard to balance the needs and interests of this diverse and inclusive profession, ensuring that every member has the right to practice to the fullest extent. We look to provide services that cut across all interests and needs of this base while also serving the needs specific to market segments and firm size.
 We believe ASID is stronger when our community continues to respectfully share their interests and concerns with us. The ASID National Board and staff will continue to seek your and other points of view as we help guide the organization and the profession into the future. You’ve made very good points for us to consider and we have taken them to heart. Change will continue to be a common denominator of our future, but ASID will continue to support the profession and communicate how your work improves the lives of the people you serve as clients. Best wishes and warmest regards, Tim Schelfe, FASID, CAPS, CIDASID National Board Chair  ASID National Board Chair
E chair@asid.orgASID | American Society of Interior Designers | 1152 15^th Street NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20005

The IDR as a whole is very confused about the terms "protectionism" and "collusion" being used in this letter as they seem very out of place for a simple request to do more for their members... isn't that the point of an association? To serve the needs of the members?