With the intention of becoming a professional, one must
receive education. The design profession is not only concerned with creativity
and aesthetics but also with psychology, environmental science, economics,
sociopolitical characteristics, and functionality. Considering this, years of
education is what aids the process of the incorporation of the aspects in the
latter. Additionally, instructors in universities have the responsibility to
teach students how to integrate the mentioned aspects by introducing research,
critical thinking, analysis, proposal and presentations of solutions within the
design curriculum. After going through the design education, the designer must
gain experience in order to become a professional. But what does it mean to be
a professional? It means that the person went through years of education in a
specific field.
In Interior Design, the misconception that this is not a
profession is present in many people. The majority of the time people think
that it is the same as decoration and that anybody can be an Interior Designer
without going through higher education. However, Interior Design is a
profession. An Interior Designer has to go through four years of college
education, two years of experience afterwards, and take a qualification exam in
order to receive a licensure. This license give the Interior Designer the right
to sign and seal construction documents.
Furthermore, professionalism comes from those years of
education combined with experience in the field. Professionalism in a person is
defined by their mode of searching for solutions to a problem keeping in mind ethical
aspects, their integrity, and their behavior in the work environment.
It is imperative that we as Interior Designers take
ownership of our profession and work hard for our design education in order to
obtain the professionalism that one day will make the Interior Design
profession have the desired recognition.
I think that your response of distinguishing the differences between a designer and a decorator were well explained. It just goes to show how much responsibility an Interior Designer has versus a decorator. Interior Designers are better educated and will have the experience needed to complete any project in a professional manner.
ReplyDeleteYou have pin pointed what it means to be a professional interior designer. It is so much more then just decorating and it requires an extensive education. As you stated, in order to become licensed, one must go through at least four years of education and have at least two years of professional experience. I personally believe that should be the absolute bare minimum and that there should be a bigger emphasis on evidence based design, as well as other aspects of design that are not usually touched upon, such as universal design.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the way you stated what professionalism is to you. I believe it is about how one present themselves based on their ethics and behavior in the work environment.
I like how you explained professionalism. It kind of goes to show you that we are all defined by our character and I believe our character is reflected in our designs.
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