Recently, the profession of interior design has achieved a level of maturity that better reflects its rich and complex history. As a collective body of interior design professionals, we have grown in more ways than any statistic or number could reveal. We have evolved. We have matured. And now, it seems, our profession has moved beyond the selfishness of our youth.

One hallmark in the last few years of this newfound sophistication is the trend toward business partnerships. We're seeing bridge-building between disparate professions, government agencies, associations and even historians. As a whole, the industry of interior design can point to several examples of alliances that may have seemed inconceivable just a few years ago.

Along with the pain of any partnership, however, comes the satisfaction of returns. An example of this is the unification of the Institute of Business Designers (IBD), the Council of Federal Interior Designers (CFID) and the International Society of Interior Designers (ISID). These organizations came together to strengthen the interior design profession; yet the road to that vision was anything but easy. Still, these three organizations have successfully merged 45 years of experience and a team of world-class professionals. Today that collective body is the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the sum of the parts is greater than the whole.

The Advantage of Synergy
In an evolution, the next step for IIDA would be to form further alliances. And this is, in fact, the case. In May of this year, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has joined with IIDA to establish a partnership. Responsible for everything from air strips to bridges, the USACE maintains partnerships with architects, landscape architects, engineers -- and now interior designers. At some level, the USACE is involved in hospitality, health care, residential, retail and commercial environments throughout the world. This new working alliance with IIDA will promote mutual interests in providing efficient, high-quality and responsive interior design and space planning services to support the nation.

Under the agreement, the USACE and IIDA will develop guidelines and continuing education programs to address the greater benefits of good interior design. As a team, they will work to enhance the quality of living and working environments through excellence in interior design. Additionally, they will work to promote a clearer understanding of how the building of interiors can have a greater impact than what is perceived by the public. With communication between USACE and IIDA, the many potential joint efforts will undoubtedly shape and address the respective missions of both organizations.

Another obvious example of coalescence came about in an effort to expand the profession as a whole. The IIDA Joel Polsky/Fixtures Furniture Endowment Committee recently invited the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) to partner on a task force in an effort to assess the establishment of an interior design archive. The task force identified many compelling reasons to create such an archive. Equally as important, it also has agreed to move forward with the next step.

This move is embraced by both IIDA and ASID as equal partners. In the past, documents and records that catalogue history haven't been adequately preserved. The archives of a profession can provide a permanent "center," preserving its past and providing insight to the future. An archive provides a physical presence for abstract ideas and patterns of development. These are the foundation of the profession and convey the nature and stature to the larger public. For better or for worse, such an archive will only be as strong as the commitment of its respective profession.

It's clear that the field of interior design will benefit by clarifying its distinctive qualities related to -- but separate from -- professions such as architecture, decorative arts and other areas of design. An archive for the profession can be the core around which independent identification grows.

Those who will benefit from an archives of the profession will fall into several categories with different potential contributions to the field. An archive serves as the centering point for individual and corporate donors, the professional associations and users. All are essential to the health and growth of the profession.

There's little question that this archive project will require a firm commitment from the entire profession to succeed. A partnership for the profession is a grand opportunity to collectively identify our past and position our future.

Strength in Numbers
The executive teams of IIDA and ASID held a first-of-its-kind meeting during NeoCon. The purpose of the meeting was to identify broad areas of coordination and collaboration related to the profession. Along with the promise to move the interior design archive project forward, leaders of both organizations agreed to provide joint strategic assistance and assessments for the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER). Also, they will continue to move the Design Coalition for Professional Development (DCPD) forward. The DCPD program is designed to advance interior design education in areas identified through practitioners and industry.

Furthermore, our industry partners are placing new importance on existing partnerships. As we exchange ideas from corporate roundtables (which were first originated by IBD prior to IIDA), we've discovered a trend. Representatives from manufacturers are seeking out partnerships at regional and local levels. It's crucial that our profession recognize the value of personal relationships.

As an association responding to such trends, IIDA has structured a flexible and accessible path for industry and practitioners to interface with interior designers. Unique to IIDA are the mandatory continuing education requirements for all professional members as well as the high standards and credentials for membership. IIDA offers networking opportunities on a global level along with leading-edge information organized by seven specialized classifications called Forums. The IIDA Forum program allows industry to participate in high-level niche market expertise with practitioners. This unique type of communication has become another valued partnership.

Obviously, human beings are at the base of every partnership. With this in mind, IIDA has created an alliance with Interiors & Sources magazine to recognize and celebrate exceptionally dedicated individuals within the industry. During this year's NeoCon, IIDA and Interiors & Sources officially announced the launch of a competition to recognize the people responsible for forward movement in areas of environment, accessibility, and the aging. These people are the visionaries of the industry and the profession, the heroes, the titans. The competition will be aptly called The Titan Awards. The call for entries will be forthcoming, giving us all the opportunity to honor the most valuable factor in our profession, the human factor.

Related Articles » Good Design Is Good Customer Service » How Interior Design Improves Productivity » A New Experience for Home Offices » Design team creates new statement in a familiar place. » Art Deco Echo » What Does a Designer Actually Do? » Eco Design Matters: What's Green? » No More Great American Lunch Hours » Design for Disability » Understanding Disabilities