Resources

There are numerous professional organizations within the design field which provide the opportunity to participate in networking, continuing education, service projects, or to receive recognition through competitions and to advocate for the profession. A few of the professional organizations are shown below:

American Society of Interior Designers

Founded in 1975, ASID is the oldest, largest and leading professional organization for interior designers.  Through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and outreach, the Society strives to advance the interior design profession and, in the process, to demonstrate and celebrate the power of design to positively change people's lives. www.asid.org

International Interior Design Association

IIDA is a professional networking and educational Association of 13,000 Members in 10 specialty practice forums and 31 Chapters around the world.  IIDA advances the profession of Interior Design through the progressive cultivation of innovative leadership and by constantly advocating for exceptional design. www.iida.org

International Furnishings and Design Association

The IFDA is the unique and innovative Association of continuity and creativity that brings together the complementary professionals in the furnishing and design industries; and, by doing so, has set and sustains the gold standard in this dynamic marketplace. www.ifda.com

Council for Interior Design Accreditation

The CIDA is an independent, non-profit accrediting organization for interior design education programs at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.  Through a process of program self-evaluation and peer review, accreditation promotes achievement of high academic standards, while making education more responsive to student and societal needs. www.accredit-id.org

National Council for Interior Design Qualifications

NCIDQ is the global leader in establishing standards of competence for interior design/interior architecture professionals.   The National Council for Interior Design Qualification protects public health, safety and welfare by identifying interior designers who have the knowledge and experience to create interior spaces that are not just aesthetically pleasing, but also functional and safe. www.ncidq.org

Interior Design Educators Council

The IDEC is the professionally recognized association for interior design educators in North America.  The stated purpose of the organization is to be "dedicated to the development and improvement of interior design education," to establish and strengthen 'lines of communication between individuals, educational institutions and organizations concerned with interior design," and to strive "to improve teaching of interior design, and through it the professional level of interior design." www.idec.org

U.S. Green Building Council

The USGBC is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Our community of leaders is working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. www.usgbc.org

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design

As an internationally recognized mark of excellence, LEED provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.  LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. www.usgbc.org

The Network of Executive Women in Hospitality, Inc.

NEWH is the premier networking resource for the hospitality industry, providing scholarships, education, leadership development, recognition of excellence, and business development opportunities.  Members of NEWH, Inc. are professionals actively engaged in development, management/ operations, architecture, communications, design, distribution, education, manufacturing, production, purchasing, and sales of the Hospitality, Foodservice, Senior Living and related industries. www.newh.org

The Construction Specifications Institute

The mission of CSI is to advance building information management and education of project teams to improve facility performance.  CSI is a national association of more than 13,000 volunteers, including specifiers, architects, engineers, contractors, facility mangers, product representatives, manufacturers, owners and others who are experts in building construction and the materials used therein. www.csinet.org