DID YOU KNOW . . .

That as an IIDA member, you are eligible for exam reimbursement for both NCIDQ and LEED?! Apparently not many other members know either. The IIDA Foundation awards five members twice a year for both exams. Lately, there have only been 5-8 applicants for NCIDQ and 3-4 applicants for LEED. Have you ever seen better odds?!

NCIDQ Tuition Reimbursement Fund
With ongoing support from Mannington Commercial, this Fund offers IIDA Associate Members an opportunity to apply for financial assistance upon passing all three parts of the NCIDQ exam. Members in good standing who have taken and passed the exam administered in September 2007 may request for consideration for reimbursement. The deadline is Jan. 18th, 2008.

Sustainable Design Education Fund
Created through the generosity of Maharam and with additional support from Interior Design Magazine, this Fund serves as a vehicle to advance the awareness and knowledge on the topic of sustainable design. IIDA Professional and Associate Members in good standing who have taken and passed the exam April 1 - October 31, 2007 may apply for consideration for tuition reimbursement. The deadline is Fri., November 16th, 2007.

For both funds, see the website for details: www.iida.org, and click on the Foundation tab on the left.

Good luck!

Kristin Sawicki
VP of Membership

Join

The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) works to advance the value of the interior design and its practitioners as well as to cultivate leadership within the profession. IIDA has more than 10,000 Members in eight specialty forums, nine regions, and more than 30 Chapters around the world committed to enhancing the quality of life through excellence in interior design and advancing interior design through knowledge. By becoming a Member you are making the decision to be an informed member of the design community. IIDA stands to Nurtures the global design community; Provide superior information about interior design and related issues, using its own rapidly developing knowledge center as a resource; Advocate for design excellence; Maintain educational standards; Respond to trends in business and design; and Celebrate the profession.

The History of IIDA
The International Interior Design Association (IIDA) was founded in 1994 as a result of a merger of the Institute of Business Designers (IBD); the International Society of Interior Designers (ISID); and the Council of Federal Interior Designers (CFID. IIDA embodies the merger’s goal to create an international association with a united mission that would represent interior designers worldwide and speak on there behalf with a single voice.

Who Are IIDA Members
Please click on the link below that categorizes you design experience for an in depth look at how an IIDA Membership can work for you.

• Individual:
  • Professional Members have fulfilled IIDA’s requirements for education and experience and have passed the NCIDQ. Appellation: Name, IIDA
  • Associate Members are qualified in both education and experience like Professional Members, but have not passed the NCIDQ. Appellation: Name, Assoc. IIDA
  • Affiliate Members represent related design disciplines such as landscape or graphic design.
• International
• Industry Representatives + Individuals
• International Design School Members
• Student Members

As a Member of IIDA you are able to participate in two of eight specialty Forums. Forums are unique to IIDA and allow the Association to target your needs as a Member and encourage professional development through each of IIDA’s Forums.

• Corporate
• Education and Research
• Facility Planning and Design
• Government
• Healthcare
• Hospitality
• Residential
• Retail

Nurture. IIDA Regions, Chapters, and City Centers offer regular educational social and fund-raising activities. The Association also hold international events, such as the International Coffee Reception at NeoCon ® each year and the Mexican Design Congress. IIDA encourages dual Membership by Interior designers who belong to selected design organizations in countries other than the United States. The Association’s global infrastructure and emphasis on information technology make it possible for IIDA to keep in constant touch with its Members. IIDA is visible at international trade shows like: IIDEX NeoCon (Canada), NeoCon West (California), High Point (North Carolina), NeoCon World’s Trade Fair (Chicago), NeoCon East (Baltimore), and Hospitality Design (Las Vegas).

Provides. IIDA gives Members superior information about interior design and related issues, using its own rapidly developing knowledge center as a resource. IIDA is committed to the concept of the virtual association; the IIDA Website is a key tool for communication among IIDA’s leadership and individual Members around the World. Log on to the site to read the current and past issues of Perspective magazine or the biweekly newsletter DesignMatters. Click on links to events, Industry Members, and opportunities to navigate your way around the interior design universe.

Advocate. IIDA has established a Government and Regulatory Affairs Program that has proven to be effective at the national and state levels in the United States. IIDA is committed to assuring that interior designers are strongly and accurately represented in forthcoming hearings of the International Code Council (ICC).

Maintains. Education Standards. IIDA offers a full range of continuing education opportunities in interior design and business practice for interior designers. Courses are given at the regional and local levels; in connection with international trade shows; and through home study via industry publications, like IIDA’s Perspective, and the internet. Professional and Associate Members are required to take 1.0 CEU equal to 10 hours of continuing education units every two years.

Respond. IIDA responds to trends in business and design on a daily basis by compiling information to disseminate to our Members through IIDA specific publications and events. IIDA Roundtables gather leaders of the world’s design firms and industry thinkers to brainstorm about cutting edge issues in the design community such as trends, pending legislations, public awareness, and the incorporation of research in practice.

Celebrate. IIDA celebrates exceptional design achievements through international design competitions. Annual competitions include: Interior Design Competition, sponsored by Interior Design Magazine; The Will Ching Design Competition ; The IIDA Residential Design Competition; Hospitality Design Competition; and The Sustainable Design Student Competition; the Michael Tatum Educator Competition; and the Sustainable Design Leadership Award.