The Interior Design Professions have identified the need to form a regulatory body representative of Interior Architecture, Interior Design and Interior Decoration. To this end The South African Guild of Interior Designers (SAGID) and Design South Africa (DSA) have agreed to form one representative body known as The South African Institute of the Interior Design Professions (IID). This new body will bring greater cooperation between all parties and inevitably provide synergy, focus and drive to the benefit of the interior design professions in South Africa. This Institute would fall under the SA Council for the Architectural Professions and therefore the umbrella of the Council for Built Environment. The Institute appropriately launched to coincide with Decorex this year and the QB Awards means that many months of negotiations brings the two professional bodies together. It is fitting to have this event take place on the same day as the awards that recognise and acknowledge the wealth and talent among our interior professionals and the Decorex Talk Show, where a multitude of brilliant speakers have been brought together under one roof to talk, debate, predict and advise us about latest trends in architecture, design and décor. This is the most prestigious gathering of talent brought together in one venue and is hosted alongside South Africa's premier design and décor show. We have moved forward with one common goal - to gain the rightful recognition for our profession and all those professionals within the discipline of our profession.

This new body will achieve:

¢ An institute with high membership with the partnership forged between SAGID and DSA ensuring better financial resources and better operational quality.

¢ An institute that will portray the different categories of membership with a positive and solid image.

¢ The unity provided by the institute will translate into more clout and leverage, run by a well paid, highly professional team and not by volunteers, which has been the case in the past.

¢ The institute would fall under the SA Council for the Architectural Professions, and therefore within the umbrella of the Council for the Built Environment.

¢ This leverage will allow us to approach government to conduct a survey to establish to what degree this sector of the design industry contributes to the GDP of the country. Government may release additional funds for development within the industry. From initial contract with government officials, the for a unified and established body on order to motivate and lobby has been recognised. The institute will gain strength from the number of professionals it represents and with this power be able to steer and educate government and industry to improve business for designers

¢ The institute can help sponsor meaningful awards on an annual basis that champions targets and recognises quality within our industry.

¢ We can set academic and professional standards within our sector that enhances our credibility within our community, industry, government and the public at large.

There is consensus that it will be beneficial to both the industry and the general public to register individuals who have qualified and are practising in the arena. Registration would be regulated.

The categories deemed relevant are:

¢ Professional Interior Architect [Pr. Int Arch]
¢  Candidate Interior Architect

¢ Professional Interior Designer [Pr. Int Des]
¢ Candidate Interior Designer

¢  Professional interior Decorator [Pr. Int Decorator]
¢  Candidate Interior Decorator

Current members of SAGID, and the DSA who have paid their subscriptions up to date for 2006-2007 financial year will automatically become members of the new body. Non-members will be given an amnesty period, the cut off date being 30th June 2007 to register with the institute. Persons will be evaluated on an individual basis to submit a portfolio of 5 design projects, presented in CD format and a documented comprehensive CV with contactable references.

The minimum criteria for professional practice of Interior Architecture/Interior Design/Interior Decoration would be a combination of education and experience adding up to 6 years.

¢ 4 year Degree plus  2 years  of  practical professional experience
¢ 3  year   Degree/Diploma   plus 3  years   of practical professional experience.
¢ 2  year Diploma/Certificate  plus  4 years  of  practical professional experience.
¢ 1 year Certificate plus 4 years of practical professional experience.

After the amnesty period persons wanting to register in any of the institutes categories would have to sit a qualifying examination, submit a portfolio of at least five design projects in CD format and a documented comprehensive CV with contactable references. Newly qualified persons wanting to register in any of the institutes categories should note that registration as a Candidate in that category is required, and that only after working in the industry for the specified period, such person may then apply for Professional status in that category.