In 1931, the first national professional organization for decorators, the American Institute of Interior Decorators, was founded. The organization changed its name to the American Institute of Decorators in 1936, and to the American Institute of Interior Designers in 1961. Meanwhile, in 1957, the New York Chapter of the AID changed its name to the National Society for Interior Designers, emphasizing the title of Interior Designer rather than Decorator. By 1975, there were many clubs and organizations for decorators and interior designers around the country. AID and NSID were the two largest, and they merged to form the American Society of Interior Designers. ASID is the largest professional organization for interior designers. ASID members include approximately 13,500 practicing interior designers in both commercial and residential sectors, 5,500 student members, and 6,000 representatives of ASID Industry Partner firms. ASID has Student chapters at colleges, universities and design schools with 2-year and 4-year programs throughout the U.S. Members are qualified by education, experience and examination, and adhere to a strict code of ethics and professional conduct. Through educational programs, research, seminars and conferences, ASID members receive the most current information on developments in design, as well as appropriate materials, technology, building codes, government regulations, flammability standards, sustainable and green design, product performance, design psychology, occupant populations, and more. ASID also supports legislative and advocacy efforts to protect interior designers’ right to practice. ASID designers practice in all areas of interior design, including:
ASID has six membership categories Professional Membership: the highest level of ASID membership. They have completed a course of accredited education and equivalent work experience in interior design and have successfully passed the NationalCouncil for Interior Design Qualification examination. Allied Membership: Eligible individuals are practicing interior designers who have completed 40 semester or 60 quarter credit hours in interior design education from an accredited institution. Continuing education coursework/hours do not count toward meeting the education requirement for membership. Educator Membership: This level is for educators who are actively engaged as department chairs or full-time instructors in a post-secondary program of interior design education at any university or accredited school of interior design that requires completion of 40 semester credit hours in interior design-related courses. Eligible educators receive a discounted dues rate as allied or professional members, depending on their qualifications. Student Advancement Membership: Student Members: Student members prepare for their career by joining the ASID network. Membership is available to students currently enrolled in an interior design program of at least 40 credit hours or 60 quarter credit hours of interior design coursework to graduate. Industry Partner Membership: Industry Partners join ASID to gain access to the designer and student community. Members include interior design industry manufacturers and their representatives, related trade associations and market centers. All ASID members have the opportunity to be involved with a local chapter.
Member benefits and events
Research and publications
ASID ICON, the Society's magazine, the publication for interior design professionals. Published six times a year, ASID ICON includes design research and business trends, along with information on key Society and chapter issues and events.
ASID NewsFlash delivers design and Society news biweekly via e-mail.
ASID is a key nonprofit provider of information, knowledge and research for the interior design industry. Each year, ASID distributes more than 200,000 research and business publications through mail orders, online and at design conferences.
Eye on Design, a weekly industry newsletter exclusively for members, sent via e-mail, which provides research on current, newsworthy items within the industry.
The ASID Web site features information, news, publications, marketing materials and other resources for professional designers, design students and the public. The site includes the Sustainable Design Resource Center and the Universal Design Resource Center, as well as the ASID Referral Service.
Events
ASID features educational programs at major national meetings such as NeoCon, Hospitality Design Expo and Greenbuild that can be used for continuing education units for Society and state CEU requirements. All of ASID's CEUs are accredited by the Interior Design Continuing Education Council.
Member benefits
The ASID Job Bank, listing employment opportunities for designers, is available to all interested employers and job seekers online.
Recognition and awards programs including Fellows of ASID.
A virtual network of designers and industry representatives through Connex, a member-only website.
Legislative Policy
revised their legislative policy in January 2009. The policy was revised to best serve the societies membership and goals. The legislative policy of the organization is as follows:
Created in 1975 and now known as the ASID Foundation, the Foundation is the affiliated 501 charitable organization for ASID. The ASID Foundation’s mission is to support endeavors that capture and disseminate knowledge, encourage innovation, and benefit the health, safety and welfare of the public through interior design research, scholarship and education.
