IIDA SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAPTER

Chartered in early 1995, the IIDA Southern California Chapter is one of the largest chapters in the international organization, with over 800 members throughout the Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Inland and Desert Empire areas.
These members currently include almost 400 professional designers, approximately 200 industry members, over 160 student members and a variety of press and media members.

The Southern California Chapter is committed to realizing the IIDA mandate and mission statement in a variety of ways. Several annual programs and events have been established to help further interior design, encourage excellence, support legislation and encourage students. They include:

• The IIDA Calibre Awards, which gives designers an opportunity to recognize excellence in the members of their project teams who help them to realize their vision. Winners include general contractors, furniture dealers, lighting consultants, etc.
• The IIDA City Center Art Expositions, which raise money for IIDA programs and events, as well as local charities.
• The IIDA City Center Fashion Shows, which provides a fun and exciting competition for the industry, raises awareness of IIDA and encourages membership.
• The Annual IIDA Regatta which, like the Fashion Show, provides an atmosphere of friendly competition and fellowship among industry members, while raising money for student scholarships.
• The “Out of the Box” series, which provides designers with opportunities to continuing their education, and industry members with opportunities to network with designers.
• The Annual IIDA Scholarships, which provide exceptional design students with the financial support they need in order to continue their education.
• The IIDA Intern / Mentor program which matches professional members with student members, giving the students real-world experience and guidance.
• The Student Coordinating Council, which provides support and educational programs geared toward the interests of students getting ready to enter the industry.

The IIDA Southern California Chapter is also very active in supporting the state based legislative efforts of our industry’s governmental organization, making sure that designers’ voices are heard. There is also great effort within the chapter to recognize the needs of children facing various challenges, and local children’s charities benefit from the chapter’s support on a regular basis.

The IIDA Southern California Chapter is driven by an energetic and talented Board of Directors who oversee the direction of the Chapter’s efforts, plan events and programs, and work to further the value of membership for all its members. The Chapter operates an office in Los Angeles, which serves the whole Southern California area, and is staffed by an Executive Director.

What is the IIDA Mandate?

IIDA exists to enhance the quality of life through excellence in interior design and to advance interior design through knowledge. To fulfill this mandate and best serve the profession, IIDA is dedicated to the following seven principles:

I. IIDA supports members in the design services marketplace through continuing
education and by upholding the industry’s highest standards of professionalism.

II. IIDA is the professions advocate on issues of national and international importance.

III. IIDA is dedicated to serving the diverse needs of practice specialties.

IV. IIDA is focused on growing the market for interior design services.

V. IIDA is the profession’s local, national, and global information exchange.

VI. IIDA is the catalyst for expanding the body of interior design knowledge.

VII. IIDA supports excellence in design education and the continuous advancement of interior professionals.

How is IIDA different as an organization?

Flexible: A fundamental premise of IIDA is that it will be unencumbered by rigid bureaucracy, that it will be responsive to changing member needs, and able to “turn on a dime” when necessary. It is a new organization and a member-driven organization. IIDA offers a menu of services and delivery methods geared to the busy designer of today and tomorrow.

Global: IIDA provides Members with the sources to reach expertise, knowledge and contacts. Networking events allow our professionals to connect on more personal terms that encourage trust, collaboration, and innovation. Chapters and City Centers are the visible strength of our Association. Use your contacts as leverage in seeking out opportunities and solidifying partnerships. The people you interact with form a microcosm of the design world. The design industry like every other field of business is facing the challenges of an expanding global market. With 33 Chapters worldwide, including those in Europe and Asia, IIDA is poised to take an active role in that market. IIDA is committed to facilitating a global community for Members through IIDA’s website. You will be able to navigate your way to professional success with the Association.

Forums: Members participate in IIDA through Chapters in nine regions established throughout the world, and have opportunity to participate in eight forums. Specialty Forums have been established to deliver programs that coincide with specialized areas of practice: Commercial, Education & Research, Government, Healthcare, Hospitality, Residential, Retail, and Facility Planning and Design.

How does IIDA assist individual designers?

As a professional:

CEUs: IIDA is committed to promoting professional expertise. It offers an array of first-rate Chapter and regional professional development conferences and programs; Chapter level CEU programs; as well as home-study educational courses. All professional and affiliate members must earn 1.0 continuing education units per year to maintain professional status.

As a student:

Scholarships: One of the purposes of IIDA is to advance education and scholarship in design. To this end the Southern California Chapter of IIDA offers scholarships and prizes annually.

All scholarships are limited to those who intend to pursue education in the field of Interior Design. The scholarship committee is interested in providing financial assistance solely to students who have a record of accomplishment in interior design and who show potential to advance the interior design profession. All applicants must be current IIDA-SCC member.

Professional status through:

NCIDQ: IIDA embraces and upholds the highest standards of professionalism for Interior Designers. The NCIDQ exam is the minimum criterion for designers entering the association at the professional level.

CCIDC: California Council for Interior Design Certification is responsible for certifying Interior Designers in the state of California. In order to become a certified interior designer you must pass the complete National Council for Interior Design Qualifications (NCIDQ) Exam and the California Codes and Regulations Exam (CCRE), with enrollment in relevant continuing educating classes for recertification.