Announcements

Call for Entries: Kravet & Traditional Home Student Design Competition

A Message from the ASID Texas Chapter [posted January 15, 2010]

Kravet, Industry Partner ASID, is proud to partner with Traditional Home for Kravet Your Room, a digital design contest for interior design students. Beginning on January 15th the contest will be promoted through Traditional Home’s website, Kravet’s website, and social media such as Facebook and Twitter.
 
As always, students are welcome to visit the showrooms for inspiration and additional information about our products. However, the design process will be totally digital. Students will use virtual design tools to style a room with Kravet furniture, fabrics, carpets and accessories. The emphasis of the contest will be on the kravetsmart line of furniture and fabrics.
 
The winning room will appear in Traditional Home magazine and will be promoted online. The winning design student will receive a kravetsmart chair upholstered with the kravetsmart fabric of his or her choice, valued at $2,400, and a $100 American Express gift card. Five design students will receive Honorable Mention awards. Their designs will appear on Traditional Home’s website, and they will receive $100 American Express gift cards.

The contact for questions is Ann Feldstein, Sr. Director of Marketing Communications for Kravet/Lee Jofa: 516-293-2000 ext. 2726.

ASID Notice: "Robocall" Vendor Not Associated With ASID

A Message from ASID [distributed to all Society members via ASID's Eye on Design e-newsletter on November 20, 2009; posted here November 23, 2009]

ASID has recently become aware of a California-based online vendor of Asian furniture that is placing “robocalls” (i.e., automated phone calls) to the ASID membership in which they apparently state that these calls are in "conjunction with ASID." Please note that it is ASID policy that we do not give out or sell members’ phone numbers at any time to any third-party organization. ASID has no relationship at all with this specific company, as they are not and have never been an Industry Partner member of ASID. If you become aware of any such activity, please let ASID headquarters know at membership@asid.org.

ASID Notice: NAHB Votes on Recommendation

A Message from ASID [distributed via ASID's NewsFlash electronic newsletter on November 2, 2009; posted here November 2, 2009]

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently passed a recommendation opposing "legislation that would restrict the ability of NAHB members to practice interior design in the normal pursuit of their residential construction and remodeling businesses." Please know that ASID will not advocate for legislation that restricts interior design practice or services currently provided. Further, existing and proposed interior design legislation does not impact residential design practices or services, and ASID will continue to only support legislation that does not adversely affect homebuilders and other businesses in residential settings. In fact, ASID believes that interior design legislation creates more choices for interior designers and consumers and, in turn, decreases construction and service costs. The NAHB recommendation, which we understand to be non-binding to its groups at the state and local level, would not be impacted by ASID-supported legislation. ASID sent a letter to NAHB emphasizing that the Society will continue to ensure that ASID-supported legislation will not negatively impact homebuilders or their businesses. To read the letter, go to www.asid.org/legislation. ASID and NAHB share a long history of working together, and ASID hopes to strengthen that relationship in the future. Learn more by going here.

ASID Notice: ASID Updates Membership Numbers

A Message from ASID [distributed via ASID's Twitter page and Facebook group page October 12, 2009; posted here October 12, 2009]

Like most associations and the interior design industry as a whole, the American Society of Interior Designers is feeling the affects of a strained economy, having experienced a 10 percent drop in membership over the past fiscal year, which ended September 30. While the membership drop reflects the effects that the downturn has had on the interior design industry, it is actually low compared to industry averages. Read the full story and how ASID is working to ensure value to members by going here.

Notice: Green Building Certificate Program

A Message from the ASID Texas Chapter [posted September 24, 2009]

St. Edward’s University Professional Education Center located in northwest Austin is partnering with Colorado State University–Pueblo’s distinguished Green Building Certificate distance learning program. This 8-week program helps prepare building professionals for the LEED® Green Associate exam, thus helping them achieve certification that distinguishes them in their field. The certificate program is directed by Larry Grosse, Emeritus Head of the Department of Construction Management at CSU–Pueblo, which is a nationally recognized leader in construction management education and green building. The certificate program is geared to:

• Design professionals — interior, landscape, architectural
• Contractors and builders, planners and commissioners
• Facility managers and stakeholders
• Built environment engineers and decision-makers

Classes will take place on Thursday nights between Oct. 1–Nov. 19 (8 weeks) from 6:30pm-10:00pm at St. Edward’s University Professional Education Center, 9420 Research Blvd., Bldg. III. Go here to find out more information, go here to download a press release about the program, and go here to download information explaining how ASID members can receive a $120 discount on tuition.

ASID Notice: Scam Artists

A Message from ASID [distributed to all Society members via ASID's Eye on Design e-newsletter on July 31, 2009; posted here July 31, 2009]

ASID Headquarters has recently been informed of several instances in which ASID practitioner members have been contacted via email or telephone by scam artists posing as potential clients. Click here (PDF download) to view a sample of the communications received by our members. These scam artists commonly pose as serviceman returning from Iraq or someone from a foreign country, and many times, they propose alternative payment schemes due to relocating or traveling. Like many scams, the problem arises when the scam artist asks the interior designer to handle financial matters by depositing what turns out to be a fraudulent check and sending a portion of the money immediately to another person or organization. Communications often contain a lot of very convincing detail, ask that you charge their credit card, make a payment and retain a portion as a deposit for your work. Please don't fall prey to this attempt to defraud you. Go here for a more detailed account on ASID's Facebook page, which also contains information on what to do if you find yourself in this situation.

NCIDQ Update: Exam Modifications

A Message from NCIDQ [posted July 30, 2009]

NCIDQ is modifying its Examination in 2010, and they have released additional information about the updates to the practicum exam. For complete information about these modifications, read the full story by going here. Please note the exam changes may affect current exam candidates. Candidates who have not passed both Section I and Section II by the end of 2009 will lose credit for the multiple-choice exam section they have passed. Candidates must pass both Section I and Section II to receive credit in 2010. The Fall 2009 administration is the last chance to maintain credit they may already have toward completing the NCIDQ Examination. Should you have any questions, contact Alexis Fermanis, Communications Manager for National Council for Interior Design Qualification: alexis@ncidq.org.

ASID Texas Update: Amended Texas Interior Design Title Act

A Message from the ASID Texas Chapter [posted May 14, 2009]

On May 12, 2009, Governor Rick Perry signed bill HB 1484 into law, amending the Texas Interior Design Title act from a "Naked" one to that of a "Qualified" one. It became effective immediately. To understand the history of this issue, go here.  

ASID Update: Regarding ASID & IIDA Merging

A Message from ASID Headquarters [distributed to all Society members via ASID's Eye on Design e-newsletter on May 8, 2009, as well as in a direct e-mail to all Society members on May 8, 2009; posted here May 8, 2009]

As we reported to you last fall, the boards of ASID and IIDA met to initiate talks on ways to advance the interior design profession, including how our organizations could better collaborate and whether there was merit in exploring a possible merger of the two organizations at some time in the future. After deliberation, the IIDA board recently released a statement that it did not support merging with ASID at this time. [To access a PDF file of this statement, please click here.]

ASID respects this decision and welcomes the opportunity to work with IIDA on issues that affect our members and the profession as a whole. As IIDA affirmed, both organizations recognize the inherent and real need for increased collaboration on issues in the profession, and we are proud to acknowledge that we are moving forward with these intentions. If you have any further questions on this matter, please e-mail feedback@asid.org.