54 / ECIA
www.sbid.org
A matter of Education
The members of the ECIA signed off on its new European Charter of Interior Architecture Training in September. Vanessa Brady, one of the signatories, explains why this document is so important
Its far sighted founders had two key aims. One was to provide a platform for the open exchange of ideas and information on best professional practices between its nation members.
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The other was to establish standards in the educational and professional profile for the occupations of interior designer and interior architect across the member organisations.
No UK organisation showed any interest in joining the ECIA until SBID was created a few years ago. Joining the Council was one of our first goals and I am delighted to say they welcomed us with open arms.
he European Council of Interior Architects (ECIA) was
founded in 1992.
The decision to join wasn’t simply so we could rub shoulders with some of Europe’s finest interior professionals. There are hard-nosed business reasons why it is crucial that the British interior design industry unites with our colleagues overseas.
The first is Europe and the European Union. By being a member of ECIA we can speak with a louder voice in terms of lobbying the EU and helping shape the legislation affecting our business.
But the most important reason for us to join was to raise the standards and the reputation of the business of interior design in the UK.
The key to that comes from improving and developing our education standards so that
our graduates can compete on the international stage.
Creating a level playing field across so many members countries, with their own systems of education and unique histories and cultures, is not easy. For instance in many ECIA member states, they talk about the profession of interior architects. Here in the UK you are not allowed to use the word architect in your job title unless you are a fully accredited architect.
But there is common ground that we all share and which we can use to enhance the status of the interior professional.
The Charter lays out the width and the depth of knowledge that an interior designer should attain. It places greater importance on the student
having periods of professional practical experience under external guidance.
Without this, there is the danger that graduates finish their education without having any understanding of the real world of work. Too many of our talented graduates then find it next to impossible to get a foothold in the industry.
As the only UK representative of ECIA, SBID is already talking to universities and colleges about how we can use the Charter as a working document to improve the curriculum on interior design related courses.
We have set up our mentoring scheme where SBID Members (and other design businesses) take on the challenge of offering placements to second year students.
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