BIID Registered Interior Designer®

In the UK the three most commonly used terms are Interior Decorator, Interior Designer and Interior Architect with higher education courses offered in Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Interior Decoration, and Spatial Design. In the UK it is illegal for designers to call themselves Interior Architects unless they are fully qualified architects and registered with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) but there are no agreed national standard definitions of ‘interior designer’ or ‘interior decorator’.

The British Institute of Interior Design adopts the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI), definition of an interior designer.

Their definition is: Qualified by education, experience and applied skills, the professional Interior Architect/Designer accepts the following responsibilities: Identify, research and creatively solve problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment; Perform services relating to interior spaces including programming, design analysis, space planning, aesthetics and inspection of work on site, using specialized knowledge of interior construction, building systems and components, building regulations, equipment, materials and furnishings; Prepare schematics, drawings and documents relating to the design of interior space, in order to enhance the quality of life and protect the health, safety, welfare and environment of the public.

The BIID translated this definition to a professional standard that underpins BIID Registered Interior Designer®. This means that in order to become registered, designers must:

• Have 6 years of education and work experience
• Hold current Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurances
• Complete a Professional Review evidencing understanding and capability in all 8 of our Core Competencies. 

Once a designer has become a BIID Registered Interior Designer® they must adhere to the BIID’s Code of Conduct and annual Continuing Professional Development requirement to remain registered. In addition to being able to describe themselves as a ‘BIID Registered Interior Designer®’ individuals are able to use the post nominal RegID after their name. The title is also a registered trademark and as such use of the logo and post nominal will be strictly controlled. BIID Registered Interior Designer® is a symbol that an individual has met the highest standard of professional competence set by the government recognise Institute for the interior design profession.