BIID accepted as members of the European Council of Interior Architects (ECIA)

The BIID is delighted to announced that it has been accepted as an Effective Member of the European Council of Interior Architects (ECIA). At their recent General Assembly held in Stockholm, the ECIA board voted to accept the BIID as members, enabling it to join the existing 18 member organisations. Fhe ECIA is the representative body for European professional organisations whose members are interior designers and/or interior architects.  As well as providing a space for exchanging knowledge and building a Europe wide interiors community, the ECIA endorses minimum entry standards for its member organisations. Its mission is to represent and promote the interiors profession and to achieve wider public and government recognition at national and cross national levels.

The ECIA was recently awarded EU funding for a three year project called ‘Building on Connections for a Stronger Profession’ (BCSP). This includes six different sub projects:

1. Spider Models Research: To collect data to be able to get a good overview on the profession in the different countries of the EU / Europe. This will be done in collaboration with the University of Antwerp.
2. Growing the network: Growing the network of ECIA by attracting new members, assisting European countries to set up a NO for interior architects/designers and stakeholders networking.
3. Exchanging knowledge: To improve the skills of the professionals by organising workshops, trainings on various topics (also on topics like New Green Deal and Renovation Wave) with different partners (NO’s, universities, other organisations).
4. ECIA Interior Award: Organising a competition that will identify good practices in our profession. The best projects will be promoted with various publications and a travelling exposition.
5. Promoting the ECIA Charter: Promotion of the ECIA Charter of Interior Architecture Training, as a tool to work towards a higher standard for Interior Architects/Designers education (and consequently the profession) in the EU. This includes also the organisation of a Charter Networking Conference (in collaboration with Subprojects 3 and 6).
6. Representing the network: Representing the network by setting op policy work groups to brainstorm and to discuss about policy and regulatory questions, organise stakeholder events and ECIA round tables

Mathew Freeman, BIID Past President and delegate to the ECIA said:

‘I was honoured to represent the BIID at the recent ECIA General Assembly and delighted when we were voted in as members. ECIA membership will enable the BIID to have a voice in European debates about the policy and practice of interior design. As the BIID delegate to the ECIA I am looking forward to forging closer links with other ECIA members and contributing to the BCSF project - Building Connections for a Stronger Profession.

Loes Bliek, Secretary General of ECIA said:

ECIA is delighted to welcome the BIID as a new effective member. The BIID is a highly professional and nationally accredited institute for interior designers. With the development of a Strategic Plan, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and a Sustainability Strategy for the years 2021-2024, the organisation seems to be on the way in an exemplary manner. The ECIA is convinced that the membership of BIID can contribute significantly to strengthen the interior architects’ profession on European level and to increase recognition of the profession's positive impact on society and the environment. The ECIA is looking forward to the cooperation with BIID.

The BIID Council and staff team look forward to working with the other ECIA members and supporting the work of the ECIA.