Interior Design Education Initiative

If there is one important consideration when funding any education initiative, it would be
to consider the sources from which to solicit funds. Approaching alumni is an option,
and it will in fact probably be the most lucrative source of monetary contributions. Other
options for funding include enterprises headed by interior design students and interior
design professional organizations.

The American Society of Interior Design (ASID) is the leading professional organization
that supports current and future interior designers. It is a not-for-profit organization, and
though it is not a design agency, it does provide many resources for its members. Student
chapters of the organization are in most of the nation’s design schools, and therefore
ASID has a strong student base and provides mentoring and assistance.

Interior design programs across the nation are filling up quickly, especially with the
industry growing so very rapidly. The United States Department of Labor expects the
interior design industry, and all subsequent and relative fields, to have a growth of over
ten percent in the coming decade. Because of this growth the design colleges and schools
in America will seek additional funds, though the funding will not be supplied quickly.

Historically, American colleges have not responded well in providing educational funds
in a timely manner. The market of a particular industry may rise rapidly, such as in the
case of information technology during the late 1990’s, and the interior design field’s
education programs will have similar circumstances over the next few years. The
materials to provide the education to the new students must come from school initiatives.

Each interior design program will have a part in seeking additional funding from school
alumni. A telethon like calling bank of recent and previous programs is an excellent
manner to educate alumni of the current situation, and there are even opportunities for the
current design students to increase their education potential by having conversations with
experienced and working interior designers. The students benefit by participating.

With interior design education initiatives and rapid employment growth, the interior
design field should be able to confront the coming changes adequately.

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