Advocacy Works: December 2024

Dec 17, 2024 By Marci Merola

Dive into recent highlights and see how advocacy is making a difference nationwide

By Marci Merola Dec 17, 2024

Published in Articles

Across the United States, IIDA chapters are championing the interior design profession through concerted advocacy efforts that engage members, students, and other industry professionals. From hosting advocacy panel discussions at universities across Alabama to ramping up advocacy conversations in Rhode Island to drafting new legislation in Missouri, these efforts highlight designers’ dedication to advancing the profession through education, legislation, and collaboration. Dive into recent highlights and see how advocacy momentum continues to build across the nation.

Engaging Students across Disciplines in Alabama

IIDA Alabama has launched a series of advocacy panel discussions at universities across the state, bringing together interior designers, architects, and dual-discipline professionals to explore the similarities and differences between the two fields. The primary purpose of these panels is to engage students in interior design and architecture programs, encouraging collaboration and knowledge-sharing between the professions.

“Our panelists have emphasized the importance and benefits of extensive collaboration, lifelong learning, and respect,” says Andrew Aho, IIDA, Director of Advocacy and Diversity for the Alabama Chapter. “So far, these panels have been very successful and attracted students to participate and ask questions about how their fields can help each other grow. We plan to continue these discussions at other universities with design programs throughout the winter.”

North Florida’s Annual Battle of the Firms

IIDA North Florida held its annual Battle of the Firms event on October 26. “This event engages our design community in friendly competition through field day activities and is also used as an opportunity to support advocacy efforts in Florida,” said Vice President of Advocacy, Kristen Roberts, IIDA. A portion of all proceeds goes to the chapter’s advocacy fund.

2024 IIDA North Florida Chapter Battle of the Firms

Massachusetts Chapter Speaks with the American Institute of Architects

“Fall in New England kept Massachusetts Advocacy team members busy as we continued conversations around Senate Bill 2813,” writes Amanda Vigneau, IIDA, VP of Advocacy for the New England Chapter. “While the bill did not move forward at the end of the formal session, we have continued to strategize long and short term as the year comes to a close. The highlight of this fall was our participation on a panel about interior design licensure that was hosted by the AIA Massachusetts Government Affairs Committee.” The panel served as an opportunity to help educate and inform architectural professionals in Massachusetts about current legislation and its potential impact.

Maintaining Momentum in Missouri

“Although our previous House and Senate bills did not pass committee in the 2024 legislative session, we have not lost momentum,” says Katie Kenagy, IIDA, VP of Advocacy for the Mid-America Chapter. She and Kelly Kirtland, IIDA, VP of Advocacy for the Gateway Chapter, have been collaborating closely as part of The Consortium for Interior Design–Missouri, which met with AIA–Missouri members in early October to clarify portions of the proposed legislation. “It was a productive meeting that further advanced our course of action for the upcoming year,” said Kenagy.

“As a result, our new bills are currently being drafted for submission at the start of the 2025 legislative session. The new bills will include definitions and scope of work for ‘licensed interior designers’ and allow sign and seal privileges for non-structural interior design projects. It is our current understanding that the House and Senate sponsors of our previous bills have agreed to sponsor our legislation again in the coming session,” adds Kenagy.

Both chapters are also preparing for an upcoming advocacy CEU, hosted by IIDA Gateway, and an Advocacy Day in Jefferson City in early 2025, followed by “registration drive opportunities” throughout the year.

Rhode Island Gears Up for Advocacy Success

Advocacy conversations in Rhode Island are in full swing as Rhode Island officially formed the Consortium for Interior Design–Rhode Island. This fall, Stephanie McGoldrick became the Director of Advocacy for Rhode Island to continue bolstering support for advocacy work in the state. The team has been diligently strategizing for the coming year, engaging in discussions with government agencies and planning another industry roundtable to bolster collaboration, raise awareness, and advance education about advocacy work in the state.

Virginia Collaboration: Reinvigorating Advocacy Efforts

While most states brand their advocacy campaigns under the Consortium for Interior Design at the beginning of their legislative efforts, Virginia is on its way to becoming the first state to do so post-legislation. Spearheaded by Caroline Alexander, IIDA, VP of Advocacy for the Virginia/West Virginia Chapter, in cooperation with Nastaran Benam, IIDA, VP of Advocacy for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter, this initiative aims to reinvigorate advocacy efforts and boost member engagement across the state. The two IIDA VPs are presenting a memorandum of agreement to their American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) counterparts, hoping to formalize joint efforts, including a registration drive, NCIDQ education initiatives, and fundraising opportunities.

Meet New Advocacy VPs

Andrew Aho, IIDA, Director of Advocacy and Diversity, Alabama Chapter

Andrew Aho, IIDA, is a staff designer at KPS Group in Birmingham, Alabama, and serves as the Director of Advocacy and Diversity for the IIDA Alabama Chapter. In his term on the board, Aho hopes to strengthen relationships between Alabama’s talented architecture and interior design communities to grow both professions and develop greater public awareness of the roles that design professionals play in society.

Katie Kenagy, IIDA, VP of Advocacy, Mid-America Chapter

“As a first time VP of Advocacy, not only am I new to my role, but I’m also totally new to the Mid-America Chapter Board,” says Katie Kenagy, IIDA, a senior interior designer at BSA LifeStructures who lives in Kansas City, Missouri.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to take on this role in the midst of momentum that was previously created in Missouri. The importance of becoming NCIDQ-certified and a registered interior designer (where allowed) has always been part of my professional world, but I’ve personally experienced more discussion and awareness around interior design advocacy in the past year than in the whole of my 24-plus year career. I’m beyond grateful to now have a small part to play in the discussion and am increasingly passionate about educating others about advocacy, both within my firm, BSA LifeStructures, and in the local design community.”