Ill. Law Grants Sign Off Privileges to Interior Designers

Abstract

June 14, 2022 Annemarie Mannion KEYWORDS Illinois / Interior Design Order Reprints No Comments A new law in Illinois that allows interior designers to stamp and seal certain plans is being called historic by members of the interior design profession. "It finally recognizes interior designers as a critical part of design profession," said Lauren Earley, manager of government and public affairs for the American Society of Interior Designers. The law allows interior designers to stamp and seal plans for non-structural redesigns that don't involve movement of non-structural walls, and that don't affect loads or safety, which helped the law earn support from the American Institute of Architects Illinois. Illinois is not the first state in the U.S. to allow interior designers to sign off on non-structural plans. "Interior designers are highly-skilled professionals who must have significant qualifications to pursue a career in the industry," she said. "This bill will allow designers to stamp their own design plans for non-structural construction, removing an unnecessary barrier for those in the industry."Earley noted that the interior design profession is 65% to 70% women and that 50% of smaller firms are made up of women. Efforts to increase the scope of what interior designers can do does not have the support of all architects, as Architectural Record has reported.