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 interior design schools, and therefore ASID has a strong student base and provides mentoring and assistance to help them on their path to their interior design degree.

Interior design programs across the nation are filling up quickly, especially with the interior design industry growing so very rapidly. The growth in the number of interior designers is not sufficient to keep up with the demand for interior design work. The United States Department of Labor expects the interior design industry, and all subsequent and relative design fields, to have a growth of over ten percent in the coming decade. Because of this growth, the interior 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 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 in discussions with people who have their own interior design business. Through these educational interactions, a type of mentorship program develops.

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