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Rachel's avatar

I would like to elaborate on Mtm's response here in regards to hospital design. Often, the architect designs the shape of the building, the structural needs, and of course the overall design. The interior designer comes in to detail the ceiling plans, the materials and finishes used for the flooring (again- non-slip flooring is an issue as well as off-gassing materials), the interior elevations- including the height of ADA toilets (these details include the height of the toilet, the selection of the toilet and whether it meets building code, the height and placement of assisting bars in the toilet rooms, the layout of these toilet rooms to ensure that there is room for a wheelchair to maneuver in these rooms, and many more... just for the toilet room!!), as well as several additional details, such as electrical.

There is a tremendous amount of responsibility put on an interior designer- and we work at less than a teachers' salary and are constantly barraged with ignorant posts such as this one. Lesson of the day? Respect your interior designer and the level of knowledge we hold. We didn't study intensely in the toughest programs in school to be told that we pick paint colors.

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Rachel's avatar

To every one of you who claim that all interior designers do is to match colors and select pillows... this is EXACTLY why we need legislation. Because people do not even know what we do and it is WIDELY misunderstood. Interior designers are Interior architects. We are trained in architecture... from the inside out. Architects are trained in structural design, we are trained in interior design. 

As an interior designer, I have selected floor tile for ADA accessible ramps complying with building code to meet the proper slip rating coefficient and ensure that when that tile is wet, people with disabilities are not sliding and injuring themselves. I ensure that safety exits are placed within rooms as needed. I understand what materials are appropriate for use vs. those that may be flammable or otherwise unsafe.I do not select pillows. I do not hang pictures. In fact, if I were asked to do so I would fail miserably. I am not a good decorator. I do, however, understand the amount of acoustical material needed in a particular square footage of a gym. I also know how to detail the structure of a window so that it looks the way the architectural designer would like it to look and maintains energy standards per the Leadership for Energy Efficient Design.Please, educate yourselves before shoving your foot in your mouth and completely misinforming others in regards to someone else's profession.

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