About RIDA
The idea of setting up a licensing system for Hong Kong interior designers was first proposed in the early 1990s. At that time, a number of other professions such as chiropractors and Chinese medicine practitioners were in various stages of establishing a licensing system, and it was felt that time was ripe for interior designers to have the same thing. However, the cost of pursuing this project proved prohibitive, and interior designers chose instead to work on uniting industry professionals and building consensus through the newly established Hong Kong Interior Design Association (HKIDA).
In 2005, the HKIDA initiated RIDA—the Registered Interior Designers Association project, the objective of which is to promote the interior design profession and gain the support of the government as well as the general public for the establishment of a registration system for Hong Kong Interior Designers. In October 2007, Horace Pan, vice-chairman of the HKIDA and the RIDA taskforce chairman, succeeded in getting an internal research grant from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to carry out a background study to examine the feasibility of setting up an interior design registration system in Hong Kong. The study examines regulations and legislations for the interior design profession in Europe, the USA and Asia, as well as gauge the views of Hong Kong interior design professionals and key stakeholders via interviews and focus group meetings.
Research for the project began in March, 2008, and the report was published in November 2008. The next step is for Hong Kong interior designers to unite and press on with their effort to achieve licensing, for as we have discovered in our foreign case studies, the road towards licensing is invariably long and arduous.
The RIDA taskforce now commences the next phase by holding a RIDA Seminar Series on topics including building codes and regulations, contract laws and China practice. These seminars are ways to educate interior design practitioners and aspiring designers, and inform the general public about the ever expanding scope of work of a professional interior designer.
For further information about this seminar series and RIDA, please click here.
(click here to download a PDF of the research report)
Why
In order to raise the standard of the profession in Hong Kong and ensure public safety, health and well-being, it is important to establish a registration system for interior design practitioners. Registration for interior designers is already a reality in many parts of the world including Europe, Canada and the United States, and is a growing trend in Asia, where Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia already have registration in place for interior designers. If the Hong Kong interior design profession were to stay ahead of the competition in the region and around the world, it must establish a registration system as soon as possible.
Advantages to interior design registration include:
• Ensuring that building codes and fire safety rules are observed so as to protect the health, safety and well being of the public;
• Cutting down on illegal structures and dangerous building practices;
• Ensuring the health of occupants and the environment with the use of non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials;
• Increasing the quality of life by raising the standard of our interior environment;
• Raising the standard of professionalism for interior designers;
• Ensuring the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s interior design industry;
• Attracting higher quality practitioners to the profession
How
Raising the standard of the Hong Kong interior design profession must start with the 3Es: Experience, Education and Examination.
Experience:
• Establish an enforceable code of ethics for practitioners
• Institute an apprentice period for interior graduates
• Devote research into a body of knowledge applicable to the interior design profession in Hong Kong
Education:
• Standardize interior design curriculum across different institutions
• Put greater emphasis on professional practice and issues relating to public health, safety and well being into interiordesign curriculum
• Develop continuing education for interior design practitioners
• Develop Masters and PhD degree programs in interior design
Examination:
• Devote research into interior examination in other countries around the world
• Develop appropriate content for a local professional examination for interior designers
• Establish compulsory examination for interior design practitioners
What you can do
• Join HKIDA and become informed about the issue of licensing.
• If you work in interior design or are studying interior design, you should upgrade their skills and knowledge in preparation for licensing examination
• Make your views and opinions about interior design licensing known. You can sign up here to receive updates and news about the issue.
• Participate in the RIDA seminar by registering here.
WHO
Who should be involved in the RIDA Project?
All interior design practitioners including architects, contractors and interior designers; students of interior design whether you are enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate course. Also interested members of the general public can get involved, since interior deisgn registration concerns the health, safety and well-being of the whole community!
Horace Pan
RIDA Task Force Chairman
2009
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