The future evolution of sustainable interiors in interior design

As the design industry evolves, interior designers will play an expanding role in addressing critical environmental and social challenges in the areas of wellness, healthcare, education and urbanization. It was recently revealed in ASID’s Facts & Figures report, that on average, interior designers specify products in nearly 9 of 10 projects in both residential and commercial projects. This figure illustrates the huge impact and power that interior designers have to challenge and change the direction of sustainable product design and use, in the built environment. In the near future there will be a convergence of sustainable and socially responsible design and development. Though we have made great strides in the area of sustainability we must began encouraging clients to consider long lasting adaptable solutions. We must also begin designing spaces than can be easily modified for different uses, by specifying products that can be refurbished rather than recycled, hence the term “Again-ability”. Again-ability is a more sustainable process with less waste verses the recycling process of today. Finally, the future of Interior design is expanding at a rapid pace with the development of an industry-wide model of integrated collaborations and consciousness that uses a holistic approach to bring designers, builders, architects, and the user, together, as an integral unit for the advancement of sustainable interiors in interior design.

References:

http://www.usgbc.org/articles/healthy-sustainable-interior-design-conversation-asid

http://www.interiorsandsources.com/article-details/articleid/12993/title/5-trends-to-come.aspx

http://www.asid.org/content/american-society-interior-designers-issues-2012-industry-trends-report

I am an Interior Designer, not an Interior Decorator

It happens often, this thought runs across my mind every time the question is posed. “What do you do?”My reply “I am currently enrolled in college getting my BFA in Interior Design.”  Right away the response is “I am a terrible decorator maybe you can come over and decorate my place.” How do I convey my dislike of the comparison without coming off indignant or rude? There is a huge chassum between the responsibilities of a designer verses a decorator. Nowadays due to the many misleading portrayals of interior designers on decorating shows everyone is unaware or just confused about the role of an Interior Designer.  The profession of interior design has been a consequence of the development of society and the complex architecture that has resulted from the development of industrial processes. The pursuit of effective use of space, user well-being and functional design has contributed to the development of the contemporary interior design profession.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interior_design

www.hgtv.com

Incorporating fresh air in interior spaces for the health and safety of the user.

1947 British scholar S.F. Markham writes, "The greatest contribution to civilization in this century may well be air-conditioning—and America leads the way." 1950s In the post-World War II economic boom, residential air conditioning becomes just another way to keep up with the Joneses. More than 1 million units are sold in 1953 alone.

Fast forward 60 years later and we find that almost every building and home built after 1953 has

a HVAC (central heating and air cooling system). In an attempt to increase HVAC efficiency contemporary housing and buildings are sealed tightly.  This results in sealed environments with unhealthy man-made articles such as paints, plastics, insulation, plywood, carpets, synthetic fabrics and detergents that emit harmful pollutants. This coincides and explains the increase in complaints of SBI (sick building syndrome) and the diagnosis of BRI (building related illness). As our country and the world at large briskly move forward towards sustainable design practices, Interior Designers must begin to create and design interior spaces that meet the programmatic need of fresh clean air for the health and safety of all users. Healthy buildings equal healthier people. This is a pretty simple equation, but one that is overlooked or ignored in the development of new buildings and interior spaces. The impact of healthier interior environments would improve and boost our local economy in many ways. It would increase and sustain the health and longevity of our citizens, which would lend itself to more vibrant flourishing communities. It would increase production and revenue in the work place, as employees call out less for SBI related illnesses for themselves or family members. It would decrease the workers compensation claims made because of BRI. The monies saved by all could then be reinvested in our communities and boost our local economy.

The design solution is selecting sustainable clean air handling systems during the initial stages of design, like the system created by the Frog project. Also using building and design products with low or no VOC emissions, and finally incorporating various plant materials throughout the design for natural filtration. Urging the builder to make the extra investment at the inception of design is a win, win for everyone.       

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/electrical-plumbing/a-brief-history-of-air-conditioning-10720229 05/01/13

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/sick_building_factsheet.pdf 05/01/13

http://www.urbanplantscapes.com/nasa-and-clean-air-act-council-recommend-interior-plants-cleans-air/ 05/01/13

http://www.projectfrog.com/performance/air/ 05/01/13

Who is ultimately responsible for advancing the use of sustainable design materials and products in our communities, architects or interior designers?

Most communities whether located in historic or new neighborhoods were the brain child of a visionary developer and/or a creative architect. Here in the Tampa Bay Area, modern developments incorporating sustainable design, are few and far in between. If one cannot recognize sustainable design practices being incorporated on the exterior of a building, most likely it has not been addressed in the interior construction and design.

 “It is impossible to separate the design of a building from the design of its interior.” The interior evolves directly from the formal and conceptual ideas of the building, and the building is (or should be) directly impacted by programmatic and human behavioral constraints of the interior (http://www.di.net/articles/interior-design-and-architecture/, 04/25/2013).

The main focus of interior design is to protect the health, safety needs, and welfare of the user or public at large. It is vital that sustainable materials take priority when product selections are being completed in all areas of design.  A few examples are VOC free paints, formaldehyde free drywall and carpeting, textiles free of harmful chemicals and dyes, to be used on furniture and fabrics, also choosing LED or natural lighting for illumination.

Interior designers have greater potential to impact the advancement of sustainable design on a micro level in our communities, because of their intimate involvement with each space, along with the depth and attention given to the safety and health of all users.

 References:

http://www.di.net/articles/interior-design-and-architecture/

Definition of Interior Design available from   http://www.ncidq.org/aboutus/aboutinteriordesign/definitionofinteriordesign.aspx