The New York chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) will join the likes of Herman Miller and Bernhardt Design, as well as magazines Interior Design, Metropolis and Dwell in participation with the Be Original Americas initiative, becoming the the first IIDA chapter to become part of the organization working to protect designers’ work.
Be Original Americas, a non-profit committed to promoting genuine design and eliminating counterfeit practices in the design industry, has formed this partnership with IIDA NY to create a program to educate and inform professionals on the moral, environmental and economic value of original design.
From left: Emeco's Navy Chair and Restoration Hardware's Naval Chair
“As professionals we support and strive for authenticity in our own work, and believe that it makes a difference in the way people work and live,” said Rebecca Dorris Steiger, chapter president of IIDA NY.
The chapter plans to host 40 events this year.
According to a 2012 study conducted by the International Chamber of Commerce, 2.5 million jobs have been lost due to copied and counterfeit products. Be Original Americas believes that, “in addition to many artists and companies losing work and revenue, the practice of producing knockoffs also stifles innovation, and the drive to create original work.”
In addition, the IIDA NY looks to cultivate an economic and moral standard across the industry, “rooted in the belief that investing in legitimate design is not just good business, but also a necessary step to ensure future innovation.”
Related Story: Protecting original design, a pressing national issue
