The trustees of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Foundation granted funds to support Council for Interior Design Accreditation's (CIDA) Collaborative Strategies session, which brings together interior design and related disciplines to identify and address factors influencing collaboration in practice. CIDA will use this information toward the continued development of professional standards for interior design education. Results of the session also be made available for the benefit of the professional community as a whole.

“The ASID Foundation supports initiatives that result in a stronger, more resilient profession. Our goal is to ensure that future designers are well prepared not only to practice, but also to work with and lead collaborative teams. Graduates who are poised to become highly valued team members are critical to the profession’s future,” according to Nila Leiserowitz, FASID, IIDA, Associate AIA, chair of the ASID Foundation Board.

CIDA-accredited interior design programs report that standards for education are by far the most influential factor in curriculum development. This fact emphasizes the need for standards to keep pace with changes in practice. “The interdisciplinary nature of the profession and the need to collaborate effectively across disciplines is a clear and consistent message from practice. Clients more than ever expect a wide range of expertise, and the next generation of designers are innate collaborators and multi-taskers, having grown up with technology and social networking. CIDA Directors believe these factors have significant implications for both design practice and education,” noted Robert Wright, FASID, chair of the CIDA Board. “We are grateful that the ASID Foundation Trustees see the value in engaging our allied disciplines in this important discussion.”