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| Oct 29, 2013 |
BIID merges with IDA, combines membership
Boh staff
By Staff

Last week, the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) announced a merger with the Interior Design Association (IDA), both London-based, which will incorporate the IDA’s members working in the commercial sector with the BIID’s government-recognized professional members working in the residential interiors sector. 

With immediate effect, the IDA’s design practice members will make the transition into the BIID membership of almost 2,000 individual and practice members, and Charles Leon, the current IDA chair, will take a position on the BIID council of directors.

Charles Leon and Sue Timney

The merger will create one leading body for interior design that will set national professional standards, promote learning and debate, and champion the value of interior design on the national and international stage.

The BIID’s Professional Pathway has provided the impetus for this merger. Launched in April 2013 to offer a structured route from education into professional practice, the BIID Professional Pathway sets a new national standard for competency in interior design. The BIID and IDA share the same view that the Pathway is critically important in helping to raise standards across the commercial and residential sectors.

“I truly believe this is a historic day for the UK interiors profession,” said president of the BIID, Sue Timney. “With our shared vision, the only way forward is to join together as a larger collective voice for the whole interior design community. By merging our memberships and expertise, the renewed BIID will go from strength to strength."

“Both the IDA and BIID felt that the interior design industry and the individuals who work within it will be better served, represented and supported by the strength of one unified voice,” said Leon. “We share the same interests and merging the organizations into one was the right thing at the right time.”

Established in 1966, the BIID has developed rigorous entry requirements, an industry leading code of professional conduct, a long-standing program of events and conferences, and lobbies the government through its seat on the Construction Industry Council.

The IDA was established in 2009 as a business networking community for the commercial interiors sector and has facilitated national and international commercial opportunities for its members and strong relationships with manufacturers and suppliers.

“We see this merger as great news for interior designers practicing in the UK today," said Mary Fox of Fox Linton Associates, a BIID and IDA member. “It demonstrates an on-going commitment to the best practice, creativity and excellence in the industry and will give us all a passionate ‘voice’ to represent our profession.”

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