The History of The Society of British and International Interior Design

Advancing the Interior Design Profession

As a previously unregulated profession, consumers were often misled by interior design hobbyists claiming to be professional designers. In order to combat this, the general public needed a way to identify and qualify an interior designer’s competence to complete their project to save costly errors or design flaws. Professional interior designers threfore needed a way to distinguish themselves from untrained practitioners.

SBID founder, Dr Vanessa Brady OBE, accepted the challenge to tackle the risks and opportunities within the professional practice of interior design with a vision to professionalise the industry. SBID was formed in 2009 to serve, promote and protect the profession of interior design in the UK.

SBID has since been working to strengthen the professional interior design industry for over a decade. As a growing organisation, SBID is now recognised around the world for its work promoting the highest professional standards.

professional interior design, SBID History

A Holistic View of the Profession

SBID has achieved a remarkable reputation and position within the interior design and fit-out sectors, where the designers’ scheme is procured. As the UK’s leading organisation for professional interior design, SBID has supported apprenticeships in collaboration with the National Shopfitters Association since 2009.

Together, both organisations have established the new standard for the industry experience and knowledge needed in order to achieve best practices throughout the industry by developing initiatives that provide opportunities for new market entrants.

Through requests from designers seeking trustworthy, reliable and competent specialist contractors, SBID was able to form an approved national fit-out company list for designers to source other professionals for their projects. This completed SBID’s 360-degree industry vision, first submitted to the UK Government in January 2009, when the challenge to professionalise UK interior design practices was accepted.

Accreditation Criteria for Interior Designers

To ensure interior designers continue learning and developing, SBID introduced the pioneering first requirement in the UK for defining professional accreditation with a 3-point combination of a degree in interior design, ongoing training and work experience. This series of measures defined interior design professionals with SBID Accreditation.

Associate Membership is also available for emerging interior designers on their journey to achieve full accreditation.

Showcasing Interior Design Excellence

The SBID Awards is intrinsically linked with SBID brand values. Showcasing the qualities of professional practice and the value of industry innovation, the Awards demonstrate the calibre of design excellence that SBID serves to protect. Championing and promoting interior design on its global stage to inspire standards and industry growth. Widely featured in press and media, the programme gives insight into the latest developments and design trends; highlighting the value that interior design brings to businesses and homes, as well as its impact on health, wellbeing and the built environment.

Key Industry Achievements

Interior design standards: SBID has led the profession to drive greater collaboration between academia and design practice. It set pioneering standards for professional practice and conduct, and has consequently become a global name supporting government campaigns for public protection and design rights.

Interior design awards: SBID’s global interior design awards programme, SBID International Design Awards is recognised as a leading industry event, receiving entries from 49 countries and becoming the first interior design award scheme to be accredited with the GOLD Standard Awards Trust Mark by The Independent Awards Standards Council.

Interior design training: SBID developed criteria to accredit Continued Professional Development (CPB) content through the SBID Accredited CPD Programme, which is a pioneering training programme designed to support ongoing industry learning and development. In order to become a Member of SBID, designers must undertake annual CPD learning. This keeps designers’ skills relevant and up to date, and fosters an open and positive attitude to education and growth.

Interior design business: SBID provides members with access to a suite of Professional Service Contracts to help interior designers to establish clear contractual relationships. Contracts for large scale projects are endorsed by government and exclusively provided to SBID by NEC Contracts to facilitate project procurement and define legal agreements. SBID also provide a short contract for small projects included with annual membership fees.

History of SBID

2009

SBID pioneered a national membership Accreditation structure requiring a BA Hons minimum to become an accredited designer in UK.
SBID created course modules containing knowledge that employers require graduates to have learned for professional practice.
SBID course module content was approved and adopted into interior design Bachelor of Arts courses.
Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, Chairman of the global creator’s property-rights organisation CISAC, became SBID Ambassador of Intellectual Property, driving the first campaign in the UK for interior design IP protection.
SBID launched an engagement to review IP protection with the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). It strategised research on IP enforcement with representatives from the Metropolitan Police and government.

2010

SBID launched the SBID Accredited CPD Programme to support designers’ ongoing industry training.

2014

SBID’s Founder, Dr Vanessa Brady received an OBE from the Prime Minister’s Office in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2014 for services to the interior design industry and the British economy. No person in the interior design sector, post or prior, has been honoured for this distinction.This was a testament to the incredible achievements of the organisation, showcasing a commitment not only to our members but to the design sector as a whole.

2015

SBID made formal steps to define specific criteria and skills of interior designers by identifying 12 design disciplines.
SBID’s Founder, Vanessa Brady received an Honorary Doctorate from Solent University for services to education in interior design.
SBID launched a national student design competition, ‘Get me 2 the Top’ which was also established in SBID Ukraine.
SBID was recognised by HESA’s Unistats Dataset to accredit university course content for an interior design degree.

2016

With the aim of bringing the profession of interior design under Government control, SBID submitted a formal Royal Charter application to the Privy Council.

2018

SBID launched its Intellectual Property Initiative in collaboration with the IPO (where designs are registered), the police (where enforcement rights are protected) and the courts (where theft is punished).
A hub for enforcement and protection of a creator’s commercial ideas was launched by SBID at the House of Commons attended by; Circuit Judge; Magistrates; Mishcon de Reya solicitors; BBC Investigative Journalist for Panorama; IPO representatives; Trading Standards Office; Metropolitan Police IP Enforcement and Metropolitan City Police Criminal Investigators.
SBID launched a student design competition, Designed for Business, which engaged with 97 universities across the UK. The winner was awarded a prize of £35,000 at a ceremony hosted at the House of Commons.

2019

SBID hosted an Intellectual Property seminar on British law, IP protection and enforcement of IP theft with leading IP Barrister Prof. Mark Engelman and the government IPO Office.
SBID Accredited and launched the IPO office CPDs for interior designers.

2020

SBID is represented worldwide in over 70 countries and is the formal representative professional body for UK interior design to the government speaking in France, Ukraine, Spain, Egypt and USA for the UK.
Following Brexit and throughout Covid-19, SBID attended weekly virtual meetings on a host of matters impacting on the industry and members prosperity, providing timely government updates directly to members.

2021

Genesis selected SBID to be among the 132 multi-industry membership organisations enlisted to pilot-test the first Visa card for SMEs in response to cash flow pressures on small businesses brought about by COVID-19.
SBID provides a suite of Professional Services Contracts for accredited professionals, endorsed by UK Parliament and exclusively provided by NEC Contracts for SBID registered members.
The SBID interior design course accreditation system expands in line with technology to include appropriate online degree courses, feeder courses; convertible modules towards a degree course and the first industry overview course including a pre-industry commitment 1-day online course and 2-week Accredited Short Course.
SBID continues to work with Skill Gaps Research of the Department of Education to address the content for Year 9 students for transition from school into university.
SBID continue to innovate and adapt content in the course modules registered with HSEA to provide the next generation of employees with the accurate knowledge employers demand.
The international partnership with universities established between the UK and USA in 2009, has been expanded by an additional 13 destinations with significant research into diversity, social opportunity and commercial outcomes.

REFERENCES:
(1) The Design Council

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