15th March 2022 | IN DESIGN STUDENTS | BY SBID Share Tweet Pinterest LinkedIn Training to be an interior designer is a long process, involving studying at university and then working in the industry to try and build up your name, expertise, and experience. It sometimes feels like you need to have a head start from day one, and that’s where joining a professional institute for interior design while studying can help. But it may be daunting, thinking you need to be fully qualified before joining or not sure what the benefits are. But that’s where SBID can help. Read on to find out more about SBID and how it can support students in training. What is SBID? The Society of British & International Interior Design (or SBID for short), is the leading British member organisation for professional interior design, helping to promote, protect and represent interior design services across the UK, and in over 70 countries worldwide. But why do we do it? SBID was formed in 2009 as a way to create trading standards in the field of interior design. Before this, interior design was a non-regulated profession, where many would be misled by interior design hobbyists who were advertising themselves as professional interior designers, but without the qualifications to back up this claim. Why Become An Interior Designer? There are many reasons to become an interior designer, but you have to remember to become one takes a lot of hard work, passion, and dedication if you want to be a fully practiced professional and Accredited interior designer. Firstly you must be creative, able to think of new ideas, ways to use materials, optimise spaces, and work on a budget to create inspiring and thought-provoking design schemes. You must want to make an impact on people’s lives, as your designs will be used for living, working, or entertaining spaces that people will spend a considerable amount of time in. You must also show a commitment to constantly learning. As the interior design world is ever-changing, it requires continuing education and awareness of new ideas, product developments, material innovations, technology, and industry regulations. You must be able to work well with others, developing relationships with both clients, colleagues, and tradespeople to execute various projects to the best of your abilities. You need to understand the client’s vision and requirements, be able to work out what exactly they want or need, and know the best way to achieve this. It’s a great job if you want to be kept on the move and out of the office. Of course, deskwork is still required, but you’ll often be needed on-site during project development, pitching for new projects, meeting with clients, and researching new suppliers or design trends with factory tours, showroom visits, and tradeshows. SBID Accreditation SBID interior design accreditation helps potential clients see that an interior designer or a company has the skills, knowledge, and experience to work to a professional standard. It’s an easy way to champion best practice in the workplace and prevents the public from opting for amateur interior designers who have no real qualifications to verify their level of training or competence. SBID offers an innovative Designer Directory, where clients can search our extensive database of design professionals to help source Accredited designers. You can search by specialism, location and keywords to find a designer best suited for your project, knowing that every designer on the directory will provide a service up to SBID’s high standards. This includes expert knowledge, professional service and high-quality design standard. It’s easy to join, simply complete an enquiry form, SBID will carry out a series of checks and then you will receive acknowledgement of whether the review has been a success. You can become accredited with SBID whether you are an interior designer, an interior fit-out specialist or an industry partner. Each membership gains access to a range of exclusive benefits, including listing your products or services in our professional trade directories. Our Accredited designers usually require a full university level education (or equivalent), a minimum number of years in practice and valid insurance cover. But what if you’re a student and can’t meet these criteria? Student Membership SBID is always looking for the next generation of talent, so are proud to offer a free SBID Student Membership for students on Recognised and Accredited Courses. We want to offer prospective interior designers a step up for when they break into the industry, acting as a springboard for young talent. This includes free membership throughout the course, one year of free Associate level membership post-graduation and the ability to secure SBID Accreditation as a trained interior designer after completing your third year working in practice. Not studying on a Recognised and Accredited Course? No matter, as SBID is able to offer students studying interior design courses at other UK universities membership at the discounted rate of £45 plus VAT per annum. Where Can I Get an Interior Design Degree? SBID are proud to endorse, recognise and accredit courses at UK universities. This is our seal of approval that the course offered will help students to develop a career in interior design. We do this by evaluating the academic content taught and how it will relate to the professional practice of interior design. We are an accrediting body of the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), making courses we accredit nationally recognised as fit-for-purpose for students entering the world of interior design. Before SBID began to work with universities, education and employment had not engaged in the sector of interior design. We felt it essential that students should be able to leave university courses more equipped to transfer into the commercial world following their graduation. SBID collaborated with universities directly to help develop courses and in 2015 created 5 modules for interior design at BA and MA degree courses. The way we accredit course content is by measuring the module content for a variety of industry-consulted professional criteria. This includes what employers will be looking for from graduates. We examine each individual module on the course, looking for its relevance to the broader design industry, its innovation and its creativity. Find an Interior Design Course We used our power as a professional accreditation body for interior designers to create a 3-tier recognition and accreditation structure to help identify what universities and courses met the standards of interior design. These 3 tiers are: University Recognition: SBID Recognised universities are those whose course module structures meet our standards for appropriate interior design training. We have recognised over 70 UK universities with this status. Course Accreditation: This is where we have appraised the universities course content and made sure each module meets SBID’s highest education standards for commercial application. We have over 15 universities with Accredited courses. Centre of Excellence: To achieve this status, the university must meet SBID’s vision, values and commitment to improving professionalism in the interior design industry. They are regional hubs to share research and knowledge, allowing students to develop connections to future employers and interior design professionals. We currently have four universities that we regard as Centres of Excellence: Arts University Bournemouth, Coventry University, Southampton Solent University and Teesside University. Our course accreditation scheme differs from other providers due to the employability benefits it offers, created as a guide for potential students to choose courses that future employers can verify for having content relevant to the field and reassurance they’re hiring a graduate with the necessary skills and desired knowledge. We are the largest professional body and membership organisation in the UK for interior design, setting standards and championing design industry excellence with an annual Awards programme. The SBID carries a widespread brand recognition across the profession locally, and around the world. You can study interior design courses at universities not accredited by SBID, but each university we endorse will help you cultivate a successful career in interior design. Professional Society Membership So if you’re a student currently undetaking an interior design degree, get in touch today with the Society of British & International Interior Design to claim your free membership. We are dedicated to regulating the field of interior design and helping the next generation of designers be a success in the industry. By studying at one of our recognised universities on an SBID approved course, future employers will know you have acquired the skills, knowledge and experience to give you a boost in the industry. SBID membership can help to enhance your profile as a designer in training. By showcasing your commitment to industry standards and professional development, you could be a more attractive candidate for securing work experience, internships or employment. With a membership to SBID, you’ll be taking a step in the right direction to further your career, working towards becoming an SBID Accredited Designer. Give us a call today on 0207 738 9383 if you would like to find out more about SBID student membership, or visit our website now to explore SBID, our Designer Directory and what we have to offer you or your interior design business.