Practitioners‘ Perceptions of Interior Design

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the perceptions of leaders of interior design practitioner organizations regarding the purpose, need, and importance of graduate education. RESEARCH DESIGN: Two surveys were conducted using a modified DELPHI technique. Responses from the first survey were used to generate questions for the second survey. Targeted respondents included the top two tiers of leadership of the member organizations of the Unified Voice Task Force. ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed using cross‐tabular presentation with chi‐square or the Fisher Exact Test used to determine statistical significance. KEY FINDINGS: Although practitioners recognize that graduate education can develop an area of practice specialization and result in scholarship that expands the body of knowledge, there appears to be confusion regarding the purpose, need, and importance of graduate education to interior design. The practitioners indicated that specialization could be achieved through continuing education, and they appear to view the development of the body of knowledge from an insular position as opposed to broadening the intellectual foundation of the profession. CONCLUSIONS: Increased collaboration among industry, practice, and education is needed to rectify the problems that presently exist with graduate education in the field of interior design.

The Polsky Forum: The Creation of a Vision for the Interior Design Profession in the Year 2010

“…Consequently, graduate education is not shoring up the profession by contributing the quantities of new knowledge needed to support practice as occurs in other, more established professions. Research by White and Dickson (1994) reveals that interior design practitioners do not view graduate education as essential because they believe that advanced information can be obtained from continuing education courses. Practitioners do not understand the importance of graduate education in expanding the existing knowledge base of the profession.…”

Service-learning as strategy of aging and environment: developing generations of socially responsible interior designers

“…Service-learning facilitates partnerships between educational institutions and communities, but can also add collaboration with professionals to bridge the gap between education and practice. Interior design practitioners have noted collaboration between practice, education, and research should be increased to inform one another and to further the field of interior design (Carll White & Dickson, 1994).…”