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

AESTRACTThird and fourth year undergraduate interior design students in Colleges of Architecture or Human Sciences at three different research universities were surveyed to compare their: (1 ) perceived value of research in interior design practice, (2) perceptions of who should conduct research, ( 3 ) attitudes toward research in interior design education, and (4) definitions of research. A survey instrument was developed that consisted of one openended question and 29 questions using a Likert scale. Questions were adapted from the Chenoweth and Chidister (1 983) scale that measured landscape architecture attitudes toward research, and from the Dickson and White ( 1 993) scale administered to interior design practicing professionals. A total of 89 undergraduate students were surveyed from the three universities. The majority of the students were Caucasian (n = 79) and female (n = 84). The results indicated that, overall, students valued research for the profession regardless of their college or university off iliation. However, their definitions of research were pragmatic in nature, and they often regarded research as the gathering of information rather than the generation of new knowledge. The students were also unclear about who should be conducting interior design research. College affiliation revealed that students who were in an architecturally-based program put a higher value on research at the undergraduate level than those students housed in a College of Human Sciences; similarly, College of Architecture students had a better understanding that research advanced a profession.Although much has been written about practicing professionals' perceptions of research (e.g., Dickson and White, 1993; White and Dickson, 1994), to date, no JOURNAL OF INTERIOR DESIGN 1 8 Copyright 2007, Interior Design Educators Council, Journal of Intm'or Design 32(2) EMPIRICAL DESIGN RESEARCH DICKINSON, MARSDEN, AND READ Although educators are producing the research, practitioners do not rely on this body of knowledge during the design process.

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Empirical Design Research: Student Definitions, Perceptions, and Values

Dickinson

Marsden

Read

2007

“…This resulted in The Polsky Papers (Dohr, 1989; Figure 9), which documented awarded studies on an array of topics from the program's inception (ex. Dickson & White, 1995).…”

Section: S-1980s: Fider's Committeesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foundation for Interior Design Education Research's Early History: Important Developments from 1970 to 1990

Harwood

Dohr²

2015

The Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER), founded in 1970 and now the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), was established to administer interior design accreditation processes in higher education across the United States and Canada. It was the first and only regulatory agency professionally recognized and in the public's interest. This paper examines FIDER's early growth from 1970 to 1990 through key actions in its Founding and Governance, Research and Development, and Accreditation Processes. Content of primary and secondary resources from CIDA archives were analyzed, as well as oral histories collected from leaders. Each action is assessed for its importance during the time and in context to FIDER's mission. A content analysis guided by minutes, significant publications, research reports, and press releases helped identify and clarify important and relevant information as it related to the FIDER/CIDA history, capturing the main milestones. Documentation herein clarifies critical issues and changes that FIDER faced and offers insights into its evolution and status as an instrument of change in interior design education with contributions to the field's identity and professionalism. This history provides definitive stages to its growth, and substantiates key actions that afford its landmark status. Numerous goals are achieved and a model for specialized program accreditation matures with strong, professional, and equitable characteristics. A fervent and dedicated commitment to FIDER exists from those in education and the profession, and an international presence and more expansive agenda emerge with many more volunteers.

“…In 1994, the Polsky Forum, hosted by Dickson and White (Dickson & White, 1994), created a vision for the interior design profession in 2010. Increasing the perception of the value or social relevance of our profession in the public arena became a key focus in the discussion.…”

Section: Journal Of Interior Design Volume 35 Number 1 2009mentioning

confidence: 99%

What's in a Name? Interior Design and/or Interior Architecture: The Discussion Continues

White

2009

Self Cite

Allison Carll White, Ph.D., is a Professor in the School of Interior Design in the College of Design at the University of Kentucky. She also holds a joint appointment in the graduate program in the Department of Historic Preservation. Allison has published extensively on various aspects of the design profession, with a special focus on the need to promote the value of interior design. She became an IDEC Fellow in 1999 and currently serves as the chair of IDEC's College of Fellows. Allison also has served as a reviewer and a Publication Board member for the Journal of Interior Design. In 2000, Allison was made a Fellow of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) after serving as the director of the Education and Research Forum and president of the IIDA Foundation.