Celebrating Practice Rights For Interior Designers In Illinois

By Kayla Hardersen By Kayla Hardersen | February 14, 2023 | Parties, HBCH Spotlight,

THE PARTY

Members of the Illinois Chapters of the American Society of Interior Designers and International Interior Design Association gathered at Marshall’s Landing in theMART to celebrate the historic passing of Practice Rights for Interior Designers in Illinois.

THE PEOPLE

Illinois chapter presidents Jill Dexter (IIDA) and Sarah Schwuchow (ASID) toasted to the new legislation alongside VIP guests including Illinois State District 12 Rep. Margaret Croke, who sponsored the bill, and ASID/IIDA lobbyist Liz Brown-Reeves.

THE PINNACLE

The legislation recognizes interior designers as experts in their field in a capacity not seen before in Illinois. Now, qualifying designers will be granted permitting privileges for nonstructural construction that were previously only given to licensed architects and engineers—allowing them to stamp and seal plans involving safety codes and building features. The passing of this bill marks a win in a battle fought for over a decade by many, including Aisha Coats-Duncan, immediate past at-large director for ASID IL, and IIDA IL Vice President of Advocacy Morgan Maples.

Kathryn Dybas, Putri Maha Lima, Margaret Croke, Caroline Heckemeyer and Jacqueline Duarte