What are the benefits of an ASID Membership and engagement? To separate the decorators or someone with a air for decorating from professional designers, ASID joins those who have a combination of formal design education and/or full-time work experience and have passed a prominent accreditation examination, administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).  “ASID designers have thousands of hours of education, experience and training, which give them the skills to deal with more than the furnishings and finishes,” says says Holly Dennis, ASID-FWC community chair for Sarasota and former president. “They use analytical problem-solving skills and process complex technical data essential to your project needs and complexities. ASID designers act as consultants and project managers to create an overall project roadmap, managing procurement, supervising contractors, and overseeing budgets.”

The resources inherited from becoming a member of the ASID include Professional Development—career stage programming that focuses on the impact of design, the business of design, leadership development and community partnerships. ASID regularly plans several CEU’s (Continuing Education Units) for its members, including online programing of various webinars and courses—designed to help members expand their knowledge, elevate their practices and grow their business. The organization also holds many networking opportunities with its built environment colleagues, which include the local chapters of AIA (American Institute of Architects), CSI (Construction Specifiers Institute) and industry partners. The Florida West Coast Chapter especially, is on top of hosting in-person engagements throughout the year with industry experts and thought leaders, to initiate trade programs and business solutions. Members also benefit from Research & Knowledge Management—tapping into ASID’s well-equipped research team, whom provide economic, sector, career stage and of course, design data and market research. “We are continually striving to improve the value proposition for all of our members by providing a sense of community, design resources, and enhancing partnerships,” says Dennis.