Week 2 Discussion Question

Your firm prepared design drawings to explain to a client what an outdoor gazebo at a restaurant would look like.  There were no notation son the drawings that they were for design only and not for construction.  The client gave those drawings to a carpenter who was doing work on the interior of this new restaurant.  The carpenter constructed the gazebo using only those design drawings.  At an opening-night party, a large number of people gathered within the gazebo, and someone was injured when one of the railings gave way.  The injured person and the client named you in a lawsuit, since you designed the gazebo.  Do you agree with the lawsuit?  Why or why not?

Response:
More information is needed to fully understand the situation.

1) Is there a contract between the firm and the client? Does is state anything about the firm completing a design for construction for the client. In other words, was it actually our job-were we responsible for the final design? or was this just a preliminary design consultation?
2) Did the firm know that the design drawings were being used for construction? Did they have other actual constructions plans that should have been used?

Even though the design drawings were not labeled correctly saying "NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION", I think that unless there were dimensions and other notes for how it should be built, that the entire design cannot be credited to the firm alone. If the design drawings were drawn for the purpose of just showing the client how it might look...then they were probably not notated with dimensions of construction details, therefore it was not a complete design, and the firm cannot be held liable.

Professional Practice Week 1 Discussion

Week 1 Discussion Topic:

You graduated from an accredited four-year program in interior design and have been working in the industry for three years. You have been a member of ASID since being a student and have recently taken the NCIDQ examination. Through a friend, you have the opportunity to meet one of the state legislators who will be on the committee to review your state coalition’s proposed interior design legislative proposal. This legislator expressed to you her skepticism about the necessity for legislation of “decorating.” How would you respond to this legislator on why interior design legislation is necessary to protect the public.

Response:

Dear Legislator,

It was a pleasure meeting you at the meeting to discuss the upcoming case on the Interior Design Legislative Proposal. After our brief talk, I wanted to share some more information with you about the design field. Below, I have attached an article that clearly defines what we do as designers, and how it affects the public's safety and welfare. Many do not realize that we are not "decorators" and do far more than simply picking out paint colors and accessories.

NCIDQ DEFINITION OF INTERIOR DESIGN
Interior design is a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. These solutions are functional, enhance the quality of life and culture of the occupants, and are aesthetically attractive. Designs are created in response to and coordinated with the building shell, and acknowledge the physical location and social context of the project. Designs must adhere to code and regulatory requirements, and encourage the principles of environmental sustainability. The interior design process follows a systematic and coordinated methodology, including research, analysis and integration of knowledge into the creative process, whereby the needs and resources of the client are satisfied to produce an interior space that fulfills the project goals. Interior design includes a scope of services performed by a professional design practitioner, qualified by means of education, experience, and examination, to protect and enhance the health, life safety and welfare of the public. These services may include any or all of the following tasks:

• Research and analysis of the client's goals and requirements; and development of documents, drawings and diagrams that outline those needs;
• Formulation of preliminary space plans and two and three dimensional design concept studies and sketches that integrate the client's program needs and are based on knowledge of the principles of interior design and theories of human behavior;
• Confirmation that preliminary space plans and design concepts are safe, functional, aesthetically appropriate, and meet all public health, life safety and welfare requirements, including code, accessibility, environmental, and sustainability guidelines;
• Selection of colors, materials and finishes to appropriately convey the design concept, and to meet socio-psychological, functional, maintenance, life-cycle performance, environmental, and safety requirements;
• Selection and specification of furniture, fixtures, equipment and millwork, including layout drawings and detailed product description; and provision of contract documentation to facilitate pricing, procurement and installation of furniture;
• Provision of project management services, including preparation of project budgets and schedules;
• Preparation of construction documents, consisting of plans, elevations, details and specifications, to illustrate non-structural and/or non-seismic partition layouts; power and communications locations; reflected ceiling plans and lighting designs; materials and finishes; and furniture layouts;
• Preparation of construction documents to adhere to regional building and fire codes, municipal codes, and any other jurisdictional statutes, regulations and guidelines applicable to the interior space;
• Coordination and collaboration with other allied design professionals who may be retained to provide consulting services, including but not limited to architects; structural, mechanical and electrical engineers, and various specialty consultants;
• Confirmation that construction documents for non-structural and/or non-seismic construction are signed and sealed by the responsible interior designer, as applicable to jurisdictional requirements for filing with code enforcement officials;
• Administration of contract documents, bids and negotiations as the client's agent;
• Observation and reporting on the implementation of projects while in progress and upon completion, as a representative of and on behalf of the client; and conducting post-occupancy evaluation reports.

I hope that this will be useful information to you, as you and the committee make a discussion about the legislative laws concerning the Design Field. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Danielle Sapp