bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entry–Level Competencies and Attributes Needed by Interior Design Graduates: A Survey of Top Interior Design Firms
Authors: Baker Iris J. , Sondhi Lydia E.
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this study was to determine the education, competencies, and attributes needed by persons seeking entry–level interior design positions as indicated by respondents from large commercial design firms identified as “top” in the country. The importance of examination by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and of program accreditation by the Foundation for Interior Design Education and Research (FIDER) for entry–level designers was examined.

This study revealed that large interior design firms are looking for entry–level personnel who critically think through design solutions based on design theories, communicate verbally and through graphic presentation, practice professional ethics, and present themselves as mature, enthusiastic, and well groomed. The profession is looking for conceptualizers over technicians.

Comparisons with previous research indicate an increasing awareness of the importance of examination for professional qualification (NCIDQ) and accreditation of interior design programs.
Patterns: A View of the Relationship between Interior Design Education and Practice
Authors: Harwood Buie
Published: June 2008

The relationship between interior design education and practice is a strong one. It is well recognized that competence in interior design is acquired and verified through a sequence of education, experience, and examination. The objective of this evaluation is to review material relating to this three–step process. Included in the review are articles on competencies, the updated definition of interior design, the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) standards, the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ)Educational Testing Service (ETS) job analysis study, the proposed internship development program, the NCIDQ examination, and continuing education requirements. Information presented herein provides a comparison of subject content and identifies a common body of knowledge in interior design. By synthesizing this material, a clear picture of the relationship between education and practice is formed. It is through this close integrated relationship that the future is shaped and parameters of the profession are established.
Entertainment and Communications Technology in the Home: A Historic Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Design Systems
Authors: Zavotka Susan
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this study was first to examine the changes in use of organic and inorganic design systems for entertainment and communications technology in the home from 1918 through 1987. Comparisons were then made between these results and the changes in the sociolcultural factors of furnishing styles, equipment saturations, and attitudes towards technology. A content analysis of House and Garden magazines from 1918 to 1987 was used to carry out this reserch. Changes in style mix of technology and room furnishings, seating arrangements, and concealment of the technology were analyzed. The research indicated that both organic and inorganic systems were simultaneously in use during the 70–year period, but the emphasis became more organic by 1987. Organic and inorganic system scores were influenced largely by changes in furnishing styles and equipment saturation. Suggestions are given for ways to include organic and inorganic design solutions in interior design classes.
Creativity Levels of Interior Design and Non–interior Design Majors
Authors: Gardner Kathleen
Published: June 2008

Previous research indicates little or no evidence to suggest creativity is linked to a particular college major though some people believe certain college majors have students who score higher on creativity tests. This study was conducted to determine creativity levels of interior design (ID) majors and non–ID majors (hotel and restaurant administration; HRA). A creativity instrument (How Do You Think?, Adult; Davis, 1977) was administered during regular class time to 36 ID majors and 44 HRA majors in the College of Home Economics. Results indicate that the ID majors scored significantly higher than HRA majors and that males scored higher than females. There was no interaction effect of gender and major. Data is discussed in relation to selection and identification of ID majors.
A Taxonomy of Health, Safety, and Welfare Implications of Interior Design Decisions
Authors: Danko Sheila , Eshelman Paul , Hedge Alan
Published: June 2008

Legal and operational definitions of health, safety, and welfare are expanding to include greater emphasis on long–term issues of health and psychological well–being in addition to near–term safety issues. Mounting environmental research suggests that many interior design decisions previously thought of as benign with respect to their effects on human health and productivity may, in combination with other environmental influences, have debilitating effects on the occupant. Other research indicates that interior features and environmental amenities previously considered extravagant, can have an empowering influence on people, elevating their sense of self–worth and contributing to their long–term physical and emotional wellness. To better enable designers to understand their role in affecting the safety, health, and well–being of occupants, this article briefly describes emerging health concerns related to the indoor environment and cites environmental design research that potentially links these health concerns to interior design decisions. Rather than an exhaustive literature review, this paper focuses on selected studies that highlight the significance of interior design decisions in ensuring the health and well–being of the occupant. The goal is to propose a framework that makes the consequences of daily interior design decision making more evident to interior design practitioners and educators while providing a structure for future research.
Progressivism in Colonial–style Living and Dining Rooms
Authors: May Bridget A.
Published: June 2008

This paper examines the influence of the Reform or Progressive Movement on Colonial–style living rooms and dining rooms as depicted in popular decorating iterature during the first two decades of the twentieth century. It shows that the style was–influenced by such Progressive beliefs as the power of domestic environments to affect individuals and society, the crusade against germs and disease, and faith in experts to determine solutions to modern problems. The effects of Progressive aesthetic principles, such as simplicity, honesty, naturalness, and unity, also are discussed. The discussion shows that reform tenets were important in the Colonial style because they were regarded as inherent in the historic precedents from which the style was derived. Finally, this paper demonstrates that the combination of reform precepts and Colonial precedents appealed to the middle class and is one reason for the style's popularity with that group.
Fluorochemical Finishing of Upholstery: Effect on Soiling and Soil Release
Authors: Raheel Mastura , Tasi–Hwang Jin–Feng
Published: June 2008

Upholstery constitutes an important group of fabrics where discoloration from soil is common, appearance is of greatest concern, and cleaning is difficult. Fluorochemical (FC) finishing of upholstery fabrics is a common practice. However, its effectiveness in reducing soiling in upholstery fabrics of various fiber contents and constructions is not clear from published literature. This research explores the effectiveness of FC repellent finish on soiling and soil release properties of upholstery fabrics having various fiber contents and fabric geometry toward paniculate as well as oily I paniculate composite soils. Soiling propensity and soil release properties were evaluated using laboratory techniques as well as visual examination. Results indicate that FC finish affected soiling and soil release properties of fabrics to different extents. Also, overall soiling due to composite soil increased in all fabrics but more prominently in cellu–losic fabrics.
Interior Design Education in the Year 2000: A Challenge to Change
Authors: Fowles Dorothy L.
Published: June 2008

Anticipating the year 2000 is a popular activity in the early years of the 1990s. This article presents perceptions about current and possible future trends and how these could influence and challenge the interior design profession and interior design education. Changing population, social structure, cultural values, economics, technology, and resources will influence the future course of any profession and education. Interior design will become more technical, complex, and specialized, and at the same time it will be more valued and creative. Within the context of technology and aesthetics, it is suggested that interior design continue its unique identity through a humanistic approach. To respond to global and professional changes in the new millennium, interior design education should experience modifications in substantive content, pedagogy, students, and formal structure. In the process of change, the relationship between education and the profession needs revision. All of this will take energy and creativity to develop and execute during the next decade.
Computer–Aided Design in Interior Design Programs: Status and Challenges
Authors: Clemons Stephanie , McLain–Kark Joan
Published: June 2008

Use of computer–aided design (CAD) in higher education is increasingly prevalent because of innovations in hardware and software, lower prices for educational institutions, and improved technical support. Little research has been done on a national level to ascertain the amount of CAD instruction offered at institutions that teach interior design. This article reports a 1990 survey of the IDEC membership to determine the number of interior design programs that have incorporated CAD into their curricula, where and when the instruction occurred, who offered it, and how much time was devoted to teaching it during the term or semester. Frequency and percentage distributions were calculated using statistical analysis software.

Of the 153 programs responding nationwide, 89 percent (136 schools) have incorporated CAD instruction. This percentage is higher than found in the few previous studies, indicating that the process of adapting CAD as a tool in the design education field is escalating.

The survey helps identify challenges associated with ensuring optimal integration of CAD systems in the face of ongoing hardware and software innovations.
Comparing the Standards in Interior Design and Architecture to Assess Similarities and Differences
Authors: Harwood Buie
Published: June 2008

In the professions of interior design and architecture, standards of education, experience, and examination provide a system for measuring quality, responsibility, and service. These standards establish criteria for professional competence and development and establish a framework for legal registration requirements and professional definitions. Although the standards have recently been updated, they have not been formally compared to assess their similarities and differences. This article addresses this comparison, as well as the relationship between these standards and recognized legal registration requirements and professional definitions.

The overall goals are to clarify how the standards shape each profession and to determine whether the standards in interior design support the licensing of interior designers. Responding to allegations, conflicts, and restrictions in the two professions, this article addresses the underlying question of whether interior design standards compare favorably when measured against architectural standards.

To facilitate a comparison, published and unpublished documents were obtained from various sources and the primary professional organi–zations–the Foundation for Interior DesignEducationResearch(FIDER), the Entry Level Monitored Internship Program (Jackman, Harwood, and Veitch, 1990), the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the National Council for Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), and from various state and provincial licensing bills.

Reviewing this material shows that different knowledge is acquired in each profession. Interior designers are not educated, trained, or tested to be architects. Conversely, architects are not educated, trained, or tested to be interior designers. The professions are, however, complementary.
Rethinking Proxemic Zones for M icrospatial Analysis
Authors: De Long Alton J.
Published: June 2008

Spatial distinctions by individuals seated in different arrangements are expanded using modified proxemic zones from previous research. The results are contrasted and compared with an overlay of Edward Hall's original proxemic zones on the same sets of data. It is suggested that the modified proxemic zones exhibit a greater degree of fidelity with the data and help to illuminate additional spatial distinctions made by people but that both sets of zones are important in spatial analysis and design. Research was conducted with scale–model environments (1“= 1'0”).
Defining Interior Design Programming
Authors: Kriebel Teresa M. , Birdsong Craig , Sherman Donald J.
Published: June 2008

The objectives of this research were to define programming as it relates to the design of interior envi–ronments and identify the phases and components of interior design programming. The ultimate goal was to integrate existing design research and programming concepts to produce a definition and procedure that could be easily used by interior design educators and practitioners.

An extensive review was conducted of literature that defined programming and identified phases or components of programming. Data from each source were entered on a coding sheet listing definitions of programming and its different phases and components.

Following analysis of the data, a definition of programming was devised, three phases of programming were identified, and fourteen major components of programming were identified and described. The results of this study have implications for both interior design educators and practitioners as a method of documenting the attention given in the design process to issues of public health, safety, and welfare.
Colorfastness of Nontextile Wall Covering
Authors: Epps Helen H. , May Bridget A.
Published: June 2008

The purpose of this study was to assess the need for a colorfastness standard for nontextile wall covering. Although manufacturers do not provide information on product colorfastness, consumers may erroneously assume that all wall covering products are colorfast to light. To determine the need for colorfastness standards, eighteen nontextile wall covering samples from six major manufacturers were evaluated. Specimens were tested in an accelerated weathering instrument, which simulated exposure to sunlight through window glass. Both visual assessment and instrumental color measurement indicated that the majority of the wallpaper samples changed color following exposure to light. The implementation of a standard is recommended, and points to be considered in the development of such a standard are addressed.
Developing a Theoretical Perspective and Methods about Interior Space and Society
Authors: Hasell Mary Joyce , Peatross Frieda Dell
Published: June 2008

This paper documents three investigations of the connections among human values, behavior, and space in residential settings. In Stage I, a feminist theoretical perspective and the method of content analysis were joined in an examination of house plans to determine links between women's changing roles and noticeable changes in house plans. In Stage II, a more general sociological theoretical perspective of gender was combined with three–dimensional scale models and interviewing to examine more directly the interaction of personal values, behavior, and spatial preferences. Because the findings of Stage II provided research hypotheses but failed fully to explain the reciprocal interaction between people and space, the theoretical perspective and method were refined for a more detailed Stage III study. In that stage theoretical perspectives and research methods were merged for exploring social and spatial issues in domestic space. The aim of this paper is to explain the cyclical process of imaging, presenting, testing, and refining necessary for the formulation of theory and corresponding methods.
POEs and Prototypes: Post–occupancy Evaluations Comparing Two Prototypical Flexible Group Work Spaces in the open office
Authors: Zimmer Linda , Arch M. I.
Published: June 2008

This study uses post–occupancy evaluation as a method to examine two prototypical team work settings. The aim is to determine how these flexible team settings support group work processes and workers. The post–occupancy evaluation measures users’ behavior and reactions for both settings over the course of a year. The evaluation methodology is driven by a series of seven hypotheses related to how the physical setting may affect the interaction and effectiveness of groups. A multimethod approach involving written surveys, observations, and focus group interviews is used to gather and validate data for each hypothesis. The results indicate shared successes and problems with flexible components and setting design and also subtle differences due to variables in design and user groups. Overall the post–occupancy evaluation served to develop a broader understanding of how people interact with and in a flexible group work setting in the open office.
Three English Manor Houses, 1260–1735 An Evolution of Design and Function
Authors: Caughey Carol C. , Brandt Jeanette A. , Hagerty Dorothy D.
Published: June 2008

This study of English manor houses, 1260–1735, examines how architecture changes under changing social conditions. From the original thousands, only a few hundred manor houses are extant in England. One surviving manor house from each of three periods of English history—Norman, Tudor, and Georgian—was studied. Three structures, Little Wenham Hall, Hengrave Hall, and Houghton Hall, all in East Anglia, were visited and photographed. Architectural elements exemplified in them were identified, and the shelter needs and wishes of the lords of manors and the availability and skill levels of the architects, designers, and craftsmen were ascertained. In each period the style of the dwellings reflected adaptation to the social status, wealth, and political power of the inhabitants. The skills of local and imported craftsmen and the technological advances in the tools available to them also accounted for a gradual evolution in the structure and design of dwellings.
Community Service Projects in Interior Design Curricula
Authors: Flannery Barbara A.
Published: June 2008

This paper discusses the role of community service projects in interior design curricula, describes the theoretical context and benefits of experiential learning, and explores the relationship of community service projects to objectives of interior design curricula accredited by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER). In addition, the paper identifies and discusses problems and benefits related to including community service projects in interior design curricula, as well as project management, implementation, and evaluation issues. A case study of a successful community service project involving the rehabilitation of a multistory building into women's transitional housing is included to illustrate the theoretical, curricular, evaluative, and logistical issues related to community service projects.
Who's Keeping the Fire? An Analysis of Who's Being Published in a Major Interior Design Periodical
Authors: White Allison Carll , Dickson Ann Whiteside
Published: June 2008

This study was designed to determine who is receiving public recognition for interior design work published in a major design periodical and to speculate on the future of the profession and implications for interior design education based on an analysis of the findings. A matrix was developed to document the biographical data published for the featured designers, including gender, education, professional affiliations, location of firm, and type and location of work published. The biographies of 959 individual designers were analyzed from 1980 through 1990. The findings reveal that, despite the development of professionalism during the past 25 years, fewer individuals with degrees in interior design are being published than those educated in allied disciplines. The relationship of these findings to graduate education and research is discussed.
A Case for the Vertical Studio
Authors: Barnes James
Published: June 2008

ISSUE: The “Vertical Studio” system challenges traditional, sequenced design studio organization by allowing students of various developmental and skill levels to interact and compete with one another in a topical, thesis–based studio. While the concept of a vertical studio is not unique to the RISD, this institution's experiences can serve to illustrate the benefits and drawbacks of this institutional system.

APPLICATION: Many younger students are as skilled and insightful as their senior counterparts and bring to the studio an enthusiasm and fresh outlook that can be very stimulating and challenging to upperclassmen. RISD experience suggests that the combination of several peer groups in one studio, combined with the elective “choice” of studio, produces much higher student performance and a broader range of experiences than is possible in a traditional structure.

GOAL: Self–motivation, independent thinking, and accelerated performance are primary developmental goals for the students. With the freedom to choose areas of study, faculty feel more creative, independent, and professionally connected to their teaching.

DESCRIPTION: Several key components underpin the success of the vertical studio system at RISD. First is the belief that design education is not a linear process, but rather is experiential in nature. Second, a foundation level of training that clearly provides students with a mutually comprehensive core of values, skills, and techniques and nurtures motivation and independent thinking must be part of the system. Third, faculty must be willing to deal with students of varying levels of technical confidence in a single studio, and last, a sufficient number of meaningful studio choices that are both broad in topic and flexible in structure must be made available.

CONCLUSION: Any system that allows free choice does so at the expense of rigorous control. The vertical studio provides considerable freedom of choice, but with this freedom come some distinct limitations and new responsibilities for both faculty and student.
Hands–On Approach to the Americans with Disabilities Act
Authors: Brent Ruth , Eubank Wanda , Danley Margaret , Graham Chuck
Published: June 2008

ISSUE: Teaching, research, and practice were pursued for students and professionals who wanted to learn more about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

APPLICATION: A commonsense, hands–on approach is advocated.

GOAL: An interior design program initiated the ADA workshop for program enrichment to stimulate firsthand understanding of the law.

DESCRIPTION: Beginning with a three–day public workshop, professionals and students came together in an ADA field experience to identify barriers and prioritize the removal of architectural and communication barriers in specified places. The workshop began with a pretest, was followed by a design charrette format, and concluded with a post–test. Participants, armed with a systematic checklist, videocamera, and an ADA expert, to spent from 3–6 hours evaluating sites and preparing their reports.

CONCLUSION: Workshop participants showed a 25% improvement based on test scores in overall understanding and application of ADA Accessibility Guidelines. This workshop led to increased program visibility, extension programming, community leadership, and professional opportunities for students.
The Propensity of State Legislatures to License Interior Designers
Authors: Guice Jane H.
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to identify variables to be used in creating a licensing propensity model that would predict the likelihood that state legislatures will regulate the occupation of interior design.

RESEARCH DESIGN: The history of occupational licensing and licensing of interior designers was reviewed to explore what has happened in the past and where the issue stands today. The review of the literature identified ten variables to be considered for the model. Data were acquired from primary sources, government sources, and professional associations.

ANALYSIS: Frequencies, chi–squares, t–tests, and logistic regression analysis were performed on the variables, using the statistical package SPSS.

KEY FINDINGS: Analysis of the data indicated that two variables, the number of lawyers in a state legislature and the ratio of interior designers to the population of a state, were significant. Results indicated that these variables accurately predicted 73% of the cases in the criterion variable, the presence or absence of licensure of interior designers in a state in those states that have addressed the issue.

CONCLUSIONS: Since the key findings suggest that licensing legislation is essentially driven by demand, interior designers should study and develop an understanding of politics and the political process. Not only would this benefit them in their efforts to gain licensure but it would make them better citizens who are not afraid of seeking change in government and its regulations.
End Users‘ Knowledge, Beliefs, and Preferences for Lighting
Authors: Veitch Jennifer A. , Hine Donald W. , Gifford Robert
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE: An understanding of end users is necessary if one is to design to meet human needs. This study measured four broad concepts related to lighting to contribute to our understanding of end users in this domain: knowledge about technical aspects of lighting; beliefs about the effects of lighting on people; preferences regarding lighting; and importance of lighting.

RESEARCH DESIGN: The study was a survey of a large group of university undergraduates. Sets of questions relating to each of the four concepts were created from the literature on lighting and interviews with other subjects. The lighting types and settings deliberately referred to circumstances familiar to these subjects. The questionnaire was completed during university classes.

ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses of specific hypotheses were used to assess the state of these end users’ knowledge, beliefs, preferences, and ratings of the importance of lighting and the interrelations between these variables.

KEY FINDINGS: The results show that lighting is important to laypeople and reveal that people to whom it is important desire more control over lighting. These subjects perceived that they had little control over lighting but desired much more. A large percentage of respondents believed that fluorescent lighting can be detrimental to one's health, and those who endorse these views about health effects also believe that natural daylight is superior to electric light.

CONCLUSION: Design to meet human needs will improve if better understanding is gained of the beliefs, preferences, and knowledge of the client. This report includes specific suggestions for applications and provides pointers for both designers and researchers.
Antebellum Southern Parlor Inventories, 1845–1860
Authors: Rahe Lee W.
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE: This paper contributes to knowledge of interior design in the antebellum American South by identifying patterns of parlor furnishing ownership, use, and characteristics among Greene County, Alabama, slave owners from 1845 to 1860.

RESEARCH DESIGN: A variety of historical documents, primarily probate court inventories (N = 326), were used to provide information on the furnishing of antebellum southern parlors. Primary evidence from Greene County was compared to information on furnishing practices gathered from mid–nineteenth–century American publications to enhance interpretation of the inventories.

ANALYSIS: Primary historical documents were identified and evaluated to establish a body of appropriate data. Electronic quantification systems generated descriptive statistics for the inventory data. Statistics and other findings were compared to evidence from American publications.

KEY FINDINGS: Readily discernible patterns are evident in the occurrence, physical characteristics, and assemblage of furnishings in Greene County parlors. The study revealed that there were differences but also striking similarities between the furnishing practices of southern Americans and those advocated in mid–nineteenth–century American publications. It also found that the total wealth of decedents was related but not directly correlated to the quantity and value of their residential furnishings.

CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative analysis of data on furnishings drawn from probate court inventories provides valuable information for interior design historians. These findings produced information applicable to the recreation of historical environments and the development of conclusions about life among Americans in the antebellum lower South.
Practitioners‘ Perceptions of Interior Design
Authors: White Allison Carll , Dickson Ann W.
Published: June 2008

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.
Cultivating the Next Generation of Interior Designers: The Undergraduate as Design Researcher
Authors: Gibson Kathleen
Published: June 2008

ISSUE: To cultivate better designers and design researchers, should undergraduates test their own hypotheses concerning the built environment?

APPLICATION: A third–year undergraduate student developed a research strategy to investigate how furniture placement affects human behavior. Two different furniture arrangements, one existing layout and one layout designed by the student, were used as the experiment's dependent variables.

GOAL: Primary goals for this study were to demonstrate how research could be directly meaningful to the undergraduate educational experience in interior design and to increase understanding of the complexities of mentoring young design researchers.

DESCRIPTION: The student was involved in all aspects of the research project from conceptualization and grant proposal writing to data analysis and presentation of results. The entire process occurred within a five–month period.

CONCLUSION: This research experience provided the student with increased confidence and a broader theoretical background from which to analyze and challenge previously accepted viewpoints held by the design community. To lead the interior design discipline into the next century, young designers should be trained to assess critically and analyze new information and methods.

As we prepare today’ graduates for leadership roles, we must develop in them the ability for critical thought along with the aesthetic and technical skills stressed in the design studio. Design students, like students in any other discipline, need to know how to define a problem, collect data, draw valid conclusions, and communicate the results. If not taught these skills, the next generation of designers will be unable to distinguish between valid scholarly research and unsubstantiated beliefs. The future of the design discipline will depend on interior designers having the intellectual tools to find that “simple error and to provide an appropriate solution. The undergraduate research project is one method to provide the next generation of designers with the intellectual skills needed to make informed decisions.
The Polsky Forum: The Creation of a Vision for the Interior Design Profession in the Year 2010
Authors: Dickson Ann Whiteside , White Allison Carll
Published: June 2008

Objective

The purpose of the Polsky Forum was to initiate a dialogue between the three constituency groups in the profession (industry, practice, and education) for the exploration of critical issues related to interior design research and graduate education. The specific objectives of the forum were (1) to formulate a vision for the profession for the year 2010; (2) to recommend a research agenda based on the vision; and (3) to develop strategies for implementing the agenda.

Forum Design

Nominations were sought for participants to address the issues in a forum setting. From over 85 applicants, 15 individuals representing the three constituency groups were selected. Before the forum, participants were given reading materials and brainstorming questions that constituted a framework for initiating discussions regarding research and graduate education. Small group and whole group discussion sessions were employed to facilitate communication.

Forum Results

Discussions initiated die breakdown of communication barriers between the three constituency groups. Consensus was reached regarding a view for the future of the interior design profession. Research and graduate education were considered means by which the profession can document its value to society, empower its members, and ensure long–term sustainability. The outcomes of the weekend are presented here in the form of a position paper to stimulate further discussion.

Conclusion

Without graduate education and a strong, ever–expanding knowledge base, interior design may cease to exist as a separate and distinct profession.
Sitting or Receiving: George W. Payne and the Plan Book Reception Hall
Authors: Jennings Jan
Published: June 2008

Objective

Drawing on design theory and historical research, this article offers a design analysis and cultural account of a special hall–as–room type, the reception hall, as represented in the designs of architect George W. Payne.

Research Design

A source of design for the everyday hall was located: twelve cottage designs of plan book architect George W. Payne, published between 1888 and 1898 in Carpentry and Building. Comparative design analyses along with primary source materials establish criteria for interpreting associational values and social and cultural dimensions of Payne's hall designs.

Analysis

George W. Payne's hall designs were compared with other plan book designs and model halls from millwork catalogs and compared with each other in terms of formal design theory (relationships among hall types, circulation patterns, and perceptual qualities).

Key Findings

Payne's cottages illustrate that the reception hall was not reserved for large, expensive houses. In modest houses, Payne often substituted a vestibule for a hall. When the hall became a specialized room, ambiguous meanings emerged, for example, the reception hall could not function as a homey place because of expectations about the social life of the hall. In the end, reception halls favored abundance in architectural treatment, requiring little furnishing.

Conclusion

Payne's concepts were at odds with social uses of the spaces, for example, sitting or receiving. In spite of the ideals about the hall as another living space, the hall served as a place of contradiction, blending and mixing ambiguity regarding design and behavior.
Development of an Instrument to Study the Meaning of Color in Interior Environments
Authors: Guerin Denise A. , Park Youngsoon , Yang Sehwa
Published: June 2008

Objective

The objective of this study was to develop an instrument by which the meaning of color in the interior environment could be determined.

Research Design

An abstract color palette was developed that was representative of a picture of an interior. Six palettes were developed based on pictures of six interiors. The palettes were computer–generated color compositions of hue, value, chroma, contrast, overlapping, and adjacencies. Sixty–four volunteer subjects were asked to view each picture, then later each palette, and determine the degree of absence or presence of a characteristic in each. Twenty–one descriptor words represented the characteristics; they were used with a Likert–type, single–word scale.

Analysis

A t–test was run on the responses to each word to determine significant differences in subjects’ responses to the descriptor word for the picture and the palette.

Key Findings

For fourteen words, 66.7%, there were no significant differences between the pictures and the palettes. The abstract color palette was shown to be a valid testing instrument for meaning of color in the interior environment because it reflected the same meaning as the picture.

Conclusion

Although additional validation of this instrument must be completed, this study showed potential for use of the abstract color palette as a visual research instrument that focuses only on the meaning of color and eliminates all other interior components.
Redesigning the Design Studio to Foster Critical Thinking
Authors: Kucko Jane K. , Caldwell Lark F.
Published: June 2008

Issue

The design educator can respond to the significant need to enhance critical thinking by creating a studio environment that fosters self–discovery and synthesis of information and places the responsibility of learning upon the students.

Goal

A studio environment that promotes critical thinking encourages students to explore and analyzes various issues and theories, thereby enhancing of their ability to build a substantiated case for an interior design solution.

Application

Distinctions between problem solving, decision making, concept development, and critical thinking clarify for the student the various roles of these thinking strategies. A comparison between a traditional interior design studio versus one that fosters critical thinking clarifies for the educator the type of environment necessary to promote this order of thinking. The importance of critical thinking is emphasized, and students are more confident and experiential in their approach to interior design. Students are also better able to articulate their rationale for an interior design solution.

Description

The major component of critical thinking includes the thorough examination of a problem, resulting in a solution that is supported by education and theory. Differentiating between facts and values, relevant versus irrelevant information, determining the credibility of the source of information and identifying logical fallacies are a few measures one can take to analyze a design problem critically. This analysis evolves into a defense (the justification for an interior design solution).

Conclusion

Providing a studio environment that enhances critical thinking results in an interactive learning environment. Students actively participate in the learning process, creating in a dynamic educational environment.
Day Care Facility Design: A Multimodal, Active Learning Process
Authors: Boschetti Margaret A.
Published: June 2008

Issue

Day care interior design is an emerging issue that deserves attention by both design educators and the design profession. Day care facility design offers an opportunity for bridging theory and practice in the classroom through focus on spatial implications of children's developmental needs. An active learning approach builds students’ competence and confidence by requiring them to apply what they are learning.

Application

A multimodal, active learning process is described that takes students from personal experience, through study and observation of theory and practice, to application and evaluation in a seven–week project on day care design.

Goal

Knowledge of day care design is acquired within a conceptual framework linking children's developmental needs with aspects of the physical environment. This method provides students with a theoretical foundation for critical analysis of a day care setting.

Description

Classroom activities (lectures/discussion, small group interaction, guest speakers, a class field trip) are supported by a variety of students’ assignments (readings, library research, oral reports, site observations) that lead to applied problem solving in a demonstrated product (case study) for evaluation.

Conclusion

With expanded knowledge of day care facility design, based on understanding of children's developmental needs and critical thinking and problem–solving skills, interior design students will have an advantage in communicating with child care experts and, therefore, in promoting their design services in this important arena.
Attachment to Personal Possessions: An Interpretive Study of the Older Person's Experience
Authors: Boschetti Margaret A.
Published: June 2008

Objective

An exploratory study was undertaken to examine the role of personal possessions in older people's attachment to place.

Research Design

A qualitative research strategy was selected to gather descriptive data and to capture meanings of personal experience (Rowles and Reinharz, 1988). Over a ten–month period, multiple, in–depth interviews were conducted with a small sample of volunteer subjects in their homes.

Analysis

A phenomenological method of analysis based on procedures outlined by Giorgi (1985) was followed.

Key Findings

A complex pattern of attachment to possessions was revealed through discovery of two interpretive themes, connection/extension and continuity/discontinuity, that provide deeper understanding of the person–place phenomenon as experienced by the older person.

Conclusion

The study validates and extends other studies showing relationships between personal possessions and identity of older people. Attachment of a sense of self to micro–elements of the physical environment has crucial implications for place–making in the older person's residential setting.
Intimate Space Issues in Preschool Environments
Authors: Friedmann Sigal , Thompson Jo Ann Asher
Published: June 2008

Objective

The importance of spatial design and its psychological and physical impact on people is receiving increasing recognition and attention among researchers, educators, health–care providers, and businesses. As increasingly more children are in preschools at a younger age, more research is needed to help determine the impact of the physical environment on children's development.

Research Design

In this investigation two intimate spaces or boxes of contrasting designs were installed in an open plan preschool. One box was a “cozy” space and the other a “slick” space as defined by the use of specific interior textures and materials.

Analysis

An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine whether there was any relationship between subject age (3–, 4–, and 5–year–olds) and box type (cozy versus slick) in terms of the average relative time spent in each box type.

Key Findings

Results from this study showed that preschool children used the intimate spaces frequently and stayed in them for varying lengths of time. When both boxes were present in the preschool, a significant interaction at P<0.06 between box type and subject age was observed.

Conclusion

These results support the importance of incorporating intimate spaces into the design of open plan preschools.
Personality Types of Interior Design Students: Implications for Education
Authors: Russ Randall R. , Weber Margaret J.
Published: June 2008

Objective

The purposes of this study were to explore students’ career aspirations in interior design and identify any relationship between their self–assessed curriculum strengths, career aspirations, and personality types.

Research Design

The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and a career aspirations questionnaire were administered to 234 junior and senior interior design students currently enrolled in Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) accredited programs at 12 universities in the United States.

Analysis

A factor analysis was used to assess career aspirations from the questionnaire relative to personality type resulting in six factors. An analysis of variance was conducted on the four groups of MBTI types and the six career factors to determine relationships between specific personality types and the six career factors.

Key Findings

Of the 234 respondents, 40.2% were in the catalyst type with 16.2% of this group falling in the Extroverted–INtuitive–Feeling–Perceiving (ENFP) type. The six factors did not show any significance with the MBTI types.

Conclusion

The results of this research indicated there was not a definite link between personality and career aspirations in interior design. However, further research of the MBTI types and their relationship to career aspirations in interior design could provide an opportunity for educators to help students become more aware of their career aspirations in the field.
An Interior Design Experience Program, Part I: Defining the Need
Authors: Harwood Buie
Published: June 2008

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify the need for an apprentice or interior design experience program and, if supported, to propose such a program.

Research Design

The study investigated entry level work experience and related requirements impacting the career path of professional interior designers. Requirements established by educational accreditation, professional examination, and legal recognition/licensing, as well as professional apprenticeships in other fields were investigated.

Analysis

A qualitative analysis of existing materials found that a monitored and structured experience program could do three things for the interior design profession: (a) bridge the gap between formal education and competent professional practice, (b) link the process of educational accreditation by the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) with that of professional examination by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), and (c) address the need for quality experience required of NCIDQ candidates.

Key Findings

The findings supported the need for a structured work experience program for entry level interior designers.

Conclusion

Such a program could provide a critical link between the education and examination processes and fill a void in the career path of professional interior designers.