Kelly Rinehart and Maria Gore of Oklahoma City and Jeffrey Evans of Tulsa filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City.
They are being assisted by the Institute for Justice, an Arlington, Va., law firm that represents people and businesses who believe that government regulations have violated their rights.
A spokesman for the state board could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
The law, enacted in 2006, regulates the use of the title “interior designer” and “interior design” for those who have met the qualifications of the act and registered with the state board.
Those seeking a license must have six years of combined education and experience with a minimum of two years interior design education — and must pass the National Council of Interior Design Qualification exam. More than half the states have similar laws.
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I agree. This is ridiculous to regulate this as well.
Need to license "Shoe Shiners"! Those guys can really harm the public welfare... I was in Vegas and got a bad shine! Had no time for new shoes! It was horrible! And we need to license soda machine operators. You ever got a bad soda going down the road and been unable to go back to get it fixed? And another thing, what about toliet cleaners. Should they not be licensed! They do thier job wrong and we all suffer! How about.......
There is a reason why there exists a designation of "interior decorator." It is for those who don't have the required qualifications to be "interior designers."
Stephanie - Interior designers that have special qualifications definitely have the right to set themselves apart...through certification which is what their organization enables. However, they don't have a right to redefine a term that existed long before their organization. Just because a CPA has a certification doesn't mean another individual can't be called an accountant. You using the term "Real interior designers" just shows you to be arrogant. As for all the safety issues you refer to, I would assert that common sense would teach you most if not all of that. God forbid some individual or small business owner should do his own interior decorating. Oh! I guess outlawing that is next on your agenda.
What's next? Are carpenters going to be required to have a PhD in woodworking? They have more of an impact on health and safety than interior designers. I think the state regulations are going a bit too far.
I am a Designer and work at an architecture firm and think this is a legitimate reason to file a lawsuit. Architect in this state are already certified and are capable to be called interior designers.
Actually, Bill, professional interior designers do have a direct impant on the health, safety, and welfare of the public. The following quote is taken from the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) website: "Protecting health, safety and welfare is the professional responsibility of every interior designer. Every decision an interior designer makes in one way or another affects the health, safety and welfare of the public. Those decisions include specifying furniture, fabrics and carpeting that meet or exceed fire codes and space planning that provides proper means of egress. Additionally, designers deal with accessibility issues, ergonomics, lighting, acoustics and design solutions for those with special needs."
To be an "interior designer" in Oklahoma, one must complete six years of education/experience as well as successfully complete all sections of the NCIDQ exam. Real "interior designers" have more than simply a "flair" for decorating. They have hard-earned experience and education, and they should be given the right to have a title that sets them apart from those in the profession that lack such education/experience.
Aw, c'mon. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't compare the risk to the public of an unqualified doctor or lawyer to that of an interior designer. What safety hazard do these individuals present? The state has simply overstepped it's responsibilities by listiening to a quasi "union" trying to limit competition for its members. And, by the way, you can put the words "private pilot" after your name. It is just illegal to attempt to fly an airplane without a license due to SAFETY reasons.
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Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
To be an "interior designer" in Oklahoma, one must complete six years of education/experience as well as successfully complete all sections of the NCIDQ exam. Real "interior designers" have more than simply a "flair" for decorating. They have hard-earned experience and education, and they should be given the right to have a title that sets them apart from those in the profession that lack such education/experience.