The Value of Professional Design Education
- Jennifer DeWitt
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
What It Means for Your Project
Ever notice how some spaces just work - functioning beautifully while looking effortlessly stylish? That's not an accident. It's the result of professional design expertise.
When entrusting someone with the creation of spaces where you live, work, or heal, understanding the qualifications behind their expertise becomes essential. Today, I'm sharing a peek behind the professional curtain to explain why education and credentials matter in design.
Not All Designers Are Created Equal
The design industry encompasses a wide spectrum of backgrounds. At one end are self-taught decorators with a natural eye for beauty; at the other are licensed interior designers with formal education, rigorous examination, and continuing education requirements.
Both can create beautiful spaces, but their scopes of practice differ significantly.
The Educational Foundation
As a professionally licensed interior designer, my foundation includes much more than just selecting pretty fabrics. My training encompasses:
Technical Knowledge: Building systems, construction methods, materials science
Regulatory Understanding: Building codes, accessibility requirements, safety regulations
Spatial Planning: Human factors, ergonomics, space optimization
Design Theory: Color theory, spatial psychology, historic precedents
This comprehensive education enables me to address not just how spaces look, but how they function at fundamental levels—from structural considerations to psychological impacts.
What Licensure Really Means
In Louisiana, as in many states, becoming a licensed interior designer requires:
An accredited professional degree (typically 4-5 years)
Documented professional experience under supervision
Successfully completing the NCIDQ examination covering public health, safety, and welfare
Ongoing continuing education to maintain licensure
This isn't about creating an exclusive club. It's about ensuring designers have the knowledge necessary to create spaces that are not merely beautiful, but safe, functional, and compliant with applicable regulations.
Licensure particularly matters in commercial and healthcare environments where codes, regulations, and specialized knowledge directly impact safety outcomes.
How This Expertise Benefits Your Project
Whether we're designing a commercial space or your dream home, this professional foundation creates tangible benefits:
In Commercial Design:
We interpret and apply complex building codes so you don't have to
Our documentation helps streamline permitting and regulatory approval
We coordinate effectively with architects and engineers, speaking their language
We specify appropriate commercial-grade materials that look beautiful while meeting safety standards
We design for accessibility compliance while maintaining aesthetic integrity
In Residential Design:
We create comprehensive space planning that considers how you actually live
Our knowledge of residential building systems helps avoid costly mistakes
We understand which materials will actually perform over time, not just look good on installation day
Our expertise in lighting design goes beyond selecting decorative fixtures
We produce detailed documentation that contractors can accurately bid and build from
Even in Purely Decorative Projects:
Our evidence-based color strategies consider both psychology and light science
We select materials informed by performance characteristics, not just appearance
Our furniture recommendations are backed by knowledge of ergonomics and quality construction
We approach accessory curation with an understanding of spatial composition principles
Balancing Technical Expertise with Creativity
While I value the technical foundation of my profession, I deeply appreciate the diverse approaches within the broader design community. Some of our most successful projects have involved collaboration with specialty decorators whose unique perspectives complemented our technical knowledge.
What matters most is transparency about qualifications—ensuring clients can make informed decisions about the expertise their particular project requires.
Our Commitment to Continual Learning
Perhaps the most important aspect of professional practice is the commitment to ongoing education. Design is never static—new materials emerge, building technologies evolve, and research constantly deepens our understanding of how environments affect human experience.
Our team stays current through continuing education courses, professional organizations, manufacturer training, and specialized certifications—ensuring that your project benefits from the latest knowledge on building technology, materials science, and environmental psychology.
Selecting the Right Design Partner
Different projects require different balances of technical expertise and decorative talent. A medical facility renovation has fundamentally different requirements than a residential refresh or a retail visual merchandising project.
When evaluating potential design partners for your project, consider asking:
What is your educational background in design?
Are you licensed or certified, and in what jurisdictions?
Have you worked on projects with similar technical requirements?
How do you balance technical requirements with aesthetic goals?
The Right Expertise for Your Unique Project
Our practice is structured to provide appropriately tailored services across the spectrum of needs:
Full Service Design: Comprehensive solutions requiring extensive technical expertise
Design Consultation: Advisory services for clients managing their own projects
Decorative Services: Aesthetic direction for projects where structural elements are established
This flexibility allows us to right-size our involvement to match your specific needs and budget—providing precisely the level of expertise your project requires.
Whether your project demands in-depth technical knowledge or would benefit most from aesthetic refinement, our goal remains consistent: creating exceptional environments that enhance well-being, support functionality, and express authentic identity.
Ready to work with a professionally licensed design team? Schedule a consultation to discuss your next project.
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