How to select a Designer in Edmonton

Michele Gun the dazzling and witty President of Interior Designers of Alberta uses the metaphor of baking and decorating a wedding cake to explain the various roles involved in interior design.
“An interior decorator would basically take a wedding cake, come in and decorate it by adding the icing. The interior designer starts at the beginning. First they interview the bride, because all brides are different, you can’t make one cake to fit all brides. You need to find out what her likes and dislikes are. What is she looking for? Does she want a traditional cake or a modern cake- two tiers or three? Once you have all the information that the client needs or wants- if she comes in with a list of what she wants that is very helpful. Once you have decided what the bride wants you choose the materials to make that cake and prepare a drawing for her to review. The next stage, after she has approved the drawings and products, is to choose the materials you want to use to design the cake. After that step you arrange for the ingredients and have it built- find a baker- once the cake is baked then comes the icing.”
Basically that is what an interior designer offers their clients, “They use all their education and experience to analyze their client’s needs, prepare preliminary concepts and final design then prepare drawing for a contractor to build the project.
Michele continues to explain the difference between the interior designers and the myriad of other interior consultants available.
“Interior designers typically have a two or three-year diploma from a certified interior design program not a certificate from a part-time or continuing education program- those are more for general interest. If you take this as a professional career you need the correct combined amount of both education and experience of seven years in order to qualify for a NCIDQ. A professional in interior design has graduated from a NCIDQ in order to be a professional member. A member with less then the full seven years and the qualifying final exam may be an associate member. (NCIDQ .’National Council for Interior Design Qualifications’ this organization is the regulatory body that governs the minimum qualifications for interior designers in Canada and the United States)
CIDA, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, qualify the schools across North America. “They used to go by years, they have changed it to hours, generally it takes 4 years to obtain the degree necessary. Mount Royal College offers a qualified interior design course; NAIT offers a drafting and interior design course, which is more than the SAIT program, which offers basically an interior drafting course. Having said that, because NAIT is only a two-year course it is not an accredited interior design program. Mount Royal College is now offering a degree course- as well as Ryerson in Ontario, University of Manitoba and Kwantlen University College, Richmond B.C. Those are the only schools in Canada presently offering accredited Bachelors or Masters Interior Design degrees the remaining education facilities are only offering certificate or diploma programs.”
What sort of work do you hire a NAIT or SAIT graduate?
“The training they have is more suited for a client that wants minimal work changed and only needs drawings to take to the city for permits… often they work as an assistant to an interior designer. A grad from NAIT may be also to assist with colour and finished selection as well.”
For clients considering a major renovation in the home and they are planning on ‘gutting’ the house, reconfiguring the space, moving walls, these clients should hire a certified interior designer. These professionals are qualified to move walls; they know when to hire structural/mechanical and electrical engineers as consultants to ensure all codes are being followed.
“Qualified Interior Designers are responsible for the safety of the public and are knowledgeable about building codes, materials and consistently must undergo continuing educational upgrading every three years to stay abreast of the changing codes”.

Michele recommends clients looking to hire any form of interior contractor should always:
1) Interview the candidates- Do you have a good report with them? Can you work with them for one to even two years?
2) Check out the references
3) Credentials – are they qualified for the scope of work you want done?
As a buyer/client your must come prepared. Know what you want, have a budget in mind and also understand you may be out of your house for six to eight months if you are contemplating major renovations.
Ensure you get a contract in place including fees and scope of work. Professional Interior Designers generally work for an hourly or fixed fee- and that includes shopping time. Discounts offered by manufactures and retailers are passed along to the clients. “The discount we get is anywhere from 10-40% and those savings are passed along to the customer since we are getting paid by the client to act on their behalf”
An interior designer, within the scope of a contract, can also offer provide drawings for the contractors and building permits, act as project manager, sign off on complete work, phase the process of the project, work with the client on finishes, colours, custom furniture. They provide all these services while providing the buyer protection-professional interior designers carry WCB, liability insurance and follow a strict code of conduct associated with their licensing body.