Southern California Professionals Speak Out: Textile Competencies for Interior Designers

Abstract

A survey of professional members of two chapters of the American Society of Interior Design in Southern California was conducted to determine the criteria used as well as the textile competencies needed to specify textiles. Descriptive statistics were used, and the results indicated that appearance was the leading criterion followed by compliance with required codes and standards. Manufacturer labels were an important source of information for textile specification decisions. Identification of textile competencies centered around fabric characteristics and performance characteristics directly related to interior applications. Responses supported the importance of a strong textiles background for today's professionals. Academia is challenged to provide the appropriate coursework which should include components on codes/standards as well as application experience. Summary The results of this study point to the importance placed on a strong background in textiles by professional interior designers. Textile specification criteria, especially appearance and performance, rely on textile competencies for satisfactory choices. Label information is unusable for decision making if the designer does not comprehend the significance of the information due to an inadequate background in textiles. Responses from Southern California professional interior designers supported the importance of a strong textiles background. They look to academia for the acquisition of textile competencies. Textile coursework should include fabric characteristics competencies and performance characteristics competencies directly related to interior applications. Codes/ standards should be a component in textile coursework servicing interior design majors. Information regarding textile labeling should be important to the textile industry. Results indicate a clear call for more information on performance characteristics, specifically codes/standards. Though regulations vary by jurisdiction, an effort by the textile industry to provide comprehensive codes/standards label information would be helpful. The next step in this research is to contact colleges and universities that have interior design programs and determine the specific competencies incorporated in textile coursework taken by interior design students. By developing a comprehensive picture of designated necessary competencies and textile course content, the issues of lack of background, program deficiencies in textiles, and the overall feeling of a lack of adequate textile background can be addressed.