A professional is expected to provide competent services in a manner considered customary by those in the profession as well as those who utilize those professional services. Professional conduct also means that those entering the profession must abide by standards accepted by others in the profession.
A starting point for that professional conduct lies within the associations. Regardless of the type of business, professional associations expect their members to behave and conduct business in a manner that reflects positively upon all the members—and even nonmembers—of the association. Remember that when a designer at any level signs the application for membership in a professional association, the applicant is agreeing to abide by the association's code of ethics.
Choosing not to belong to an association, however, does not mean that someone in a profession can ignore ethics. Licensing and registration legislation almost invariably includes some reference to ethical behavior or discussion of disciplinary procedures for nonprofessional behavior.
The codes of ethics of the professional associations deal with enforceable ethical standards of practice and provide philosophical comments concerning the professional conduct of members. This discussion of codes of conduct uses that of IIDA (see Figure 7‐1). The reader can review the ASID Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct by searching the Web at www.asid.org/about. Readers can easily research codes of ethics or conduct from other associations or jurisdictional licensing boards by searching the Internet under the name of the organization.
These codes of ethics relate ethical issues between the designer/member and others in the profession. As you can see in the example, there are specific sections related to the designer' responsibility to the public, the client, other designers and colleagues, the association, and the profession.
These rules of conduct exist for members of an organization. They have no actual impact on interior designers who are not members of any professional organization. They can serve, however, as a guide to nonaffiliated interior designers and those in the design–build industry. An ethical charge cannot be brought against an unaffiliated designer, although a wronged party could file civil suits or other charges with the appropriate boards within a jurisdiction. For example, a client might file a grievance with the local registrar of contractors.
FIGURE 7‐1. IIDA Code of Ethics for Professional and Associate Member Conduct. This version is applicable to interior design practitioners only.
(Reprinted with permission of International Interior Design Association, Chicago, IL.)
Professional conduct and professional responsibility are interwoven in the overall practice of interior design. Designers do not necessarily give conscious thought to whether a daily activity that is part of working on a project for a client is done ethically or in a manner prescribed by the profession. Sometimes, though, a designer comes to an ethical crossroads and chooses to behave in a manner that contradicts a code of ethics or even the person's personal moral compass. When this happens, it hurts the individual, to be sure—tomorrow if not today—and it hurts everyone else and the profession in general.
Disciplinary Procedures
What might happen if a client wishes to complain about the conduct of a designer? It is likely the client will contact the association (or organization) concerning the complaint. One action that will then happen is to determine if the designer is a member of the association since the association cannot take action against a nonaffiliated designer. The client will be informed that they must send a letter detailing the complaint. What needs to be included and to what office it should be filed will vary by the association or organization. It should be noted that just because a client complains to an association, it does not automatically mean the designer will be disciplined.
Each association (for simplicity) has its own procedures for how a complaint is to be filed and what happens with that complaint. Generally, a designated staff member or committee will review it. The designer, of course, is notified of the complaint. After receiving input from the designer, the complaint along with any materials subsequently provided by the client and designer are sent to an appropriate committee or designated individual appointed by the association for further review.
After this review, a determination will be made whether any type of violation has occurred. If the reviewing committee or individual determines that no violation has occurred, the parties are so notified and the matter is closed. If the committee feels a violation has occurred, the parties are notified and a hearing is scheduled.
At the hearing—which is likely conducted by a committee of members—the designer and the client will provide information to a review committee. After presentations from both sides to the complaint, the review committee might determine that no further action related to the designer is warranted and thus dismisses the case. Should the complaint be related to ethical behavior and if it is determined that an ethics violation has occurred, numerous types of discipline (depending on the association) may be warranted.
The various associations and other organizations have procedures for how a complaint is to be filed and what happens with that complaint. As each organization's procedures are different, the reader is encouraged to research an association or organization's Web site for information regarding specific procedures.
It is important to point out that disciplinary hearings are not courts of law. Regardless of the outcome of a complaint, the client may decide that the designer's actions are legally actionable and may file a civil claim. Chapter 8 discusses responsibilities related to the law.
WEB SITES RELEVANT TO THIS CHAPTER
www.asid.org American Society of Interior Designers
www.idcanada.org Interior Designers of Canada
www.iida.org International Interior Design Association
The Web sites of other organizations mentioned in Chapter 2 are also relevant. Please see that chapter for details.
KEY TERMS
Codes of conduct
Commissions
Conflict of interest
Ethical standards
Ethics
Fiduciary duties
Kickback
Nondisclosure agreement
Proprietary information
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
1 John has been running radio ads that give the impression that he and all his staff are professional‐level members of one of the associations. John is a residential designer and his clients are obtained primarily by referrals from past clients. Only one staff member is a member of one of the associations and that person is a professional‐level member. John lost his membership through an ethics violation three years ago.
2 During