I'm kind of obsessing over this new Bravo show, 9 By Design. Synopsis: Husband and wife design team build incredible homes filled with stellar modern art in order to flip them. They also have a design firm Sixx Design. Oh, and they have 7 (very stylish) children. I am also thinking a lot about designers with and without educations in the field and about design bloggers. I probably need to think about it more before I blog to the public about it. I don't want to offend anyone (while I do love design and love people that love design- bottom line). I used to be a member of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers)--mainly because my old boss made me :) ASID, amongst other organizations, pushes hard for the interior design title act. I don't like that. I'm not a member anymore. I do like having an accredited design degree. The designers from Sixx Design are self taught. Most of the most popular designer bloggers don't have degrees (at least that is my understanding). You'd think that education leads to success. I'm sure that it does sometimes. I've been perceiving lately that the design spotlight is on people that simply have good style (which is VERY important). Does anybody have any thoughts on this? I'm going to just bluntly say that I'm not sure how I feel about it. It is negative of me to think that all you have to do these days to be a design guru is have the time to read every magazine and talk about what other people did? Am I just having issues with my own lack of magazine time? :)
Surely this happens in other fields, but what does it look like? Like are Doctors upset that I can now go to clinic in Walgreens or CVS?
Is it wrong that I think the people that do design without an education have more fun?
Like I said, I probably should have maintained an internal monologue about this. I really am just happy for design to flourish- I don't care who's in the spotlight, really. I just have noticed the shift. On the other hand, Thom Filicia is everywhere right now and Albert Hadley was in Elle Decor last month. The experienced and the educated have not gotten off the bus. In the meantime, I will do my best at my job and will continue to read the blogs I love and watch 9 By Design (and try not to covet their latest house).
If I didn't have this expensive design degree I could get out of the down and dirty drafting nonsense I've been doing lately...which is not nearly as much fun or fabulous as being a decorator. Ignorance is bliss perhaps? I'm in the weird position of doing both jobs, sometimes in the same day; I certainly find I enjoy the 'uneducated' aspects of my career more than the stuff we went to school for. Never thought I'd say that!
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree too, the title acts and licensing schemes and all the rest are to me, slightly elitist and overreaching. Maybe that's just Say No to Big Gov't me talking, but I cannot imagine what aspect of fabric or finish selection REALLY needs to be regulated by the state or anyone else. We've got bigger fish to fry.
Good topic Hedg :)
Okay, I set the DVR to record this show on Tuesday evening. I will let you know my opinion following the viewing. Also, please make it clear your education is invaluable to your "style" today :) If I am wrong, don't tell me.
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