Building Relationships, Building Homes, Building Lives

Industry partnerships are crucial in the world of home building, design, and remodeling. As industry professionals, we rely on a network of people—designers, builders, vendors/purveyors, and architects, among others—to stay abreast of the latest trends and products. Building robust relationships with these industry professionals allows us to better serve our customers. Today we are going to introduce you to three: The American Society of Interior Designers, the American Institute of Architects, and the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Working with these organizations makes us better at what we do, and we feel fortunate to have their resources at our fingertips.

ASID

Founded in 1975, the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is the oldest, largest, and the premier organization for interior designers. Today ASID has more than 30,000 members participating in a variety of professional programs and activities, all within a network of 48 chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The ASID promotes the value of interior design through education, knowledge sharing, advocacy, community building and community outreach; the belief that interior design is a powerful tool that can positively affect change in people’s lives is deeply held by members and the greater organization. Professional members of ASID must pass rigorous acceptance standards: members must have a combination of accredited design education and/or full-time work experience, as well as pass a two-day accreditation examination that is administered by the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ).

AIA

American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been the leading professional membership for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857. For more than 150 years, AIA has been serving as the voice of the architecture profession. Through advocacy, information, and community, AIA sponsors hundreds of educational opportunities and experiences to help architects maintain their licensure.   AIA sets the industry standards in contract documents, provides web-based resources for emerging architecture professionals, and conducts market research and provides analysis of the economic factors that affect the architecture business.  AIA hosts the annual AIA National Convention and Design Exposition which serves as an advocate for the architecture profession; enhancing public belief in the value of design and promotes design excellence and outstanding professional achievement through an awards program.

NKBA

As a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), Cabinets & Designs is part of the premier association for kitchen and bath professionals. With a membership totaling more than 50,000 members, NKBA sponsors the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) and promotes the professionalism of the entire kitchen and bath industry. NKBA was established in 1963 as a network of kitchen dealers, and today it encompasses distributors, retailers, remodelers, manufacturers, fabricators, installers, designers, and a host of other kitchen and bath professionals. Their certification program keeps members on an achievement track that includes continuing education and career development in the kitchen and bath industry.