ASID Code of ethics and Professional Conduct
1.0 PREAMBLE
Members of the American Society of Interior Designers are required to conduct their professional practice in a manner that will inspire the respect of clients, suppliers of goods and services to the profession, and fellow professional designers, as well as the general public. It is the individual responsibility of every member of the Society to uphold this Code and the Bylaws of the Society.
2.0 RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC
2.1 Members shall comply with all existing laws, regulations and codes governing business procedures and the practice of interior design as established by the state or other jurisdiction in which they practice.
2.2 Members shall not seal or sign drawings, specifications, or other interior design documents except where the member or the member's firm has prepared, supervised or professionally reviewed and approved such documents, as allowed by relevant state law.
2.3 Members shall at all times consider the health, safety and welfare of the public in spaces they design. Members agree, whenever possible, to notify property managers, landlords, and/or public officials of conditions within a built environment that endanger the health, safety and/or welfare of occupants.
2.4 Members -,hall not engage in any form of false or misleading advertising or promotional activities and shall not imply through advertising or other means that staff members or employees of their firm are qualified interior designers unless such be tile fact.
2.5 Members shall neither offer, nor make any payments or gifts to any public official, nor take any other action, with the intent of unduly influencing the official's judgment in connection with an existing or prospective project in which the members are interested.
2.6 Members shall not assist or abet improper or illegal conduct of anyone in connection with a project.
3.0 RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CLIENT
3.1 Members' contracts with a client shall clearly set forth the scope and nature of the project involved, the services to be performed and the method of compensation for those services.
3.2 Members may offer professional services to a client for any form of legal compensation.
3.3 Members shall not undertake any professional responsibility unless they are, by training and experience, competent to adequately perform the work required.
3.4 Members shall fully disclose to a client all compensation which the Member shall receive in connection with the project and shall not accept any form of undisclosed compensation from my person or firm with whom the member deals in connection with the project.
3.5 Members shall not divulge any confidential information about the client or the client's project, or utilize photographs or specifications of the project, without the express permission of the client, with an exception for those specifications or drawings over which the designer retains proprietary rights.
3.6 Members shall be candid and truthful in all their professional communications.
3.7 Members shall act with fiscal responsibility in the best interest of their clients and shall maintain sound business suppliers, industry and trades to insure the best service possible to the public.
4.0 RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHER INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND COLLEAGUES
4.1 Members shall not interfere with the performance of another interior designer's contractual or professional relationship with a client.
4.2 Members shall not initiate, or participate in, any discussion or activity which might result in an unjust injury to another interior designer's reputation or business relationships.
4.3 Members may, when requested and it does not present a conflict of interest, render a second opinion to a client, or serve as an expert witness in a judicial or arbitration proceeding.
4.4 Members shall not endorse the application for ASID membership and/or certification, registration or licensing of an individual known to be unqualified with respect to education, training, experience or character, nor shall a Member knowingly misrepresent the experience, professional expertise or moral character of that individual.
4.5 Members shall only take credit for work that has actually been created by that Member or the Member's firm, and under the Member's supervision.
4.6 Members should respect the confidentiality of sensitive information obtained in the course of their professional activities.
5.0 RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PROFESSION
5.1 Members agree to maintain standards of professional and personal conduct that will reflect in a responsible manner oil the Society and the profession.
5.2 Members shall seek to continually upgrade their professional knowledge and competency with respect to the interior design profession.
5.3 Members agree, whenever possible, to encourage and contribute to the sharing of knowledge and information between interior designers and other allied professional disciplines, industry and the public.
6.0 RESPONSIBILITY TO THE EMPLOYER
6.1 Members leaving an employer's service shall not take drawings, designs, data, reports, notes, client lists, or other materials relating to work performed in the employer's service except with permission of the employer.
6.2 A member shall not unreasonably withhold permission from departing employees to take copies of material relating to their work while an employee of the member's firm, which are not proprietary and confidential in nature.
6.3 Members shall not divulge any confidential information obtained during the course of their employment about the client or the client's project or utilize photographs or specifications of the project, without the express permission of both client and employer.
7.0 ENFORCEMENT
7.1 The Society shall follow standard procedures for the enforcement of this Code as approved by the Society's Board of Directors.
7.2 Members having a reasonable belief, based upon substantial information, that another member has acted in violation of this Code, shall report such information in accordance with accepted procedures.
7.3 Any deviation from this Code, or any action taken by a Member which is detrimental to the Society and the profession as a whole shall be deemed unprofessional conduct subject to discipline by the Society's Board of Directors.
PROCEDURES FOR FILING AN ETHICS COMPLAINT
A. Chapter Member vs. Member
ASID's procedures regarding a complaint filed against a member of the ASID are as follows:
1. The individual against whom a complaint is made must currently hold ASID membership.
2. Any complaint alleging misconduct on the part of an ASID member, whether made by a chapter or Society member must be made in writing by the complaining party, and must set forth all specific facts upon which the complaint is based.
3. The letter of complaint must be mailed to ASID's National Headquarters.
4. ASID sends the member in question a copy of the letter of complaint with a cover letter requesting a response within twenty-one days.
5. If the complainant does not think the complaint has been satisfactorily addressed, or if twenty-one days have elapsed without a response by the member charged, the complainant may request a review by the Ethics Committee.
6. The letter of complaint is reviewed by Legal Counsel who determines if the described complaint involves a possible Violation of the Society's Code of Ethics, or might otherwise constitute conduct detrimental to the Society or the profession.
7. If Legal Counsel decides it does not involve a possible Violation, both parties are informed and the matter is closed.
8. If Legal Counsel decides it may constitute a Violation, the Ethics Committee reviews copies of everything submitted by both the complainant and the member
9.The Ethics Committee determines whether or not the complaint involves a possible Violation. Such determination shall be made in writing to ASID headquarters within thirty days of receipt of case materials and should include Committee rationale for their decisions.
10. If they decide it does not involve a possible Violation, both parties are informed and the matter is closed.
11. If they decide it does, a disciplinary hearing before a panel comprised of five (5) members the Society's National Board is scheduled at the time and place of the Board's next meeting
12. Both parties may represent their case by one or any combination of the follow a. written documentation b. in person c. legal counsel
13. The Disciplinary Hearing Panel may take any one of the following actions:
a. dismiss the case
b. reprimand
c. censure
d. suspend membership for a specific period
e. terminate membership
14. Note: The continuation of this procedure is dependent on the complainant's action. No steps will be taken without the complainant's initiation. If the complainant fails to contact ASID within 90 days following a letter from the Society, ASID will close the case and take no further action.
B. Non-member vs. Member
ASID's procedures regarding a complaint filed against a member of the ASID are as follows:
1. The individual against whom a complaint is made must currently hold ASID membership.
2. Any complaint alleging misconduct on the part of an ASID member made by a member of the public must be made in writing by the complaining party, and must set forth all specific facts upon which the complaint is based.
3. The letter of complaint must be mailed to ASID's National Headquarters.
4. The letter of complaint is reviewed by Legal Counsel who determines if the described complaint involves a possible Violation of the Society's Code of Ethics, or might otherwise constitute conduct detrimental to the Society or the profession.
5. If Legal Counsel decides it does not involve a possible Violation, the complainant is informed and the matter is closed.
6. If Legal Counsel decides it may constitute a Violation, ASID sends the member in question a copy of the letter of complaint with a cover letter requesting a response within twenty-one days.
7. The complainant must submit a second complaint letter requesting ASID action after either receipt of a response or twenty-one days have elapsed since member was asked to respond.
8. If the complainant does not think the complaint has been adequately addressed by the member, or twenty-one days have elapsed since the date of the last letter from ASID to the member, the complainant may request a review of the complaint by the Ethics Committee.
9. The Ethics Committee reviews copies of everything submitted by both the complainant and the member.
10. The Ethics Committee determines whether or not the complaint involves a possible Violation. Such determination shall be made in writing to ASID headquarters within thirty days of receipt of case materials and should include the rationale for their decisions.
11. If they decide it does not involve a possible Violation, both parties are informed and the matter is closed.
12. If they decide it does, a disciplinary hearing before a panel comprised of five (5) members of the Society's National Board is scheduled at the time and place of the next meeting of the Board.
13. Both parties may represent their case by one or any combination of the following:
a. written documentation
b. in person
c. legal counsel
14. The Disciplinary Hearing Panel may take any one of the following actions:
a. dismiss the case
b. reprimand
c. censure
d. suspend membership for a specific period
e. terminate membership
15. Note: The continuation of this procedure is dependent on the complainant's action. No steps will be taken without the complainant's initiation. If the complainant fails to contact ASID within 90 days following a letter from the Society, ASID will close the case and take no further action.
CHECKLIST FOR PROFESSIONAL & ETHICAL CONDUCT
The following list was created by the ASID Government & Public Affairs Department to help you evaluate your firm for its strengths and weaknesses in promoting greater client satisfaction a nd clear communication between designers and clients.
Do you have a formal, written customer relations policy, including a process for correcting mistakes and resolving unsettled complaints?
Is this policy clear and understood by your staff and clients?
Do you stress open communication and full disclosure in all client relations including contract language which is clear in project scope, services and method of compensation (Are you clear with your clients on scope of services and means and methods of compensation)?
Do you act with fiscal responsibility in the best interest of your clients (Do you monitor time frames and budgets)?
Do you place health, safety and welfare considerations foremost in design solutions?
Do you honor your clients' confidentiality, obtaining permission for use of photographs and project details?
Do you maintain sound business relationships and clear written and verbal communications with suppliers, industry and trade to ensure quality services (Do you pay your financial commitments in a timely manner and provide written purchase orders)?
Do you follow through on all of your projects and professional commitments
(Do you do systematic review with your clients to verify understanding and approval at each step of the procedure and do you properly close out all projects and contracts)?
Do you advertise and promote your firm accurately, using proper appellations and valid claims about qualification,;?
Have you researched, and are you in compliance with, all applicable laws in the jurisdiction(s) in which you do business?
Do you follow up after installation with post-occupancy evaluations?
Do you continually seek to upgrade your knowledge of the interior design it profession?
Do you use the Professional Practice Manual and the ASID Code of Ethics references for professional and ethical conduct?
