The Road Ahead

This research, the Survey on the 2Es of Interior Design in Hong Kong—Education and Experience, offers a clearer than ever picture of the interior design profession in Hong Kong in comparison to previous studies. With a large number of companies engaged in various kinds of design services from residential to retail, commercial and offices, which service clients from all across Asia, it is clear that interior design is a vibrant and growing industry in Hong Kong, and one in which many people desire to enter by taking various courses on the subject.

Interior design education and industry are multi-billion dollar businesses that affect the lives of millions. Yet despite their influence, interior design remains relatively unregulated in Hong Kong. As this research indicates, there is a wide variance in the level and content of interior design courses, and the barrier for entry into the profession is low, which allow people with different levels of education to work as interior designers. Many professionals think that Hong Kong’s interior design profession must be enhanced if it were to remain competitive in the face of growing competition from interior designers from other countries in the region, particularly China.  Such enhancement should include improvements in interior design education as well as ensuring that practitioners possess a minimum level of competence. According to our questionnaires and focus group discussions, many practitioners are of the opinion that the government should play a more proactive role in promoting and regulating the interior design industry. In addition, looking at the development of the industry in other countries, it is clear that the impetus for change and improvement must come from the industry itself, from the understanding that their work requires a high level of knowledge and skills that deserves to be recognized as a true profession. This survey represents the 3rd phase of the RIDA (Registered Interior Design Association) project. The next phase of the project is the research and writing of a professional guideline for Hong Kong interior design, which will spell out in detail the knowledge and responsibilities of Hong Kong interior designers. This professional guideline will serve as the reference for professional practice as well as educational institutions. In addition, it will be used as the basis for any future examination, the content and format of which will be laid out in the next phase of the RIDA project. Then, practitioners can decide whether examination is the best way to enhance interior design education and industry in Hong Kong.