A: There should be uniformity and standardization regarding functions and rules. Interior design is an applied art that seeks to solve spatial needs through design. Creativity cannot be restricted and standardized.

A: At present, there is no such requirement in Taiwan. Every company has its own system of training for its staff, and most have a three to six months’ training period. I personally very much support internship, but it depends upon how it is implemented.

A: There is no uniform code of conduct for the industry. Every company has its own code.

A: I personally think that all forms of continuing education are necessary. The CSID organizes various continuing education courses. Initially, implementation was difficult.

At present, Taiwan places great emphasis on continuing education. Since the establishment of the first university-level interior design program at Chung Yuan Christian University in 1985, there are now 26 universities offering programs in interior design in Taiwan, with annual graduates totaling more than 3,000. Upon graduation, around two-thirds of them will enter the job market. For the lucky ones who join a good firm, their career development will be fine, but those who are employed by inferior companies may find that they have wasted a great deal of time. Therefore, there is a great need for continuing education courses, which encompass different aspects of design, such as creative training and even design ethics (including work attitude). Attendance to these courses is voluntary and fee-bearing, yet many people partake in such courses.

A: The government has mandated that interior designers must obtain a license before they can operate a business, so almost all interior designers have to take an examination. In 2000, after a serious fire that took away many lives, Taiwan instituted the Building Renovations Management Act. In 2003, a licensing exam for interior designers was instituted, and 3,000 interior designers have since been qualified. This exam is technically based, and includes technical requirements such as fire regulations and structural safety, fire escape and the like. In addition, Taiwan has just passed the Interior Designers Act, which requires that in addition to earning the interior renovation personnel license, designers must also pass a national exam to obtain an interior designer license. They have to have both licenses before they can operate an interior design business, and every company must have at least one licensed designer. The content of the national exam instituted last year concerns design elements.

Despite having these exams, in Taiwan, interior designers still cannot do plan submission.  We have to submit our building plans to the Building Management Department for approval, and they will examine whether our plans involve structural changes, illegal additions, to the external facade, etc., and will issue us a permit before construction work can begin.  After construction work is completed, the department will inspect again before issuing occupation permits.

A: Interior design belongs to the field of aesthetics. To put it simply, it attempts to use design as a tool to apply aesthetics in life. I think there is a need to investigate the relationship between human behavior and space, which would help make the functionality of interior design more convincing.

At present, the most representative university in the field of interior design is Chung Yuan Christian University. With the oldest and most established interior design department, the university is also doing some work with regard to interior design and psychology.