About Us

We are the UK’s only professional institute for interior designers

Who we are

The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) is the only professional institute for interior designers in the UK. Our growing membership represents both the commercial and residential sectors, from heritage to cutting edge. In addition to rigorous entry requirements which assess training, experience and professionalism, we require our members to continue their professional development throughout their career to ensure their continued expertise in design process, practice and regulatory matters. For those wishing to find an interior designer or to confirm the credibility of a potential interior designer we offer a directory of our Registered Interior Designers.

Our Mission

The BIID is committed to advancing professionalism, integrity and excellence in interior design.

Our Values

We are:

Approachable and supportive
Inclusive and collaborative
Ethical and environmentally responsible

Features

BIID gives me a sense of community..... I value the emphasis they place on education as well as the friends I have made through being a member since the start of my career.

Staffan Tollgård, BIID Member

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History

Institute Status

The organisation was founded in 1965 as the Interior Decorators and Designers Association (IDDA). In 2001, the IDDA was amalgamated with the globally recognised International Interior Design Association UK Chapter (IIDA), to form the British Interior Design Association (BIDA).

The British Institute of Interior Design is the only professional organisation for interior designers which has been granted the prestigious and rare accolade of Institute status. The term Institute is government regulated and only awarded to organisations that undertake research at the highest level or are professional bodies of the highest standing.
When the Secretary of State granted BIDA Institute status in 2009, it became the British Institute of Interior Design.

The responsibility of a professional Institute is to set the highest standards of practice for its particular profession. The BIID undertakes various activities to support this, including:

Code of Conduct: All BIID professional Members are required to sign our professional code of conduct;
Continuing Professional Development (CPD): All BIID Members are required to evidence their continuing professional development to ensure they keep up to date with the latest professional developments;
Complaints Procedure: The Institute has a fair and transparent complaints procedure in place;
Governance: The Institute is owned and governed by its members

In 2016, the BIID applied to protect the professional title BIID Registered Interior Designer®, seeing it as a way for clients, designers and other built environment professionals to identify interior designers who have met the BIID’s rigorous professional standards. Find out more about the protected term BIID Registered Interior Designer®

The Institute has always taken the lead in setting the highest professional standards for the interior design industry. We champion the skills and talents of interior designers to ensure they are properly valued by clients, construction professionals and the government.

Katherine Elworthy, COO of the BIID

Past Presidents

Since its establishment in 1965, the Institute has been led by a distinguished roster of some of the UK's most accomplished interior designers.

May Fawzy(2023 - 2024), Mathew Freeman (2022 - 2023), Lindsey Rendall (2021 - 2022), Lester Bennett (2020 - 2021), Harriet Forde (2019 - 2020), Gilly Craft (2018 - 2019), Charles Leon (2017 - 2018), Susie Rumbold (2016 - 2017), Daniel Hopwood (2014 - 2016), Sue Timney (2012 - 2014), Diana Yakeley (2011 - 2012), Jenny Gibbs (2010 - 2011);

Iris Dunbar (2008 - 2010), Lori Pinkerton-Rolet (2007 - 2008), Dean Keyworth (2006 - 2007), Diana Yakeley (2005 - 2006), Annie Stevens (2004 - 2005), Christopher Vane Percy (2003 - 2004), Joanna McCrae (2002 - 2003), Simon Cavelle (2000 - 2002), Gordon Lindsay (1998 - 2000);

Rosemary Hamilton (1996 - 1998), George Cooper (1994 - 1996), Timothy Hammond (1989 - 1994), Frederick Keeble (1967 - 1989), Godfrey Bonsack (1965 - 1967).