Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Designer/Decorator (Potato/Potatoe)

Titles are for royalty. What matters is your work and what you stand for.
I was recently at a gathering in my city attended by many area decorators and designers, a little wine and cheese affair. (You know what I'm talking about, where your competition is there pretending to be your friend!) Anyway, the topic of title acts came up, and suddenly the fake smiles faded. Two distinct camps suddenly emerged among us; the decorators and the designers. Those who support title legislation and those who don't. You could even go so far as to say there are several sub-groups; decorators who call themselves designers anyway, designers who wish they made as much money as some decorators, designers who look down on the decorators, decorators who are intimidated by the designers, etc. I am actually in the group called "I don't care what you call me as long as you call me". One designer had a name for the decorators; "people who work out of their cars". (Actually, I joke all the time that even though I have a studio, my Chevy Tahoe is my REAL office. I didn't know there was an actual put-down out there!) Another designer looked at me during the conversation and said, "If this passes, you'll probably be out of business."
WOW. My first thought was, "the host better shut down the wine tray", then I answered, "I will never be out of business because you will never be able to legislate art". She glared. I left. (Nothing good was going to come of this.)

Can't we all just be friends? There really is enough work for everybody. There are as many facets to this business as there are stars in the night sky. Everybody chill. Figure out your niche and fill it. Planning how many cubicles fit into an office is not my thing; if it is yours, go for it. Live and let live; design and let design.

8 comments:

The Changing Look of Friends said...

Good for you and well put. I love your come back. There is a place for all of us and believe me we all work out of our SUV's at some point. Also Thanks Carol for stopping by and leaving a comment on Kitty's Home, I will let you known about the sources.
Joy

Sanity Fair said...

I agree - and doesn't this allow people with talent to be recognized and prosper, regardless of title? That's what really matters.

cotedetexas said...

until last month it was against the law for me to call myself an interior designer. the law was just changed, but asid really needs to be stopped in every state, not just Texas. You pay a pretty penny if you dare call yourself something you haven't passed a test on.

Southern Chateau said...

In my experience, a person's work usually sorts it all out, and I think that worries some people.

Marion said...

The late, great Billy Baldwin preferred to call himself a "decorator". However, the ASID does have a point in that anyone who can afford a vendor's license without any professional work experience should not call themselves a "designer".
Marion

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Well, I suppose Sister Parish would be out on her tail, wouldn't she?

Actually, I prefer the term "decorator". It just sounds much more fun to me.

Southern Chateau said...

Anyone who designs anything is a designer. A person who sells things is not necessarily a designer, but can be. Evidently there are some who think you would need a license to create a sculpture or a painting, too. Also, I know plenty of people who got a "vendor's" license who weren't able to make it in this business. Like I said, there is room for everyone, whatever their title.

Southern Chateau said...

Pamela Terry and Edward, yes I agree, "decorator" is fine with me. As I said in my piece, I don't care what you call me,as long as you call me!