Uncovering the real-world consequences of unequal regulation on design safety and careers through data-driven investigations.
The Mission
Measuring Advancement with Facts.
The Green Tape Measure is a volunteer-run North Carolina nonprofit corporation on a mission to champion the next generation of interior designers. By providing objective data, research, and educational resources to the public, we are expanding career paths and protecting public safety — ensuring the profession is recognized, regulated, and respected.
Research.
Educate.
Advance.
Founding
Grounded in Teaching.
The Green Tape Measure was initially conceptualized in 2025 as a platform expanding professional educational services. However, after encountering systemic career, wage parity, and leadership barriers — and hearing from countless designers struggling with the same obstacles — our founder realized the industry needed a broader solution. Today, GTM has transformed into an independent, community-driven nonprofit foundation dedicated to delivering evidence-based research and advocacy for the public good.
Watch the video to learn more about our founder's experiences.
Funding
Transparent Operations.
Future Funding Structure
50% Membership Tiers
Optional perks and exclusive content.
30% Donations
One-time and reoccurring contributions.
10% Research Grants
Long-term industry studies to guide the profession and legislation.
10% Merchandise
Clothing, pens, keychains, pins, and Scrib plushies.
Current Campaign
Help Launch The Green Tape Measure
As we are currently only funded by donations, we need YOUR help. Support GTM's 501(c)(3) non-profit conversion with a donation today.
Donor Benefits*Contributions are not currently tax-deductible while we finalize our 501(c)(3) transition. Interested in sponsoring us now? Reach out to see how you can get involved. Thank you for championing our mission!
Knowledge Check
Design Roles IQ
Test your industry knowledge. Tap the job title then tap its corresponding definition.
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1
Drag job titles from the right panel.
2
Drop them into the matching definition boxes.
3
Green = correct, Red = try again!
A licensed architect who practices interior design.
Designs interiors that are safe and functional.
Designs buildings. Requires a license.
Furnishes a space with fashionable or attractive items.
See our sources
BLS. Outlook Handbook: Architects. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Available at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/architects.htm (Accessed 27 September 2025).
BLS. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Interior Designers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025). Available at: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/interior-designers.htm (Accessed 27 September 2025).
CCIDC. Why is it Illegal to Use the Title "Interior Architect". CCIDC (2025). Available at: https://ccidc.org/using-the-title-interior-architect-is-illegal (Accessed 27 September 2025).
CIDQ. What Is Interior Design?. Council for Interior Design Qualification (2026). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/about-cidq/what-is-interior-design/ (Accessed 26 May 2026).
NCARB. Why Architecture. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/become-architect/why-architecture (Accessed 27 September 2025).
Archive Logs
Industry Regulation: Evolution & Impact
Regulation is often a reactive response to historical events, frequently shaped by industry politics and territorial disputes.
Scroll or swipe to see the next or previous event.
AIA
The American Institute of Architects is formed.
Sources
NCARB. The Need for Regulation: The Rise of Professions. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://centennial.ncarb.org/beginning-of-licensure (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1857
Architecture Regulation
Illinois is the first state to regulate architecture.
Sources
NCARB. The Need for Regulation: The First License Law. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://centennial.ncarb.org/beginning-of-licensure (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1897
Theater Fire
Theater fire kills 602 due to flammable finishes & poor egress.
Sources
Massasoit Community College. Major American Fires: Iroquois Theater Fire - 1903. Massasoit Community College (2017). Available at: https://library.massasoit.edu/americanfires/iroquois (Accessed 27 September 2025).
Uenuma, Francine. The Iroquois Theater Disaster Killed Hundreds andChanged Fire Safety Forever. Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2018. Available at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-theater-blaze-killed-hundreds-forever-changed-way-we-approach-fire-safety-180969315/ (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1903
Factory Fire
A factory fire kills 146, mostly due to poor egress.
Sources
AFL-CIO. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. AFL-CIO (2025). Available at: https://aflcio.org/about/history/labor-history-events/triangle-shirtwaist-fire (Accessed 27 September 2025).
History.com Editors. Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. History.com, 2 Dec. 2009. Available at: https://www.history.com/articles/triangle-shirtwaist-fire (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1911
NCARB
The National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB) is formed.
Sources
NCARB. History of NCARB. NCARB (2025). Available at: https://www.ncarb.org/about/history-ncarb (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1919
AIID
American Institute of Interior Decorators is formed.
Sources
ASID. A History of the American Society of Interior Designers. ASID (2025). Available at: https://www.asid.org/50years (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1931
NAAB
National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) is formed.
Sources
NAAB. Our History: Why Accreditation?. NAAB (2025). Available at: https://www.naab.org/who-we-are/our-history (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1940
NSID
National Society of Interior Designers (NSID) is formed.
Sources
ASID. A History of the American Society of Interior Designers. ASID (2025). Available at: https://www.asid.org/50years (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1957
FIDER / CIDA
FIDER, now called CIDA, the Council for Interior Design Accreditation, is formed.
Sources
CIDA. Our Story. Council for Interior Design Accreditation (2025). Available at: https://cida.org/cida-history (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1970
CIDQ
CIDQ (Council for Interior Design Qualification) is formed.
Sources
LinkedIn. CIDQ. LinkedIn (2026). Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cidq (Accessed 05 May 2026).
1974
ASID
ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) is formed.
Sources
ASID. A History of the American Society of Interior Designers. ASID (2025). Available at: https://www.asid.org/50years (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1975
Hotel Fire
Hotel fire kills 85 due to toxic smoke from interior finishes and lack of sprinklers.
Sources
Best, Richard, and Demers, David P. Investigation Report on the MGM Grand Hotel Fire. National Fire Protection Association, 15 Jan. 1982. https://www.firefighternation.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/lasvegasmgmgrand.pdf (Accessed 27 September 2025).
Jensen Hughes. How the MGM Grand Fire Changed Fire Codes + Standards. Jensen Hughes 19 Nov. 2021. Available at: https://www.jensenhughes.com/insights/how-the-mgm-grand-fire-changed-fire-codes-standards (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1980
Interior Design Regulation
Alabama is the first state to pass interior design regulation.
Sources
IIDA Alabama Chapter. Advocacy & Legislation. IIDA Alabama Chapter (2025). Available at: https://www.iida-al.org/resources/advocacy-legislation (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1982
Architecture Opposition
Architects openly oppose interior design legislation.
Sources
Gillman, Todd J. Architects Fight D.C. Law Licensing Interior Designers. The Washington Post, 23 Aug. 1987. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1987/08/24/architects-fight-dc-law-licensing-interior-designers/b4afb5fa-aa7e-4b59-9536-3fd85ecd9963 (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1987
National Accord
National Accord established, placing restrictions on interior designers for AIA support.
Sources
Whitney, Marilyn Corson. A History of the Professionalization of Interior Design. Virginia Tech VTechWorks, 18 Aug. 2008. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/75802a53-f826-4e1b-9e44-1afa7c02bd4f/content#page=92 (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1989
IIDA
IIDA (International Interior Design Association) is formed.
Sources
Our Story. IIDA (2025). Available at: https://iida.org/about/our-story (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1994
Accord Ends
ASID votes to no longer honor the Accord.
Sources
AIA Las Vegas. Interior Designers Abandon 1989 Accord. Forum, July 2000. Available at: https://usmodernist.org/AIANV/AIALV-1999-07.pdf#page=3 (Accessed 27 September 2025).
1999
Nightclub Fire
Nightclub fire kills 100 due to rapid fire spread and toxic fumes from interior finishes.
Sources
FSRI. Remembering The Station Nightclub Fire: Twenty Years Later. UL Research Institutes, 20 Feb. 2023. Available at: https://fsri.org/news/remembering-station-nightclub-fire-twenty-years-later (Accessed 27 September 2025).
NIST. Disaster & Failure Studies: The Station Nightclub Fire 2003. NIST 3 June 2011. Available at: https://www.nist.gov/disaster-failure-studies/station-nightclub-fire-2003 (Accessed 27 September 2025).
2003
Freedom of Speech
Regulation of the title “Interior Designer” is ruled unconstitutional.
Sources
Institute for Justice. Connecticut Interior Design: Challenging Connecticut's Licensing of Speech for Interior Designers. Institute for Justice (2008). Available at: https://ij.org/case/susan-roberts-v-jerry-farrell (Accessed 27 September 2025).
Institute for Justice. Texas Interior Design: Challenging Texas' Licensing of Speech for Interior Designers. Institute for Justice (2007). Available at: https://ij.org/case/byrum-et-al-v-landreth-et-al-2/ (Accessed 27 September 2025).
FindLaw. Eva Locke v. Joyce Shore. FindLaw (2011). Available at: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-11th-circuit/1557399.html (Accessed 27 September 2025).
ASID FLS. Response to Interior Design Deregulation. American Society of Interior Designers: Florida South (2025). Available at: https://fls.asid.org/resources/advocacy/response-to-interior-design-deregulation (Accessed 27 September 2025).
2009
Architects Join ASID
ASID allows licensed architects to join as practitioner members.
Sources
ASID. Frequently Asked Questions: Why is ASID including architects in its membership structure?. American Society of Interior Designers (2025). Available at: https://www.asid.org/frequently_asked_questions/frequently_asked_questions (Accessed 27 September 2025).
2013
Apartment Fire
Apartment fire kills 13 due to lack of self-closing doors and oil-based paint.
Sources
Daly, Michael. Bronx Building's Oil-Based Paint Made it Burn Like 'Gasoline'. Daily Beast, 29 Dec. 2017. Available at: https://www.thedailybeast.com/bronx-buildings-oil-based-paint-made-it-burn-like-gasoline (Accessed 27 September 2025).
Sullivan, C.J. 12 dead after fire sweeps through Bronx apartment building. New York Post, 28 Dec. 2017. Available at: https://nypost.com/2017/12/28/multiple-people-seriously-injured-as-fire-rips-through-bronx-building/ (Accessed 27 September 2025).
2017
AIA Chapters Update
AIA no longer mandates its chapters to outright oppose interior design regulation.
Sources
CIDQ. AIA Revises Interior Design Opposition Position Statement. Council for Interior Design Qualification, 17 Jan. 2022. Available at: https://www.cidq.org/2022/01/17/aia-revises-interior-design-opposition-position-statement/ (Accessed 27 September 2025).
2021
Consortium Formed
ASID, IIDA, and CIDQ form the Consortium for Interior Design.
Sources
ASID. ASID, CIDQ, and IIDA Announce Consortium for Interior Design: Advocating for Public Health, Safety, and Well-being. ASID, 29 Mar. 2023. Available at: https://www.asid.org/news/asid-cidq-and-iida-announce-consortium-for-interior-design-advocating-for-public-health-safety-and-well-being (Accessed 27 September 2025).
2023
“Reasonable” Regulation
ASID, IIDA, and CIDQ announce “reasonable” regulation.
Sources
ASID. The Importance of Interior Design. ASID (2025). Available at: https://www.asid.org/lib24watch/files/pdf/8572 (Accessed 27 September 2025).
CIDQ. Advocacy. Council for Interior Design Qualification (2025). Available at: https://www.cidq.org/advocacy (Accessed 27 September 2025).
IIDA. Advocacy: About. IIDA (2025). Available at: https://iida.org/advocacy (Accessed 27 September 2025).
The Consortium for Interior Design (2025). Available at: https://consortiumforinteriordesign.splashthat.com/ (Accessed 27 September 2025).
CIDQ. Announcing the Consortium for Interior Design. CIDQ, 27 Mar 2023. Available at: https://www.cidq.org/2023/03/27/announcing-the-consortium-for-interior-design/ (Accessed 26 May 2026).
today
Industry Insights
Data. Analysis. Results.
Research is GTM's foundation. We analyze controversial industry questions and heated topics objectively, providing all data and sources so you can draw your own conclusions.
On smaller screens, scroll or swipe across to see the cards.
July 2025
Fire, Design, and Liability
Yes, interior design can kill. Here is an analysis of 42 examples and counting.
July 2025
Interiors (De)regulated
An overview of interior design legislation since the 1980s and current bills in each state.
September 2025
Arch vs Interiors
Different education. Different exams. Different Professions.
HSW in Action
Our Legislative Voice.
We advocate for inclusive and data-supported regulation that elevates the profession and protects the public.
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Help Us Grow
Shape the Future of Interior Design.
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Current Campaign
Help Launch The Green Tape Measure
Let's become a 501(c)(3) non-profit!
*Contributions are not currently tax-deductible while we finalize our 501(c)(3) transition. Interested in sponsoring us now? Reach out to see how you can get involved. Thank you for championing our mission!