An interior designer is a professional who combines artistic flair with scientific understanding to create functional and aesthetically pleasing spaces within a building. They go beyond mere decoration, applying creative and technical solutions that consider the occupants' well-being, cultural context, and environmental sustainability, following a systematic process to meet the client's needs and adhere to regulatory requirements.

Any code-impacted interior environment requires Commercial Interior Design. This includes all public and corporate spaces such as civic buildings, offices, and hospitality, retail, and entertainment spaces—essentially, anything that isn’t a private residential interior. Interior design encompasses the analysis, planning, design, documentation, and management of interior non-structural/non-seismic construction and alteration projects in compliance with applicable building design and construction, fire, life-safety, and energy codes, standards, regulations, and guidelines for the purpose of obtaining a building permit, as allowed by law. Qualified by means of education, experience, and examination, interior designers have a moral and ethical responsibility to protect consumers and occupants through the design of code-compliant, accessible, and inclusive interior environments that address well-being, while considering the complex physical, mental, and emotional needs of people.

Interior Design regulation at the state level helps establish and maintain professional standards that protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public. IIDA firmly believes that legal recognition, achieved through registration or certification, brings uniformity to the profession, defines responsibility of an interior designer, and encourages excellence in the Interior Design industry.