Man vs. Woman or Architects vs. Interior Designers

            When I researched the term “Interior Designer” in a thesaurus a few words came up as synonyms and related terms. Some listed were: craft, trade, furnishing, lighting, and the two most important, architecture and interior decoration. Although we are all aware that these terms generally go hand in hand together, I found it curious that they can be considered synonyms of each other yet there differences are highly argued and highlighted although one could not survive without the other.

            The reasons why we like to segregate each of these occupations can take all day to discuss but I think the main reason why we argue that these three are so different is due to the type of duties each occupation is to fulfill but also the difference in gender in each field. In the article I just read “A View from the Margin” by Lucinda Kaukas Havenhand she discusses a lot of the issues interior designers and decorators face. One of the major subjects that grabbed my interest was the feminist stereotype of designers and decorators versus the masculinity of the male architect. I feel that her point of saying woman were always considered lesser than men since the beginning of the profession couldn’t of been more spot on.

            I feel that male architects think they are so much more important than interior designers due to the fact that they deal with the main overall structure and don’t fully understand what we as designers do. Maybe they don’t understand what we do or maybe they are just intimidated by what a “Woman” is capable of doing to the interior of “His” building that might take away from the glory of the structure “He” built. Maybe that’s the reason and maybe its not, we can all wonder.

            I believe that an interior designer and an architect can do miracles together within the production of their projects but working together and allowing a since of equality between the two seems to only be a dream.  My dream is for everyone to realize that yes there are three different categories within the field of design; Architects, Interior Design, and Interior Decoration. And yes each occupation has different duties and focus on different areas within the structures design.  But each needs one another to complete a project beautifully and safely.