1970 and 1972: When Design Met Global Consciousness

1970 was a landmark year for both the planet and the profession of interior design.

On the world stage, the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm raised the first global alarm on climate and design. Canada launched its first Design Council initiatives, linking national policy with creative industries. Around the world, design education found its voice as people began to see how our environments shape human experience.

At the same time, the Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER) was officially founded. Leaders such as Jerry Nielson, Arnold Friedmann, and Art Hawn established the first committees for Accreditation, Standards, and Guidance—laying the groundwork for what would become today’s Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).

Why does accreditation matter? Because as the world was changing, design needed to keep pace—ensuring that interior design education prepared graduates to meet new environmental, cultural, and societal challenges.

The roots of CIDA were planted during one of history’s most pivotal years, reflecting a rising global consciousness that continues to shape design education today.