Recap: Northern ARIDO Community – Credentials Matter
On September 30, 2026, the Northern ARIDO Community (NAC) teamed up with Georgian College for Credentials Matter: Understanding, Celebrating, and Shaping the Future of Interior Design in Ontario. The evening took place at their Barrie Campus, with guests joining both in person and online.
Second-year students in Georgian’s Honours Bachelor of Interior Design program researched, organized and presented the program. NAC co-leads Andrea Vorstermans-Zado and Terry Ledger helped shape the event.
And since the event fell on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, it opened with a land acknowledgement and a reflection on making more room in the profession for Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous designers and Indigenous perspectives.
Who Does What, and Why Credentials Matter
A professional panel looked at scopes of practice, common misconceptions and how credentials protect public health, safety and welfare.
Featuring Christy Bremer, ARIDO
Student exhibition and debate
During the networking break, guests explored two student-built displays:
- History of Interior Design in Ontario: a timeline tracing the profession from decoration to regulated practice
- Faces of Professional Practice: profiles of Northern Registered Interior Designers and what their credentials mean to them
Students then debated whether the professional title should stay “Interior Designer” or become “Interior Architect”.
Thank you to everyone involved!
- T-Squared Design (Terry Ledger, ARIDO) for sponsoring the evening and providing the food and refreshments
- Georgian College, faculty member Tara O’Neil, the second-year Professional Practice class and the panelists
- Every NAC member who shared their credentials story during the September campaign
CREDENTIALS MATTER
