(225 ILCS 310/4) (from Ch. 111, par. 8204)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2027)

Sec. 4. Title; application of Act.

(a) No individual shall, without a valid registration as a registered interior designer issued by the Department, in any manner hold himself or herself out to the public as a registered interior designer or attach the title "registered interior designer" or any other name or designation which would in any way imply that he or she is able to use the title "registered interior designer" as defined in this Act.

(a-5) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing or restricting the services offered or advertised by an interior designer who is registered under this Act.

(b) Nothing in this Act shall prevent the employment, by a registered interior designer association, partnership, or a corporation furnishing interior design services for remuneration, of persons not registered as interior designers to perform services in various capacities as needed, provided that the persons do not represent themselves as, or use the title of, "registered interior designer".

(c) Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the activities and use of the title "interior designer" on the part of a person not registered under this Act who is a graduate of an interior design program and a full-time employee of a duly chartered institution of higher education insofar as such person engages in public speaking, with or without remuneration, provided that such person does not represent himself or herself to be a registered interior designer or use the title "registered interior designer".

(d) Nothing contained in this Act shall restrict any person not registered under this Act from carrying out any of the activities listed in the definition of "the profession of interior design" in Section 3 if such person does not represent himself or herself or his or her services in any manner prohibited by this Act.

(e) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing or restricting the practice, services, or activities of any person licensed in this State under any other law from engaging in the profession or occupation for which he or she is licensed.

(f) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing or restricting the practice, services, or activities of engineers licensed under the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989 or the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989; architects licensed pursuant to the Illinois Architectural Practice Act of 1989; any interior decorator or individual offering interior decorating services including, but not limited to, the selection of surface materials, window treatments, wall coverings, furniture, accessories, paint, floor coverings, and lighting fixtures; or builders, home furnishings salespersons, and similar purveyors of goods and services relating to homemaking.

(g) Nothing in this Act or any other Act shall prevent a licensed architect from practicing interior design services. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as requiring the services of a registered interior designer for the interior designing of a single family residence.

(h) Nothing in this Act shall authorize registered interior designers to perform services, including life safety services that they are prohibited from performing, or any practice: (i) that is restricted in the Professional Engineering Practice Act of 1989, the Professional Land Surveyor Act of 1989, of the Structural Engineering Practice Act of 1989; (ii) that is restricted in the Illinois Architecture Practice Act of 1989, except as provided in this Act; or (iii) that they are not authorized to perform under the Environmental Barriers Act, except as provided in this Act.

(i) Nothing in this Act shall authorize registered interior designers to advertise services that they are prohibited to perform, including architecture or engineering services, nor to use the title "architect" in any form.

(j) Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing or restricting persons from engaging in professional services limited to the design of kitchen and bath spaces or the specification of products for kitchen and bath areas in noncommercial settings.

(Source: P.A. 102-20, eff. 1-1-22; 102-1066, eff. 1-1-23.)