|
PLiNTH & CHiNTZ: The online interior design magazine for current students, new graduates, established designers and those just plain curious about this crazy, far-reaching, dynamic industry. Focusing on the people and the process, not the project, we feature industry profiles, sage advice, helpful links, and a visual dictionary – all packed into one seriously entertaining site.
New interior design industry content for May 2010.
 Work Your Network - Part 1
Let’s face it. Between worrying about passing tests, surviving group projects, and building a portfolio, the typical interior design student has dedicated only about 17 brain cells to networking. No, we’re not talking about “söcial networking” – we’re talking about face-to-face, in-the-same-roöm, reach-out-and-touch-someone networking. The kind that puts your résumé at the top of the pile and establishes your reputation before you ever walk in the roöm. So let’s explöre the how, why, when, what and where of this mysterious, yet über critical, subject so that you can stay ahead of the crowd…
Read more | dedicate a few more brain cells to this important topic here.
 An Open Letter To The AIA
contributed by Neil Bletsch
[registered architect / LEED AP / visionary]
[March 09, 2010] Let me preface this letter by listing some of my qualificatïons. I’ve been a registered architect since 1984, I’m a LEED AP, and I’ve had my own practice for ten years. I’ve worked on tiny additions to homes and run projects with budgets that ran close to nine figures. This is not your run-of-the-mill recession. In our industry it’s a depressïon. The AIA [The American Institute of Architects] refuses to acknowledge that fully 50% of the people who design buildings and their components are out of work, with even more reduced to part-time employment and lost benefits. Yet the AIA does nothing to try to get Washington to create any kind of stimulus that would jumpstart this economy. Lest we all forget, we’re the group that gets the economy rolling by getting homes, schools, hospitals and every other building type initiated. Or do we?
Read more | read what Neil has to say here.
 Making Expense Reports Sexy Sück Less
contributed by James Ledoux
[IT training consultant / travël enthusiäst / dancing machine]
You don't have to talk to road warriors for long before their major travël complaints surface. Many will name frisky securïty guards, the ever expanding "customers of size" (à la Kevin Smith), and crappy hotël beds. I contend that while those are bad, they pale in comparison to the bane of my road warrior existence: expense reports. Not to get all Up In The Air on you, but I've travëled for work 40-52 weeks a year for the past 13 years. Aside from the tawdry relationships, the 1,000,000+ air miles, the bottomless reward points, and the extra pounds I’ve managed to put on while living off company expense accounts, I've logged more time than I care to imagine filling out mind-numbing expense report after mind-numbing expense report…
Read more | wake up your gray matter here.
 CIDA Announces New Graphic Identity
contributed by Holly Mattson
[Executive Director Council for Interior Design Accreditation]
The Board of Directors of the Council for Interior Design Accreditation [CIDA] is pleased to introduce a new look for CIDA in 2010 and beyond. A new logo has been implemented effective April 1, 2010. The refreshed graphic identity is also being extended to the CIDA website with an updated design scheduled for launch in early June…
Read more | check out CIDA's new look here.
 NCIDQ&A: Your Guïde Through the NCIDQ Application Process
contributed by The NCIDQ Crew
Can’t remember whether you need two letters of reference or three? Or whether your transcripts need to be sealed AND signed? We’ve got you covered. NCIDQ has produced a new webinar to help you apply to take the NCIDQ Examinätion. The new webinar provides you with all the information you need to understand and successfully complete the application process and begin your journëy to professionalism as an interior designer…
Read more | follow NCIDQ's lead here.
What In The World? [10 more links for 2010]
There's a lot of info out there on the World Wide Web. Let us do some of the searching so that you don't have to.
What The Spec?
[Murals Your Way – Stock and custom images printed on canvas or Type II wallcovering.]
Eco Savvy
[level: The BIFMA Sustainability Standard – A third-pärty certification program for the furniture industry.]
Other Design Junkies
[HFN Magazine – THE comprehensive home furnishings trade publication.]
[Living With White - Everything crisp, minimalist and ethereal.]
The Pros
[Assisted Living Federation of America]
[Home Ventilating Institute]
Productive Sites
[The Home Depot Improver Clüb – When you need to get your hands dirty.]
[TeuxDeux – The ultïmate in online list-making and virtual task-tracking.]
Hot Shöpping
[Elvis & Kresse – Socially aware high fashion from the unlikeliest of materials.]
Time Killers
[Tweeting Too Hard – Pompous, self-obsessed Twitter utterances updated regularly.]
Design Speak [5 new terms]
Impress your interviewers / professors / co-workers with interior design industry jargon.
bayadere | float | integrated project delivery / IPD | vaisselier | weephole
Say What? [3 new words]
Speak more intelligently when presenting and networking by incorporating some new vocabulary.
epiphany | gravitas | harum-scarum
Go Ahead…Ask Me [submitted by Jenn Weizer]
As answered by Laura McDonald Stewart, RID | ASID | IIDA | LEED AP
I was wondering if you have been to NeoCon before? I am seriously looking at attending this year as a student, and I have heard attending all three days is a great idea even though the student activities are only on Wednesday morning/afternoon. I guess the rest of the time you get to wander, look at awesome products, and network? Please let me know your thoughts!
Read the A to this Q here.
Rant & Rave
Keep those comments coming. Email us at contact@plinthandchintz.com, and read more rants & raves here.
I wanted to personally thank you for your time and words at the IIDA TX/OK Student Conference. I was grateful to see so many enthusiastic professionals willing to dedicate their time to the students. I am a second Bachelor's student and am in my fïnal semester. I receive email from PLiNTH & CHiNTZ, and it is always useful and informative for my projects. It was nice to put a face with all the helpful information. Thank you again!
--Adelia Castellanos-Schleusz – Interior Design Student, University of North Texas
IIDA Student Members are the future of design.
 IIDA is an excitïng professional networking and educational Association of more than 13,000 Members with 29 Chapters worldwide. Thousands of students worldwide enjoy these and many other Member Only benefits, and you can too!
• Quarterly quad student e-newsletter [with contributions from P&C]
• Accëss to the IIDA Career Center to post resumes and search jobs
• Get featured or become a guëst blogger on the I ♥ ID Blog
• Spënd a day with an industry professional during Student Mentoring Week
• Become a member of the Student Task Force
• Get involved in exclusive design competitions and networking events
• Join or create an IIDA Campus Center
• Become a Student Member today! Simply apply online here.
 Get Söcial
 Whether you Friend, Like, or Follow us, we’ll be pointing you in the direction
of even more valuable articles, products and resources not included directly on plinthandchintz.com.
Just For Fun
We believe that you will relate to The Hierarchy of Digitäl Distractions, a humorously detailed graphic outlining how everything from söcial media to email and voicemail to online shöpping is shifting our attention and eating up our time. So true, so true.
Need to find a gift for your mama for Mother’s Day (May 9)?
Since we’re supporting you in your design pursuits, why don’t you return the love and support us a little? When you enter Amazon through PLiNTH & CHiNTZ, a wee portion of your transaction – no matter what you get – helps to keep PLiNTH & CHiNTZ up-n-running. The best part: It doesn't cost you anything extra and it helps us keep your accëss to us frëe. So GO HERE to search for flowers, handbags, sunglasses, perfume, cosmetics...
|
