The Interior Design Society (IDS)

Disappointing Experience with IDS - Where's the Support?

I joined The Interior Design Society (IDS) about a year ago, hoping to find a community that would help me grow my interior design business. Unfortunately, my experience has been underwhelming. Despite their claims of providing a supportive and welcoming design community, I've found it difficult to connect with other members, and the local chapter meetings have been sparse and unorganized. The national headquarters seems more focused on promoting their own events and conferences than actually supporting the needs of their members. I've attended a few webinars, but they've been too basic and didn't offer any real insights or practical advice that I couldn't have found online for free. The Virtual Chapter has been a joke - it's just a Facebook group with a handful of posts that never get any engagement. I've tried to reach out to other members, but nobody seems to respond or be interested in collaborating. It's like they're all just there to promote their own businesses without actually caring about the community. I've also been disappointed with the lack of resources and tools provided to members. The website is outdated, and the newsletter is just a bunch of fluff pieces that don't offer any real value. I've been paying my membership fees for a year now, and I'm starting to feel like I'm just throwing my money away. If you're a professional interior designer looking for a supportive community, I would caution you to look elsewhere. IDS may have a rich history and a strong reputation, but in my experience, they've failed to deliver on their promises. Maybe I just got in at the wrong time, but I'm not impressed, and I won't be renewing my membership.