First established as the Society of Interior Decorators of Ontario, then Interior Designers of Ontario, the name was changed to the Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario in 1984 when the ARIDO Act was passed in the Legislature of Ontario. The Act was amended by the passing of Bill Pr6 in 1999 to grant interior designers who meet ARIDO standards exclusive use of the title Interior Designer in Ontario.
By giving legal standing to the designation of Interior Designer, the government bestows on the title a new measure of respect and recognizes the high standards of education, training and formal examination that professional interior designers undergo. The act also safeguards consumers by making clear the difference between professional interior designers and those unqualified to offer interior design services. Any person in Ontario who is not a member of the Association is guilty of an offence if he or she takes or uses the designation Interior Designer or ARIDO.
In 2009, Ontario’s interior design profession celebrated its 25th anniversary. In order to preserve ARIDO’s rich history, we created a video that commemorates 75 years of interior design excellence.