History of the Society of Interior Designers [SIDA]

First known as the Society of Interior Designers, the Society of Interior Designers of Australia was founded in 1951 with the desire to advance the art of interior design services to the public, as well as assisting designers just entering the field.

SIDA was was the earliest Australian association of Interior Designers and Interior Decorators. They clearly stated the need to advance the standards of interior designing and decoration and to uphold in practice a code of ethics and professional practices.

By 1964 the society had members Australia wide and shortly after becoming incorporated as a not for profit company, the Society was responsible for instigating the creation of a Diploma Course in Interior Design that commenced at Randwick College of TAFE in Sydney.

In order to capitalise on their respective strengths, SIDA, the Design Institute of Australia and the Australian Textiles Designers Association (ATDA) were unified under the name of the DIA. SIDA converted its corporate structure into a Foundation that today invests and administers funds to further the aims of the interior design and decoration professions.