Working with a designer who has attained professional membership with a provincial association assures you that the individual meets the highest level of interior design professionalism and its prerequisites are correspondingly demanding. The professional interior designer is qualified by education, experience, and examination to enhance the function and quality of interior spaces for the purpose of improving the quality of life, increasing productivity, and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
Most of the provincial Interior Design associations offer a referral service to the public. This service is available for any type of design including corporate, residential, retail, restaurant and healthcare. Simply contact the appropriate provincial association where you wish the work the done for a referral.

Many interior designers are hired based on word of mouth. Ask friends, acquaintances, co-workers and family members for names of Interior Designers they have employed and recommend. Remember, before hiring an Interior Designer; call your provincial association to verify that they are a registered member thereby ensuring your choice of designer meets their high standards of education, experience and examination. For large projects, particularly commercial, a Request for Proposal can be distributed to various interior design firms. This ensures that you receive the best quote and that your needs are fully appreciated by the Interior Designer you employ.

To ensure quality of work, take time to interview a selection of interior designers. A professional Interior Designer will explain the design process, their work schedule and their billing costs and ask you in-depth questions about your needs. Before working with an Interior Designer you must feel comfortable with the designer's approach to design. To ensure that the final project and the building process is of the highest quality and within budget, always sign a contract with the Interior Designer prior to any work commencing.
The Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia website offers an excellent information source for the process of hiring an Interior Designer
http://www.idibc.org/choosing.html

ARIDO (The Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario) has an excellent program available DesignFIND