Interior designers

13 essential terms of interior design in Côte d’Ivoire: CNAICI, INSAAC, bespoke cabinetmaking, tropical hardwoods, managing a project from the diaspora.

The definitions

All the interior designers vocabulary

CNAICI— Conseil National des Architectes d'Intérieur de Côte d'Ivoire (national council of interior architects)

A professional body founded on 23 May 2009 in Bingerville, under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture (not the MCLU). It has only 16 licensed members across the whole country.

Not to be confused with the CNOA-CI (building architects). Unlike architecture, the profession is not yet regulated by a law creating a professional Order.

See also: insaac · decorateur-residentiel

INSAAC— Institut National Supérieur des Arts et de l'Action Culturelle (national institute of arts and cultural action)

The only public institution in Côte d'Ivoire offering training in interior architecture. It awards a professional master's-level degree in Applied Arts, specialising in Interior Architecture. The course is being revised as part of an LMD (bachelor's-master's-doctorate) reform.

It is the academic benchmark for telling a trained professional from a self-taught one.

See also: cnaici · decorateur-residentiel

Residential interior designer (décorateur résidentiel)— A specialist in fitting out private spaces

A professional who designs and carries out the interior fit-out of villas, flats and offices. Not to be confused with an event decorator.

Their work runs from 2D/3D design to coordinating craftspeople (painters, cabinetmakers, upholsterers), through to a turnkey handover. In Côte d'Ivoire, they deal with appearance and do not touch the structure of the building.

Event decorator (décorateur événementiel)— A specialist in decorating for events

A separate profession, very widespread in Côte d'Ivoire, for weddings, christenings, galas and birthdays. Often confused with residential interior designers in directories. They do not design permanent interiors.

For LNA-CI, these are filtered out explicitly: the interior designers listed are residential or commercial designers, not wedding decorators.

See also: decorateur-residentiel

Interior designer's full service— What the service really covers in Côte d'Ivoire

In Côte d'Ivoire, an interior designer's job includes: (1) measuring up and assessing the existing space, (2) 2D/3D plans and sketches (SketchUp, AutoCAD, Home Designer), (3) choosing materials, finishes and textiles, (4) sourcing furniture locally and/or from abroad,

(5) coordinating craftspeople (painters, joiners, cabinetmakers, upholsterers), (6) overseeing the finishing works through to handover.

Coordinating craftspeople (coordination artisans)— Managing a network of local tradespeople

A key skill of an interior designer in Côte d'Ivoire: they coordinate painters, cabinetmakers (bespoke furniture), aluminium joiners (wardrobes, kitchens), tilers and upholsterers. Their network of reliable craftspeople is their main competitive asset.

For the diaspora, this is what matters most: they manage the trades on your behalf from Abidjan.

Moodboard— A tool for agreeing on a style

A visual document (physical or digital) bringing together colours, materials, furniture and references to agree on the style before buying anything. An essential tool for diaspora projects managed from a distance.

It helps avoid unpleasant surprises: the client approves the look before the furniture is ordered or the painting starts.

Imported furniture— Furniture and accessories bought outside Côte d'Ivoire

Furniture and decorative accessories imported into Côte d'Ivoire are subject to 20% customs duty plus 18% VAT. The diaspora often imagines bringing furniture over from France or ordering online. It is possible, but expensive.

An interior designer in Côte d’Ivoire knows how to weigh importing against local manufacture, on value for money and lead times.

See also: ebenisterie-sur-mesure · boconcept

Bespoke cabinetmaking (ébénisterie sur mesure)— High-end furniture made locally

A well-established trade in Abidjan: local cabinetmakers make kitchens, wardrobes, bookcases and living-room furniture to measure in tropical hardwoods (iroko, mahogany, sipo). Quality comparable to imports, for 30 to 50% less.

Les Bois d’Ivoire, Fractal CI and many craft workshops offer this service.

See also: mobilier-importe · bois-tropicaux

Tropical hardwoods— Local raw materials for furniture

Côte d'Ivoire produces iroko, mahogany, sipo, framiré and wenge locally: species used for bespoke furniture and wooden flooring. These woods last very well in Abidjan's humid tropical climate (resistant to insects and damp).

A licensed interior designer knows the reliable sawmills and workshops.

African crafts / wax prints— Bringing cultural references into interior design

A strong trend in Côte d'Ivoire: bringing wax-print fabrics, sculpture, basketry, pottery and African art objects into contemporary interiors. Businesses such as Nyumbani Design offer an eco-friendly selection combining discounted new pieces and second-hand items.

The diaspora often sees it as a way of keeping a cultural link in their home back in the country.

A lightly regulated market— The reality of interior design in Côte d'Ivoire

Unlike architects (for whom OAA-CI registration is compulsory), anyone in Côte d’Ivoire can call themselves an “interior designer” without a qualification or a licence. The market is dominated by self-taught designers, often talented but with no guarantee of professionalism.

A CNAICI or INSAAC credential is the only verifiable sign of proper training. For LNA-CI: require at least proof of training (an INSAAC diploma or equivalent) before listing an interior designer.