According to the professional codes of conduct that govern the interior design profession, a designer has a primary fiduciary duty to the client. Accepting a commission or "kickback" from a manufacturer creates a conflict of interest, or at the very least, the appearance of one. This action could compromise the designer's objectivity and imply that their specifications are influenced by personal gain rather than the client's best interests. Even though the offer was made after the client's purchase, accepting it is unethical. The most appropriate and professional response is to politely refuse the commission to maintain integrity and avoid any potential ethical violations.

A. Accept the commission: This is a direct violation of professional ethics, creating a conflict of interest that undermines the designer's fiduciary duty to the client.

C. Pass the commission on to the client: While seemingly unselfish, this action still entangles the designer in a questionable transaction and fails to address the root ethical problem of the manufacturer's offer.

D. Request a non-monetary commission instead: The form of compensation is irrelevant; a non-monetary benefit still constitutes a payment from a third party and creates the same conflict of interest.

1. American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). (2022). ASID Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct.

Section II: Responsibility to the Client

Clause 2.3: "ASID members shall not accept any form of compensation from a supplier of goods and services in cash or in kind

unless the member first discloses in writing to the client the nature and source of the compensation." In the scenario

no prior disclosure was made

making acceptance an ethical breach. Refusal is the only course of action that upholds the code.

2. Piotrowski

C. M. (2017). Professional Practice for Interior Designers (6th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Chapter 4

Ethics and Professional Conduct

p. 89: The text discusses conflicts of interest

stating

"A conflict of interest exists when a designer has a personal interest that might interfere with the interests of his or her client... For example

if a designer receives a secret commission or kickback from a vendor

this is a conflict of interest." The chapter emphasizes that such actions are unethical and often illegal.

3. International Interior Design Association (IIDA). (2021). IIDA Code of Ethics.

Article II - Responsibility to the Client

Section (c): "Members shall fully disclose to a client all compensation which the Member shall receive in connection with a project and shall not accept any form of undisclosed compensation from any person or firm with whom the Member deals in connection with a project." The lack of prior disclosure and agreement with the client makes accepting the post-purchase commission a clear violation.