Future stars

Establishing relationships from the start

Interior design is an industry that is always on the move. Practitioners work through projects, students learn more about the industry while writing exams and manufacturers and suppliers are always looking for new ways to promote their business.

Our industry members are finding that one of the most effective ways to promote their business is to sponsor events that cater to emerging professionals. IDC provides several opportunities throughout the year for our industry members to connect directly with emerging professionals.

It’s about branding

Emerging professionals — interior design students and interns — represent the future of the industry. Leading manufacturers and suppliers know the importance of gaining brand recognition early with this group of burgeoning talent. If a company can create a positive experience at an event for young designers, attendees are sure to remember that name and come back to the brand time and time again.

Each year, IDC holds its annual Top 5 Under 5 awards which profile Canada’s emerging interior designers. This year, the contest was sponsored by Knoll, Interface, Canadian Interiors and artist Tim Forbes. As a part of the prize package, representatives for each company were on-hand during the presentation of the awards and celebrated with the winners at one of Toronto’s chicest restaurants, Amsterdam BrewHouse, designed by IDC members Gordon MacKay and Ronald Wong.

In sharing this experience together, a strong bond was created that will undoubtedly prove useful in the future when it comes time to decide who to work with on the next project, whose product to source or who to go to for professional services.

Dress for success

This past October, l’Association professionnelle des designers d’intérieur du Québec (APDIQ) held a Dress for Success event where emerging professionals were given tips for how to dress for the workplace and stand out from the crowd. Dress for Success drew over a dozen sponsors. Similarly, the GTA chapter of ARIDO (Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario) created a three-part portfolio prep series aimed at helping students and recent grads to acquire the skills to help them stand out to potential employers. The first event in the series took place at the end of November in Haworth’s Toronto showroom, with event sponsorship provided by Teknion.

Sponsorship at events such as these includes the opportunity to attend the event and meet emerging interior designers and share with them information about your company, your company’s name included on promotional material for the event, and the option to provide branded promotional materials to all attendees. Creating a strong professional relationship with the future of Canada’s interior-design industry is an invaluable benefit to the future of your business.

If you are a manufacturer or supplier that provides products or services for interior environments, an IDC Industry membership gives you the opportunity to connect with the interior designers who use and specify your product or service. For more information about IDC Industry membership, please contact Meghan Smith, director of business development, at [email protected] or 416-649-4427. Follow us at @IDCanadatweets and www.facebook.com/InteriorDesignersofCanada.

Interior Designers of Canada is the association representing the interior-design profession in Canada. IDC advocates on behalf of the profession nationally and internationally, to government, industry and the public.