September 2022

masi Design Award Winners for Silver and Bronze

President's Message

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

It is September 2022 and we are back to school! I love this time of year, as it seems to give me permission to indulge in my obsession with stationery. New pens & pencils, notebooks & journals and all the tools to manage my office including binders, dividers, and file folders. Is there anything better than feeling organized before the holiday season is upon us?

However, let us not forget the true reason for all these purchases: education! As we send our kids back to school, it is also a great time for us to focus on our own self-development. As per Ben Franklin’s quote above, the more we learn, the greater the opportunity for growth and confidence, which can only support our clients better and ultimately increase the value of our professional services. With the return to face-to-face meetings and summer vacations almost done, we are seeing a plethora of requests for interactions with our industry representatives. By supporting them, we are not only building great relationships, but also increasing our knowledge on their products and industry, which enables us to provide educated services to our clients. As a bonus – you may be able to achieve a few continuing education credits.

The IDA has a fantastic fall series of CEU courses! Titled, Beyond the Building Code: Accessibility and Inclusion in Interior Design, it has shaped up to be a very informative series, building on our knowledge of courses previously presented. It is a chance to discuss the real challenges with persons who are facing these biases everyday in the built environment. To register, see the links below.

On another front, the IDA is also advocating for our profession by promoting the education of high school students who may be interested in a career in Interior Design. We are developing materials to be presented at Career Days in high schools across the province. As well, we have engaged with a non-profit organization, CAREERS Next Generation, to promote their high school student internship program. This provides Interior Design business owners with grant money to hire select students to work in their offices, providing an opportunity for students to really experience our profession before choosing their path in post-secondary education. Look for the invite below to their free virtual information session on Wednesday, September 21 at noon.

To sum this all up, this fall equals the addition of many opportunities to enhance your education and share your knowledge. (Sorry – I couldn’t resist using the math references! LOL!)

Gratefully,

Louise Aroche

Upcoming IDA Events

IDA Fall Education Series

Last Chance to register for Session 1

The Importance of Inclusion Through Design

Sept 14th, 2022 | 12:00 - 14:00

Presenter: SEAN CRUMP

Co Founder, Head Chair & CEO, Included By Design

Careers ICT Youth Internship Information Session

September 21 at 12 pm

Learn about the student internship program offered by CAREERS in this free webinar.

Learn about funding available to help take on Interior Design student internships - and help Alberta take on the future!

Webinar Registration

2022 masi Design Awards Update

Click HERE to see the fantastic submissions for this year’s masi Design Awards!

MASI Design Awards Gala

The Interior Designers Association of Saskatchewan will be hosting this year's live gala on October 6, 2022 to celebrate the selected winners. Click HERE to purchase tickets!

Member Matters

CEU Reporting Cycle

The current reporting cycle is January 1st, 2022 to December 31st, 2024.

Click here for the breakdown of CEUs required by membership category and how to register them.

Interesting Podcast

Rewind: Seth Godin: Learning to take risks, be generous, and make a ruckus

How to take risks in your career, to why being creative is an act of generosity, to the idea of “creative destruction.” What drew you to design in the first place?

Design Better Podcast

Welcome New Members

Mitchell Brooks | Intern

Jessica Armstrong | Student

IDA Needs YOU!

We are looking for volunteers in several areas: Council, Committees, and projects. If you want to share your time and talents, please contact

info@idalberta.ca for more information.

Scoreboard Your Practice: 7 Numbers to Understand Your Design Firm’s Financials

Rick J. Linley has released a new book! Rick facilitated our Winter Educational Series: Design Your Business: a Roadmap to a Strong Practice.

Scoreboard Your Practice: 7 Numbers to Understand Your Design Firm’s Financials is now available at various online booksellers on their ‘virtual shelves.’
Amazon (Canada)
Chapters Indigo
Friesen Press Bookstore

2021 masi Award Winners

IDA members took home both Silver and Bronze in the 2021 masi Design Awards.