In honour of Black History Month, Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) is celebrating the work and stories of Black designers within the Canadian interior design community.
IDC will also be hosting the third installment of its town hall Behind Closed Doors: Racial Disparities in Design Part III. The discussion will focus on how education, professional practice, and advocacy work can begin to address structural racism with established practices within the industry. Learn more.
Members of IDC and highly distinguished within the industry, the following designers have been featured on IDC’s social channels for their latest projects.
DYONNE FASHINA
Dyonne Fashina is Founder and Principal Designer at Denizens Of Design, an interior design studio specializing in commercial interiors in the realm of hospitality, workplace and retail.
Dyonne is a Registered Interior Designer with international recognition and over a decade of experience in a diverse range of project typologies. She has worked with developers and private clients across the globe; from Toronto to New York; Mexico to Spain – just to name a few. Recently completing restaurants in landmark buildings, such as the Gardiner Museum (Canada’s National Museum of Ceramic Art), Columbus Centre, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. These projects benefit from Dyonne’s focus on research in design strategy – the business value that good design thinking brings to a project.
Dyonne thrives on finding meaningful connections to inspire everyone involved throughout the design process. She designs with compassion for the human experience, creating spaces that are not only thoughtful, but also thought provoking.
View Dyonne’s project ‘Cafe at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection’.
ROBIN FRASER
Robin Fraser is the Lead Designer and Owner at Fraser Designs + Associates. Robin is a self-described interior conceptualizer. This all-encompassing designation is a much more apt description of her approach to and relationship with design, than that of interior designer. For over 37 years, Robin has developed a distinguished international resume with work in Asia and Canada. A belief in process and in function has garnered Robin a reputation as thorough, informed, and relevant. Her impressive inventory of skills, her conviction and intimate rapport with design and food can be seen in her featured appearances on the Food Network’s television series “Restaurant Makeover.”
Recognized for her decisive, risk taking and imaginative role on a project; Robin’s work encompassed both hospitality and commercial. An animated, colorful visionary, she maintains that not only does she love what she does and she’s good at what she does. Robin prides herself on the ability of bringing the conceptual into the reality, likening her approach to that of a film maker who “works in frames.” Robin Fraser challenges space, frame by frame, leaving it simple yet complete.
AMANDA LWANGA
Amanda Lwanga is a licensed Professional Engineer, with over 12 years of experience in design and project management. She works closely with trusted developers, builders, general contractors, and artisans who are exceptional in their respective fields.
Her education and career are rooted in the sciences. In 2007 Amanda completed a Bachelor’s of Applied Science in Environmental Systems Engineering and then in 2016, a Masters of Advanced Studies in Architecture – focusing on regenerative design.
In 2018 she left her career as a Senior Project Manager to operate her design firm, Linger Design Studio, full time. Linger Design Studio is recognized for their distinctive modern, vintage, and brutalist aesthetic. Today, Amanda is currently serving homeowners and businesses across Canada who are seeking to reduce their impact on the environment while basking in an elevated space.
As a strong believer in inter-disciplinary problem solving, Amanda believes that art, science, and design are all governed by similar principles.
Amanda’s design practice is a culmination of her life experiences. It’s rooted in her respect of the environment, methodic approach to problem solving, and her love of fine arts.
View Amanda’s project ‘Vignettes Design Festival’.
To suggest you or someone you know to be featured on IDC’s website and social media channels, please contact communications@idcanada.org
.
