Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) and the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) posthumously honoured interior design advocate and enthusiast, Matthew Searle, with the prestigious 2016 Leadership Award of Excellence at the tenth annual IDC/IIDA Leaders Breakfast in Toronto.
Supported by international benefactors, Herman Miller and Interior Design Media, the annual Leaders Breakfast series recognizes outstanding contributions to the interior design industry. The event took place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre as part of IIDEXCanada.
“Matthew was a very influential figure and has left a permanent impression on our interior design community,” says Tony Brenders, CEO of Interior Designers of Canada. “He touched the lives of so many in the industry through his involvement, leadership and boundless enthusiasm for the profession.”
Matthew passed away peacefully but unexpectedly on November 27, 2015 after a brief illness. His partner, Pierre-Éric Villeneuve, attended the event to accept the award on Matthew’s behalf.
As president of Searle & Company in Toronto, a boutique marketing and business consultancy, Matthew created innovative business development, branding and marketing solutions for clients focused on the design and architectural industries. He was on the Board of the Toronto Offsite Design Festival (TO DO); directed marketing and business development at lighting design firm, Lightemotion; and was Chief Marketing Officer for the 2017 World Design Summit in Montreal.
Matthew combined his unique abilities and experience with a deep understanding of the confluence of the design, architecture and related manufacturing sectors. He truly believed in the power of design to effect change in the world and worked to demonstrate how creative approaches could have a positive impact on quality of life and the bottom line.
Keynote speaker, Dr. George D.B. Butterfield spoke about the intersections between art, culture, business development and leadership, in relation to his experience as president and creator of the active travel company, Butterfield & Robinson.
