Oomph Editorial in Canadian Interiors: How Design Firms Are Really Being Chosen Now — and What That Means for 2026

We were delighted to be invited by Canadian Interiors to contribute an op-ed on business development and how design firms are really being chosen today.

Interior design firms, like the rest of the design industry, are navigating a period of real upheaval. The aftershocks of COVID, ongoing uncertainty in the office market, and the sharp slowdown in condo development have had a direct impact on many practices — particularly those working in workplace, residential, and mixed-use sectors.

In moments like this, it becomes especially important to step back and examine how the conditions around winning work are changing.

The article explores a shift we’ve been observing for years: trust remains central to how firms are chosen, but it is increasingly built in public — through digital presence, published thinking, and clearly articulated value — well before any proposal is written or meeting takes place.

As business development becomes more visible and more cumulative, firms are being evaluated earlier, by more people, and under greater scrutiny. Clarity, credibility, and consistency now play a much larger role in how practices are shortlisted and selected.

Looking ahead to 2026, this doesn’t mean abandoning relationships or the excellence that has always defined the profession. It means recognizing that the environment in which trust is formed has changed — and adapting how professional value is communicated so it can be understood, compared, and defended in a far more complex decision-making landscape.

👉 Read the full op-ed in Canadian Interiors

Thank you to Canadian Interiors for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation.