Inside VSID’s Impact on Interior Design in BC
An interview with VSID’s President, Daniel Meloché.
As an effort to spotlight the organizations shaping Canada’s design and architecture landscape, DMC Recruitment sat down with Daniel Meloché, President of the Vancouver Society of Interior Designers (VSID). The interview, led by Partner of DMC Recruitment, Alex Mather, was conducted for us all to learn more about VSID’s mission and what they have planned for this summer.
With DMC proudly supporting VSID through sponsorships and board participation—our own Annie Hsu serves as Vice President of Sponsorship—we wanted to share what makes this grassroots, nonprofit association such a cornerstone of the interior design community in British Columbia.
Open by Design: The Origin of VSID
“We advocate for interior design in Vancouver. We bring the design community together—and we pride ourselves on being inclusive,” explains Daniel Meloché. As a practicing interior designer himself, Daniel speaks with the kind of passion that comes from lived experience.
VSID emerged from what was once a regional branch of the Interior Designers Institute of British Columbia (IDIBC), the self-regulatory professional body for interior design practitioners in BC. As IDIBC moves further ahead in its pursuit of provincial government regulation and legislated professional status for Registered Interior Designers (RIDs) under the Professional Governance Act (PGA) – which limits a regulatory body’s advocacy capability, VSID branched off to form a standalone society focusing entirely on community building, continuing education, and industry celebration.
“There’s already associations that focus on credentials. We’re different,” says Daniel. “We don’t want to define a particular type of schooling or membership—we want to be a community hub. Everyone should feel included, from students to suppliers to working designers.”
A Platform Without Barriers
At VSID, inclusion means more than words—it’s built into their operating model. “Interior design is a passion and an artistic profession and that does not always equate to a high salary in most cases,” Daniel laughs. “There are so many membership dues already—IDIBC, IDC, others. We didn’t want to be another cost within the community. That’s why we run everything through sponsorship and small event ticket fees, just enough to keep people accountable to show up.”
This approach has opened doors for all corners of the industry to participate—from students and new grads to specification reps and veterans of the trade. And that’s exactly the point. “We want to make sure everyone feels included and celebrated. There’s not enough in the community that allows us to celebrate the amazing work we all do.”
June 18: Vancouver’s Biggest Interior Design Event of the Summer
VSID’s summer event takes place this June 18 at the spectacular, private rooftop terrace atop The Stack, a commercial high-rise office tower by Oxford Properties, a VSID platinum sponsor . “It’s on the 36th floor with 180° views of English Bay, the North Shore Mountains, and Burnaby,” Daniel says. “We’ll have around 250 people—interior designers, students, industry reps, and of course, our sponsors.”
DMC will be in attendance, and so will many of the clients and candidates we’ve had the pleasure of working with in the BC market. “This is a celebration of interior design,” Daniel emphasizes. “It’s not just a party—it’s a networking space for new designers to meet vendors, learn from leaders, and start building their professional network.”
The event’s theme—Ocean View: Shades of Blue—is both a nod to the stunning venue and a tribute to IDIBC’s 75th anniversary, which also takes place this June. “We still want to support and celebrate IDIBC and their incredible work for the interior design profession,” Daniel adds. “We’re separate now, but we’re all part of the same design community.”
Events That Make an Impact
Beyond the summer celebration, VSID hosts two other major annual events: a lawn bowling fundraiser in August that funds bursaries for BCIT and Kwantlen students, and a holiday party that includes an industry tabletop exhibition and accredited CEU sessions for Registered Interior Designers.
“We let the schools select the bursary recipients,” Daniel says. “They know the students best. Then we attend their portfolio shows and present the awards with the faculty. It’s a way of giving back and supporting the next generation of design talent.”
It’s no surprise that VSID’s holiday event also includes professional development opportunities. “Registered Interior Designers need to collect 30 hours of continuing education over three years,” Daniel explains. “We build CEUs into the event, including courses and networking.”
Small Team, Big Results
VSID is run by a core team of just five volunteers: Daniel as President, Annie and Danielle as Co-Vice Presidents, Carolyn as administrator, and a dedicated social media lead. “It works easier if it’s small,” says Daniel. “Then we have day-of event volunteers to help execute.” And execute they do. Between stunning venues, high-quality programming, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, VSID punches far above its weight class in the local design scene.
“We’ve been doing this for a while,” says Daniel. “We’ve built relationships, found exciting venues that work, and learned what people want. We’ve become a well-oiled machine.”
Shared Values, Shared Vision
As proud sponsors of VSID events, DMC Recruitment sees first-hand the value of what Daniel and his team are building. Our partnership reflects a shared vision: one where connection, opportunity, and celebration are at the center of design careers.
Daniel’s advice for young professionals? “Start your career at a firm. Learn from others. Don’t rush into starting your own business—it’s tough without the right contacts. That’s what our events are for. To help you meet people, build relationships, and get a real start in this industry.”
We couldn’t agree more.
