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BIID CONGRATULATES AWARD WINNERS AT AGM AND WELCOMES NEW BIID PRESIDENT

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At its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at RIBA, London on Thursday 6th July, the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) revealed the winners of its two prestigious Institute awards and officially welcomed new BIID President Charles Leon.

Merit Award – Dean Keyworth

Each year members of the BIID nominate a fellow member who has particularly excelled in 3 key criteria: excellence in interior design practice; a contribution to the development of the Institute and a commitment to the wider field of design education. The awards committee unanimously agreed that the winner of this year’s award is Dean Keyworth, who has excelled in all three areas.

Dean is the founder of Armstrong Keyworth, a London-based interior design practice which he set up in 1997. Dean has had an accomplished career as an interior designer, working on a huge variety of luxury residential projects. As well as his design acumen, Dean provides business and management skills that help to ensure the smooth progression of design projects from single rooms to large country houses. Dean’s work has been featured in House and Garden, Ideal Home, Home Magazine, The Daily Express, 25 Beautiful Homes and on television.

Dean joined the BIID over ten years ago and has been a dedicated member of the Institute ever since. He served on the board of (the then) BIDA from 2003 – 2008 was elected Chairman 2006-2007.

Charles Leon, President of the BIID commented: “We are delighted to honour Dean Keyworth with the BIID Merit Award this year, to recognise his considerable achievements and to thank him for his dedication and commitment to the BIID and to the wider industry.”

CPD Award – Mary Barber Fray

Continuing Professional Development is an essential part of being a BIID member. The CPD Award recognises the member who has far exceeded the minimum requirement and has gained the most CPD points in that year. Longstanding BIID member and former Council Director Mary Barber Fray was announced as the worthy recipient of the BIID CPD Award for gaining 338 points.

New BIID President

The AGM also marked the official hand-over to new BIID President Charles Leon, who takes over from Susie Rumbold. Charles is a highly experienced member of the BIID council, formerly leading the Professional Practice Committee, working with both students and interior designers alike through the BIID Professional Pathway. As a guest lecturer at Middlesex University, Charles is a renowned speaker and an expert in his field. He commented;

“I am looking forward to using my role as BIID President to focus on several key objectives. I would like to:

  • Strengthen BIID membership in both depth and breadth.
  • Create a strong creative community with a sense of identity.
  • Strengthen the status and professionalism of Interior Design.
  • Ensure that the BIID give meaningful support to every stage in a designer’s career.
  • Lobby Government and other stakeholders to understand the value and contribution of creative education.”

The AGM provided BIID members with the chance to learn about the institute’s progress over the past twelve months as well as voting in new council members Ciara Langley and Matt Freeman. The AGM was followed by the BIID’s annual summer drinks party, which was held in the stylish surroundings of the Domus Tiles Showroom on Eastcastle Street, W1. 

Pictured above (clockwise from left): Merit Award winner and BIID President Susie Rumbold, Ciara Langley and Matt Freeman)