Recognition of design excellence is integral for pushing standards and rewarding innovation. This month’s Insight takes a closer look at the Design Guild Mark awards, which not only give the designer due recognition but also publicise the importance of investment in design.

Awards like this also highlight areas of the industry that have a great need for new thinking and design innovation. I recently spoke to Design Guild Mark founder Jonathan Hindle on this topic. “Obviously, certain areas have evolved more than others, which can mean that it’s tricky to get recognised in a saturated market,” he explains. “Areas that have a great need for design innovation are more likely to be awarded, for example the healthcare industry. Even when we see a few pieces in the Design Guild Mark awards showing new thinking and meeting healthcare needs we are collectively inclined to award it in order to see more design investment in that field.” Read the full interview with Jonathan on page 12.

Last month was especially important for the recognition of SBID founder, Vanessa Brady, as she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Honours List for her services to the design industry. Her high standard and design flair has been acknowledged by a number of high level business and design achievement Awards; most recently the 2014 Woman in the City, Woman of Achievement Award for the Built Environment. Known for her competence and attention to detail as a designer, she has an international client list reaching far across celebrities and royalty alike.

Elsewhere in this issue, Inex focuses on changes in the realm of commercial interior design, from office furniture that demonstrates the importance of ergonomics on page 34, to artwork that changes a hotel’s potential revenue in this month’s Accessories feature.