Denise Ashmore — Principal BID RID
Where’s home: BC now but I have a lot of Toronto still in me… sorry in advance if I am little quick to get straight to the point or don't stop for all pedestrians.
Beverage of choice: Rosé …specifically French ;)
Mode of transport: Red Vespa Piagio in the summer and Audi Q3 Black with great speakers!
Favourite pastime: Tennis, skiing, going to concerts with my kids, getting in the ocean or close to it as possible and walking Gracie in the woods.
Proudest Professional moment: Winning the WL designer of the year
Proudest life moment: Surviving childbirth…twice
Favourite show: Gilmore girls on repeat with my daughter, Handmaids Tale series, Comedians in Cars having coffee
Most memorable read: Cosmopolitan Magazines from the 80’s and Judy Blume are you there God..
Social Media: Instagram @project_22_design. No time for a private account… I already spend way too much time on screens.
Influential Artist / Architect / Designer: Bob Ledingham, Christian Liagre, Piet Boon, Tom Kundig, Patricia Urquioia, Charles and Ray Eames… I could go on.
Defining moment: Arriving in Sydney with my design portfolio, and a backpack. Life just came together after that, living by the Ocean became a necessity. Vancouver is the perfect place: oceans, mountains, a small supportive design community. I can’t imagine where I would be if I hadn’t made the leap to live overseas.
Sarah Lillos — Designer BID
Where’s home: wherever my family is.
Beverage of choice: I’m not sure yet, I’d like to see a cocktail list. But I’ll start with a glass of water, thank you.
Mode of transport: Wish it was wings. In reality it’s a very economical small car. Legs also work.
Favourite pastime: Cooking and daydreaming. Usually at the same time. Beyond that the list of hobbies is extensive and forever changing.
Proudest moment: it’s a long story but after 5 years of passing the same cranky man out for his afternoon jog I FINALLY, on my last day of high school, got a single, rushed “hello” in response to my dedicated years of daily pleasantry and greetings. It was a huge win. I’m still floating on that high.
Favourite TV show: Friends. Always and forever.
Most memorable read: memorable would be anything form Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic or Where the Sidewalk Ends but if I ever get amnesia someone please hand me the Harry Potter series again.
Social Media: Instagram. Typical visual person.
Influential Artist / Architect / Designer: Agnes Martin, Wes Anderson, Alexander McQueen, Mother Nature.
Defining moment: I have small ones scattered throughout my life. When the Big Bang happens, I’ll let you know.
Jaclyn Walker- Senior Designer -BID RID
Where’s home: Squamish BC, via Thunder Bay ON
Beverage of choice: Keg-aged Negroni topped with champagne
Mode of transport: Primarily a RadPower Wagon with a caboose
Favourite pastime: Nordic skiing, sailing, mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking with my dog Rufus, camping, reading
Favourite TV Show: Grey’s Anatomy, Schitt’s Creek, Gilmour Girls
Proudest Professional moment: Being published in Dwell
Proudest life moment: Having my daughter
Most memorable read: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Social Media: Primarily a non-participating observer
Influential Artist / Architect / Designer: Bob Ledingham, Pierre Koenig, Janna Watson, Tadao Ando, Patricia Urquiola
Defining moment: Sailing across the Indian Ocean to the Maldives in 50 degree heat on a 40’ sailboat, and witnessing the polar extremes of wealth, poverty, design, religion, privilege and social class that exist in that part of the world. It helped me better understand and appreciate the intangible values that define me and inform my work. Also, the stars were unbelievable!
Carly Zurbuchen -Senior Designer BID
Where’s home: Lower mainland born and raised. I now live in a cute mid century modern home on a hill with a killer view
Beverage of choice: Tea by day, wine by night
Mode of transport: Black Volkswagen Tiguan perfect for karaoke and carting kids around!
Favourite pastime: Sipping a cold drink poolside, but I can be coerced into getting in and splashing around too.
Proudest moment: Having my two girls
Favourite TV show: Outlander, I watch it for the history
Most memorable read: Its a blur..ask me again when I can read more than kids books.
Social Media: Instagram scroller
Influential Artist/ Architect/ Designer: Florence Knoll, Richard Neutra, Lauren Williams, Carla Tak and so many more.
Fun Fact / defining moment: Becoming a mother. Art and design have been passions of mine since I was young but my family and my children are the most important things in my life.
Danielle Seiter - Designer, BID
Where’s home: I grew up in Northern BC but Vancouver has been home for a decade.
Beverage of choice: A spicy margarita has never done me wrong.
Mode of transport: Whatever option doesn’t require me to parallel park.
Favourite pastime: I love doing anything outside; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing are my current favourites.
Proudest moment: Creating a pretty cool life that my younger self would be proud of.
Favourite TV show: Greys Anatomy, Euphoria, and Killing Eve.
Most memorable read: I wish it was something insightful, but it’s definitely Twilight in middle school.
Social Media: Admittedly addicted to Instagram. I love getting inspired by beautiful spaces and seeing what my family and friends are doing.
Influential Artist / Architect / Designer: Frank Lloyd Wright, Patricia Urqioia, Mother Nature.
Defining moment: Going to design school in Germany. Living in another country let’s you experience the culture and appreciate how other people live. Plus being in such a central area gave me the opportunity to travel every chance I got. Seeing iconic places I studied in textbooks first hand was pretty special.
Gracie - VP Studio Morale
About you: I’m a Bernadoodle.
Where’s home: Vancouver for the last 5 years but I am originally from Comox @moonstruck_bernadoodles.
Beverage of choice: Water, specifically the bowl that lives in the backyard.
Mode of transport: 4 on the floor.
Favourite pastime: Snoozin’ and treats or treats and snoozin’.
Favourite TV show: No time for TV with my nap schedule.
Most memorable read: come on I’m a dog who has time to read?
Social Media: @graciebernedoodle
Influential Artist / Architect / Designer: my mom she picks the best dog beds and even designed a place for my food dishes so I don’t have to eat from the floor like most dogs.
Fun Fact / Defining moment: I am the runt in my litter which explains a lot, I am happy to share and can be a little shy. I have no 4 sisters from other misters that are friends with my family. We get together sometimes, its hard to believe we are related, they have so much energy. I’ve been described as 70% Muppet, 20% cat and 10% dog and I am just fine with that.