The clock is ticking – time to put the finishing touches on your entry package to hit the April 1 deadline! (And if you need just a little more time—our very late entry deadline is April 17. But go for the 1st if you can!)

New to the awards? Western Living‘s Designers of the Year competition is an annual celebration of the best designers in Western Canada. Winners are featured in the September issue of the magazine and online at westernliving.ca, as well on our Instagram and Facebook. And each entry comes with a ticket to our big awards party in September at Inform Interiors—one you won’t want to miss!

We’ll also be live-announcing the finalists at Thermador in Vancouver on June 17—and every finalist is entered into our 2026 Western Living People’s Choice Awards.

Categories include Architecture, Interior Design, Landscape Design, Furniture Design, Industrial Design and Maker, plus our two emerging categories: the Arthur Erickson Memorial Award for an emerging architect or residential designer, and the Robert Ledingham Memorial award for an emerging interior designer.

Any questions? Drop us a line at [email protected], and we’re happy to help you through the process.

And now: we’re pleased to introduce the esteemed judging panel for our Industrial Design category!

Enter now!

The 2026 Western Living Designers of the Year Industrial Design Judges

Samuel Lambert, Lambert & Fils

Samuel Lambert is a Canadian artistic director and creative entrepreneur based in Montreal. He is the president and founder of Lambert & Fils, a lighting studio established in 2010 and recognized internationally for its material-driven and expressive approach to light. As artistic director, Lambert defines the studio’s vision and oversees all creative dimensions of its work, from concept development and prototyping to production, collaborations, and custom projects. A true touche-à-tout, he remains closely involved in every sphere of the studio, maintaining a hands-on relationship with materials, processes, and making.

Lambert approaches light as a formative element—one that shapes space, atmosphere and perception. His vision emphasizes the dialogue between form and immateriality, where volume, void and raw materials come together in carefully calibrated compositions. This perspective informs the studio’s collections, immersive installations and bespoke commissions developed in collaboration with designers, architects and cultural institutions.

Jaye Buchbinder, Emeco

Jaye grew up watching her dad flip over chairs at every restaurant and café they passed. She also followed him into the ocean to surf and swim, as well as into the machine shop. After an undergrad in Sustainable Design and Engineering and a Masters in Engineering both at Stanford University, she officially followed her dad to Emeco working on Product Development and then on to Business Development and Sustainability.

She still flips over chairs and surfs with her dad every Thursday, unless she is back at Stanford teaching in the Mechanical Engineering department or out at the factory in Pennsylvania.

Lyndon Cormack, Herschel Supply Co., Typical

Lyndon Cormack is the co-founder of Herschel Supply Company, which he launched with his brother Jamie in 2009 after identifying a gap in the global market for thoughtfully designed, functional bags, a vision that helped establish the brand as a leader in the international accessories space.

In 2026, he co-founded Typical, a premium home goods brand focused on reimagining everyday essentials through material innovation and considered design. Lyndon’s passion for design extends beyond his professional work, with interior design, architecture and fashion among his enduring interests. He is the proud father of two daughters and divides his time between Deep Cove in North Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia.

Ready to enter? Head over to our entry page!