The Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN) has urged professionals in interior design and the wider creative sector to address structural gaps in their businesses and focus on building enterprises rooted in integrity, resilience, and long-term value.
The call to action was made at the 2025 IDAN CEO Roundtable Series, recently held in Lagos under the theme “Building Sustainable Systems & Structures for Interior Design Businesses.”
Mrs Nwamaka Okoye, Group Managing Director of D’ulo Group, was one of the keynote speakers. She stressed the importance of intentionality and identity in creating a sustainable design practice. Speaking on the topic “Who are we really?” she said: “You must define your identity. Who are you? What will you do—and not do? Who do you serve, and what is your end goal?”
She emphasised the need to embed systems and processes into business operations, stating that without structure, even the most passionate businesses struggle to grow. “Strategy is essential, but it must be supported by clear systems and repeatable processes to function effectively,” she added.
Okoye also noted that a company’s culture and leadership approach play a critical role in its sustainability, “Culture must be intentional—both internally for your team and externally for your clients. People need to know how your business operates and what it stands for.”
Mr Michael Awonowo, CEO of Micdee and fellow keynote speaker, advised design professionals to approach their work as business owners, not just creatives. “Interior design is more than just a passion—it is a business. And like any other business, it must be structured to perform, scale, and outlast its founders,” he said.
Mr Byron Chukwudi, Managing Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Arno, added: “Businesses without purpose are doomed. Interior designers must move beyond talent to build systems-driven enterprises that are future-ready.”
IDAN President, Ms Jacqueline Aki, noted that structural reform is now essential to the profession’s future.
“Structure is not optional—it’s become the only way forward. Our industry has always had passion. Now, we must build permanence. This Roundtable is a call to all designers to pause the hustle, reflect deeply, and lay the foundation for legacy.”
She emphasised that education and community are central to sustainability, “We cannot build a thriving industry without equipping its stewards. This series invites us to unlearn, reframe, and begin again with context and community as our compass.”
Mr Abiodun Shonibare, Chair of IDAN’s Education Committee, highlighted the long-term goals of the Roundtable, “This isn’t about one-off inspiration. It’s about building institutional memory; designing firms that endure, cultures that nurture, and templates others can follow.”
He explained that the event is in line with IDAN’s 2025 strategic objectives, which include strengthening the identity and public perception of interior design as a profession, fostering scalable firms through structure, equipping firm leaders with strategic and financial tools, enabling intergenerational transfer and youth employment-readiness, and encouraging regional collaboration and visibility.
IDAN Secretary General, Theresa Ephraim, reiterated the purpose of the series, “The CEO Roundtable aims to equip members with practical knowledge to structure their businesses, operations, and systems so they can outlive their founders.”
She noted that the 2025 edition features three targeted sessions to help CEOs, founders, and studio leaders identify internal gaps and collectively reimagine the future of interior design firms in Nigeria.
“The profession has evolved from a mosaic of self-taught creatives, decorators, and tradespeople often with minimal structure. The missing link isn’t talent, but systems. This series is both a catalyst, shifting interior design from a transactional service to a structured economic sector.”
The IDAN CEO Roundtable Series is a key part of the association’s wider ecosystem of initiatives. Alongside World Interiors Day, the Annual Summit, strategic CSR projects, and the IDAN Lessons Webinar Series, the Roundtable reflects IDAN’s commitment to a knowledge-led, community-driven, and future-oriented transformation of the interior design profession in Nigeria.
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