TWO PROJECTS. TWO GRAND WINNERS. ONE CELEBRATION OF DESIGN EXCELLENCE.

From an immersive retail installation to a transformative airport terminal, design excellence took centre stage at the 19th edition of the GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards in Montréal.

On October 8, 2026, SDI Design Principals Joanne Chan and Mardi Najafi joined leading architects, designers and creative professionals from across the international design community to celebrate outstanding achievements in architecture and design. The evening was particularly meaningful, celebrating two Grand Winner distinctions: one recognizing the creative work of SDI Design, and the other honouring a landmark architectural project to which Mardi Najaficontributed as Lead Interior Designer before joining the firm. While vastly different in scale, purpose and experience, both projects demonstrate the power of design to shape how people interact with spaces, brands and one another.

ODE TO TRANQUILITY

Grand Winner | Interior Design | Retail: Pop-Up, Kiosk & Exhibition Space

Client: Grandeur Flooring
Design: SDI Design
Location: Interior Design Show Toronto 2025

How do you transform a temporary exhibition space into a memorable brand experience? 

That was the creative challenge behind Ode to Tranquility, an immersive installation designed by SDI Design for Grandeur Flooring at the 2025 Interior Design Show in Toronto. Moving beyond the conventions of a traditional trade show booth, the installation explored the relationship between materiality, craftsmanship, spatial composition and human experience. Rather than simply displaying products, the environment invited visitors to engage with the brand through an intentionally curated spatial journey, transforming flooring from a functional product into an integral part of the architectural experience. The result was an expressive yet carefully considered environment that demonstrated how temporary retail and exhibition spaces can become powerful platforms for brand storytelling. It’s recognition as a Grand Winner celebrates the potential of experiential design to create meaningful connections between people, products and place.

YHU TERMINAL | MET AÉROPORT MÉTROPOLITAIN DE MONTRÉAL

Grand Winner | Interior Design |  Transport: Stations & Infrastructures

Project: Aéroport Métropolitain de Montréal, YHU Terminal
Location: Longueuil, Québec
Architecture: Scott Associates Architects
Lead Interior Designer: Mardi Najafi (prior to joining SDI Design)

At an entirely different scale, the new YHU Terminal at The MET — Aéroport métropolitain de Montréal demonstrates how thoughtful architecture and interior design can redefine the passenger experience. Designed by Scott Associates Architects, the project brought together architectural expertise and interior design through a collaboration with Mardi Najafi, who served as Lead Interior Designer prior to joining SDI Design.
Airports are inherently complex spaces, requiring an intricate balance of passenger movement, operational efficiency, accessibility, security and comfort. Beyond these functional demands lies an equally important opportunity: to create environments that feel welcoming, intuitive and distinctly human.The YHU Terminal reflects this ambition, bringing architectural vision and interior design together to create a cohesive passenger experience. Its Grand Winner recognition celebrates the importance of collaboration across disciplines and the role design plays in shaping public infrastructure.

For SDI Design, the occasion also offered an opportunity to celebrate a significant achievement in the professional portfolio of one of its principals, while recognizing the architectural leadership of Scott Associates Architects and the contributions of the broader project team.

DESIGN EXCELLENCE THROUGH COLLABORATION

Although one project was conceived as a temporary brand activation and the other as permanent transportation infrastructure, both share a common foundation: a belief that exceptional design begins with understanding people, purpose and place. They also reflect the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of design, where architecture, interiors, branding, technology and human experience converge.

At SDI Design, this integrated perspective informs our work across workplace, retail, hospitality, wellness and branded environments. Great design is never a solo achievement. We extend our sincere appreciation to our clients for their trust, our consultants, partners and trades for their invaluable contributions, and the talented creative teams whose dedication and expertise make these projects possible.

We are especially proud of the SDI Design team behind Ode to Tranquility and congratulate Scott Associates Architects and everyone involved in the award-winning YHU Terminal. Congratulations to all the winners of the 2026 GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards.

Two very different projects. One shared belief: great design has the power to transform experiences.