As its name suggests, Uncommon Ottawa is about the unique and unexpected. The grassroots initiative by two fledgling designers who saw a need is all about creating community and celebrating creativity for everyone connected to the design industry, not just designers and not just the bigger firms that can afford fancy awards galas and industry associations.
It was founded just over a year ago by Xenia Rose and Kate Dubois of Studio Alter, not long before they also launched their design firm and just a few short years after entering the field themselves.
“It was in response to feeling like there wasn’t necessarily industry events that were happening that were accessible for small studios and entrepreneurs,” says Rose. “We really wanted to make a space for events for all of these small studios who are, in our opinion, some of the ones who are doing the most creative work.”
It’s also about making design accessible to the average homeowner, Dubois says. “I think residents want something beautiful in their home, but don’t know where to go. The hope is if we’re promoting these creative works … that’s really getting the idea out (that there are) people doing really beautiful work and it’s not as inaccessible as you may think.”
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Their original idea was to launch an awards program available to anyone in the industry, but they knew they needed to lay some groundwork first.
“It would have been hard to convince people to apply or to even want an award from people that they don’t know,” says Dubois.
So, drawing on their backgrounds in marketing and graphic design (Dubois) and communications and event management (Rose) — and more recently interior design (both) — they introduced Uncommon Ottawa with an initial event at EQ3 in February 2024. That event featured a panel of experts in the field talking about the creative industry in Ottawa and the challenges they faced and was paired with a gallery of projects representing the work of several Ottawa designers.
“We didn’t realize while we were planning it that it was going to be what it ended up being,” Dubois says. “The amount of support that we got, I think, really spoke to what the community felt was missing.”
That led to a summer talk series called Uncommon Threads that featured Ottawa design stars such as Sascha Lafleur of West of Main, Mark Sanchez of Wei Sanchez Design Studio and Melanie Neault of Launch Your Space.
Lafleur was happy to take part because the idea of fostering that kind of community is something her team has always wanted to do. “We’re attracted to it for the same reason everybody else is — we’re creative souls and we want to collaborate…. I think it’s something that’s been really wonderful for the Ottawa community.”
By this point, Uncommon Ottawa had enough credibility that Dubois and Rose could introduce the awards program, which they called One of One as a representation of originality. More than 60 entries were submitted, with winners announced this past February at an event at the restaurant Parlour attended by more than 150.
Winners were named in 18 categories with judges being encouraged to have some fun with it and choose the projects that resonated with them.
“I was really impressed because a bunch of the projects I hadn’t seen so I was like, ‘Wow, Ottawa has some great talent,’” says Lafleur, who judged the entries along with Nathan Kyle of Nathan Kyle Studio, architectural photographer Justin Van Leeuwen, Our Homes managing editor Brianne Smith and Alteriors owners Monika Durczak and Jacob Visutskie.
Leaning into the fun and inclusiveness of the awards, there were categories for things like best pet in a photo, the contractor who cared, and the one that got away. The pet category, in particular, was chosen because it goes against typical design award programs that prohibit people and pets in the photos.
“The pets always want in the photo; they’re always intrigued,” says Dubois, adding that the category was among the most popular for entrants.
So far, Uncommon Ottawa and One of One remain passion projects for Rose and Dubois, who have mostly managed to break even on costs thanks to the support of several sponsors and those attending the events.
“The support that we got immediately was amazing,” says Dubois.
One of their key cheerleaders and a sponsor of the awards event is the real estate firm GoodStory, which has a similar philosophy of creating community and inclusiveness.
“I genuinely believe in what (Rose and Dubois) are building,” says GoodStory co-owner Jenniffer Alvarenga. “Creating a sense of community — especially in a competitive industry — is not easy, yet they’ve managed to do it with authenticity and collaboration. This is a special industry and watching them bring people together in such a meaningful way has been truly inspiring.”
Rose and Dubois hope to turn the awards into an annual event, along with continuing to organize other Uncommon Ottawa events, but what comes next this year remains to be seen. For now, they need some time to focus on their growing design business.
“We’ve taken the last month or two to have a little breather and get back to full-time work as interior designers,” says Dubois. “But we know that that is something that we would love to continue.”
Check out the 2024 One of One Awards winners:
