The Interior Design Show is Canada’s design fair. Since the doors first opened in 1999, IDS has been visited by over 700,000 design professionals, design-savvy consumers and media; it has served as a design industry hub providing a unique and unrivalled business opportunity for thousands of design-driven businesses. Each year, world-renowned designers and architects participate as keynote speakers and create inspiring feature exhibits. Located in the city of Toronto, Canada’s economic engine, IDS provides an annual catalyst for millions of dollars spent on design, and has positioned Toronto as a frontrunner in the global design scene.

The biggest design party of the year brings together over 5,925 design aficionados for a night of celebration. Be the first to preview the show. The Party is the place all the design community and design lovers come together.

This year, we are celebrating positivity and light, that we are all “Better Together.” A portion of the Opening Night Party Tickets go to Habitat For Humanity GTA.

7 – 11PM

$60.00 online
$65.00 at the door
$91.00 opening Night and weekend, online
$96.00 opening Night and weekend, at the door

Speakers:

THURSDAY

• Keynote conference speaker – Kat Holmes: Join Kat Holmes on Thursday, January 17th at 9am for a talk on how inclusion shapes design. Named one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2017, Kat Holmes is the founder of mismatch.design, a firm dedicated to inclusive design resources and education.

·         Keynote conference speaker- WEISS MANFREDI: As cities evolve, architects and designers need to think about making cities resilient to change–from climate change to the ways in which we live and work. New York-based architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi will share their present projects and upcoming research and work on their approaches to improving the liveability and success of our delicate yet resilient urban environments. Listen in on Thursday, January 17th at 11am.  

• Keynote conference speaker – Marina Tabassum: Marina Tabassum is the principal of Marina Tabassum Architects, a practice established in 2005 and based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her approach to design seeks to establish a language of architecture that is contemporary yet rooted to its place with projects ranging in scale from the residential to community centres, public schools, museums and eco-tourism. Marina will be taking the stage on Thursday, January 17th at 1pm.

·         Keynote conference speaker- Mick McConnell: Mick McConnell is a multi-disciplinary executive focused on design. His areas of speciality include strategy; digital, graphics and retail design; product, retail and project development; and creative direction in marketing. With over 24 years of experience, Mick will be sharing his knowledge and expertise on Thursday, January 17th at 3pm.  

FRIDAY

• Keynote breakfast speakers – AZURE Talks: Join Azure at IDS on Friday, January 18th at 8:30am for an inspiring breakfast panel. Sit down with Canadian designers Jessica Nakamishi, Jonathan Sabine, Abraham Chan, Jamie Wolfond and Lukas Peet to find out how they ate erasing boundaries, working with global manufacturers and clients, and grabbing the international spotlight.  
• Keynote conference speaker- Michael Sorenso: Michael Sorenso’s extensive international profile includes design direction of projects in Sweden, Germany, Ireland, the United States and Canada.  He is an expert in educational, civic, and commercial buildings and their landscapes. Michael also has expertise in strategically creating open and inviting designs that become attractive urban destinations and he also encourage interaction between civic officials and citizens. Michael will be taking the Caesarstone stage on Friday, January 18 at 10:30am.
• Guests of Honour – Neri&Hu: Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu are the founding partners of Neri&Hu Design and Research Office. As an interdisciplinary practice based in Shanghai, the duo is at the forefront of innovative Chinese design, winning numerous international awards. Neri&Hu strongly believe in research as a design tool, their work draws from the dynamic interaction between experience, detail, material, form and light. The Guests of Honour will be taking the stage on Friday, January 18th at 1pm.
• Keynote conference speaker- Marije Vogelzang Food designers design food, but Marije Vogelzang designs the act of eating, taking inspiration from food’s origins, its preparation, and the politics, history and culture of eating. She began her career as an “eating designer” with two experimental restaurants, conceived as design studios with restaurants inside. Marjie will be taking the stage on Friday, January 18th at 1pm.

SATURDAY

·         Keynote conference speaker- Questlove:  Drummer, Dj, producer, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, and co-founder of The Roots- Questlove will join IDS19 as a keynote speaker in conversation with Adam Sandown of SANDOW on Saturday, January 19th at 11am. He will also be onsite after his talk for a special book signing of his New York Times bestseller Creative Quest.

·         Keynote conference speaker – Design Agency: Design Agency is an award-winning International design studio and one of the most distinguished in Canada founded in 1998 by partners and long-time friends Allen Chan, Matt Davis and Anwar Mekhayech. The studio unites interior design, architectural concept, strategic branding, and visual communication in a unique and innovative way with clients in more than 26 cities and 9 countries worldwide. DesignAgency was commissioned to design multiple spaces in Canada’s first St. Regis hotel, opening in Toronto end of November 2018. Join Design Agency on Saturday, January 19th at 1:30pm.  

• Keynote conference speaker – Ryan Korban: Ryan Korban’s design aesthetic is characterized by a mix of luxury, old-world romance, and urban cool. Drawing on inspirations ranging from Monet paintings to Helmut Newton photographs, he creates seductive, wondrous spaces specializing in retail design with an emphasis on luxury. He has designed many luxury retail spaces including Balenciaga and Alexander Wang to name a few and Vogue threw him a launch party for his new book. Some of his images can be viewed HERE. Sit down with Ryan on Saturday, January 19th at 3:30pm.  

SUNDAY

·         Keynote conference speaker- Lynda Reeves: Since founding House & Home magazine in 1986, Lynda Reeves has become synonymous with design and decorating in Canada. The magazine has grown to become one of North America’s most popular design lifestyle publications, spawning the French-language version Maison & Demeure, as well as countless special-interest publications in print and digital formats. Lynda will be taking the stage Sunday, January 20th at 12pm.

·         Keynote conference speaker- Brian Gluckstein: Acclaimed designer Brian Gluckstein is known for creating luxurious, liveable interiors. As principal of GlucksteinDesign, his portfolio includes residential projects in cities such as Aspen, Palm Beach, Miami and New York, and high-profile commercial projects such as the Four Seasons Hotel Palm Beach. Brian is internationally recognized as one of the top thirty-five designers in the world and will be taking the stage on Sunday, January 20th  at 12pm.

Features of IDS19 include:

• IDS Contract: New to IDS this year, IDS Contract is a hyper-curated portion of the show focused on all verticals of design, including workplace, hospitality, retail, education, public space and government. This curated new addition will be dedicated strictly to B2B trade-only professionals and will include keynote speakers, fireside chats, seminars and workshops.
• Haven is a whimsical, airy pop-up environment inspired by the fluffy form of billowing clouds to change how people perceive a space. The feature is conceived by Tangible, who creates sensory installations that tap into some of the most basic human instincts — to play and explore. People  can  go  inside  of  and  enjoy  a  contemplative  experience,  be  creative  or  just  rest.  Going  inside  Haven  may  be  just  a  time  to  relax  for  a  moment  or  maybe  you  come  out  with  a  whole  new  perspective  or  a  new  introduction  to  your  day.  Each  inflatable  maintains  its  shape  with  a  small  electric  fan.  To  enter,  you  simply  go  through  a  zippered  doorway  that  closes  behind  you.  Inside  you  can  sit  on  a  patch  of  soft  grass  and  take  a  moment  for  yourself  or  chat  with  friends,  away  from  the  distractions  and  technology  that  have  become  so  dominate  in  our  lives.  This feature will live in IDS Contract, a hyper-curated B2B trade-only exhibition focused on the most innovative products and services.
• RADO Star Prize Design Competition: For the first time, Swiss watchmaker RADO will be bringing its Star Prize Design Competition for up and coming artists and designers to Canada. The theme of the competition will be “Design Inspired by Nature,” which will also be the theme of RADO’s exhibit this year. Onsite at IDS guests will experience the REWIND PAVILION for RADO.  Description and inspiration attached.
• Backcountry Hut: The Backcountry Hut Company will be launching their Great Lakes Cabin at IDS19 in partnership with Leckie Studio Architecture + Design. The small space design is a clever concept for modular cabins that can be delivered right to your door as a flat pack kit of parts. Responding to IDS’ theme ‘Power of Design,’ this year’s full-scale concept house (670 square foot footprint) enables visitors to enter and experience a new ‘kit-of-parts’ approach to the creation of small scale structures. The design concept presents a modernist interpretation of the notion of rustic wilderness living, based on the spirit of Canadian outdoor culture. Custom design build-firm Flattery Design created the space’s landscape onsite at IDS19 and within the cabin AyA Kitchens will debut its latest line of cabinetry, AyA Elite.
• Studio North and Prototype: A market place where over 65 Canadian and international designers present custom and limited-edition collections of furniture, lighting, glass ceramics, textiles and surface designs in a gallery-like setting. There is also the chance for participants to have their work judged by a panel of design experts. IMAGES. Maker: Returning for the fifth year, Maker features the work of artisanal North American design stars who produce small batch, limited distributions of their work. IMAGES
• Maker: Returning for the fifth year, Maker features the work of artisanal North American design stars who produce small batch, limited distributions of their work.
• Re-Space: Space has been re-defined in the 21st century and has pushed us to re-think both our individual and shared experiences. Debuting at IDS19, The Re-Space exhibit asks the question if new digital orientations can re-define what shared experiences in the physical world will be. Powered by Microsoft, four designers will take on the idea of WORK, PLAY, LIVE and LEARN by creating an immersive environment that speaks to their specific theme. Microsoft is at the forefront of the process with their specialized approach to inclusive design. Microsoft Surface can break  through many barriers in the design industry by providing the technology, tools, and imagination to empower every designer to create and achieve more.
• Ontario Wood:  Ontario Wood is an initiative to help consumers identify and purchase locally made Ontario Wood products through a variety of wood species suitable for many needs. Ontario Wood is the natural choice for designers seeking to achieve the balance between function, beauty, versatility and performance. Debuting at IDS19, this year’s installation will be designed by Izen Architecture, a Toronto-based studio dedicated to architecture and design.

Interior Design Show

Metro Toronto Convention Centre, SOUTHBuilding, located at 222 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 2T6.

IDS Pro Days are as follows:

Thursday, January 17 – IDS Pro Days
9 AM – 5 PM: IDS Contract (Halls F&G) and the IDS Conference are open

Thursday, January 17 – The Party (Everyone welcome! 19+)
7 PM – 11 PM: IDS Main Floor (Halls D&E) and IDS Contract (Halls F&G) are open

Friday, January 18 – IDS Pro Days
9 AM – 6 PM: IDS Main Floor (Halls D&E), IDS Contract (Halls F&G) and IDS Conference are open

Tickets

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.