Interior design is all about innovation. Pieces and techniques that feel modern and risky become outdated and bland as time passes. As a result, designers must keep learning at all times. Staying ahead of the curve could make the difference between success and obsolescence.
While designers may feel pressured into evolving their style, the industry’s rapid pace presents many opportunities. It stimulates artistry and promotes discovery and collaboration. Those who seek out new and exciting breakthroughs won’t just enrich their businesses, but their lives as well. Interior design is a fundamentally creative art, and these conditions ensure that it will remain so for years to come.
So how do you foster inspiration? What do you have to do to devise the ideas that will shape the future of the industry? You can’t do it in a vacuum. You have to know what other designers are doing and thinking if you want to stand out. Even if you take a different approach, you still have to know what you’re reacting against.
That’s why industry conferences are so important. They put you in contact with thousands of other professionals so you can understand how your field is changing and growing. That’s why designers flock to Toronto’s Interior Design Show. Over three days, attendees put their fingers on the pulse of the industry and learn what keeps its heart beating. Here are just a few exciting events that you can’t afford to miss.
1. The Inspiring Features
Design is versatile. It doesn’t encompass one style or medium. Instead, it reflects a variety of values, aesthetics, and materials. The conference reflects this flexibility with its annual special features slate, and 2017 is shaping up to be more varied than ever before.
Exhibitors from around the world will participate in the program. The designboom mart will include limited-run products from over 30 international professionals, while the Maker section showcases unique items made in tiny production runs. The open air section will have plenty to offer outdoor designers, while firms like PARTISANS and Caesarstone will introduce new installations at the conference.
2. The Innovations at the LAB
As technology engrains itself in our everyday lives, interior designers have incorporated it into their projects. The LAB carries on this tradition, giving visitors a peek at the functional and ornamental innovations that will hit the market in the near future. From applications to devices and appliances, each piece will inspire you to rethink the spaces you encounter every day.
3. The Amazing Keynote Speakers
It’s hard to consider the future when you’re stuck in your company’s daily operations. Sometimes, you need to slow down and seek inspiration to move forward. The expo’s expert speakers can help you think beyond your routine and expand your horizons.
This year’s featured guests include Scott McGillivray from HGTV’s popular Income Property series. House and home renovators are sure to benefit from McGillivray’s insight into contracting and business. Guests will also have the unmissable opportunity to hear architecture innovator David Adjaye speak on projects ranging from the Nobel Peace Centre to The National Museum of African American History and Culture. Other scheduled talks include acclaimed interior designers Jaime Hayon and Nika Zupanc.
4. The Professional Development Opportunities
Networking is important, but conferences should also give participants the chance to learn techniques and see new technology firsthand. TDS’s Professional Trade Day offers them this opportunity. More than 12,000 designers will flock to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to attend talks, seminars, and awards ceremonies. With so much to see, you can’t miss out on this amazing experience.
