Interior designers work hard. You need to strike a tricky balance if you want to meet your goals. Between keeping your clients satisfied, maintaining your business’s day-to-day operations, and staying on top of your financial obligations, it can be difficult to find time to stay abreast of new design trends and innovations. Over time, you may start to feel out of touch with what your customers want and need.
Thankfully, you can attend conferences that will help you stay abreast of all the latest developments in your industry. These events usually only last a few days, but they can help put your entire process into perspective. Industry leaders and exciting new vendors attend these gatherings, which makes them ideal for interior design companies of all sizes and needs. If you need a break from the daily rigours of your business, one of these events is sure to suit your specific desires.
These are just five of the most exciting interior design conferences in Canada and the United States. With so much to gain, why wouldn’t you want to attend?
1. Interior Design Show (Toronto, Jan. 19 – 22, 2017)
Toronto’s Interior Design Show sets the year off on the right foot at the spacious Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Professional development and innovation take centre stage at IDS, with a day devoted to design practitioners and exhibitors. Attendees can visit exhibits from exciting vendors and learn from exciting speakers such as acclaimed architect David Adjaye and interior designers Jaime Hayon and Nika Zupanc.
For those looking to the future for inspiration, the event’s LAB features technology that will revolutionize domestic and professional spaces. An opening night party featuring over 5,000 VIPs helps make this amazing event a truly social experience.
2. IDS West (Vancouver, Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, 2017)
If IDS sounds like a paradise that’s a little too far away, you’re in luck. A west coast version of the event takes place eight months later in Vancouver. While more details are sure to follow, early highlights include an exchange featuring the world class Dutch design firm Eindhoven, a platform that evaluates promising new prototypes, a ceramics exhibition and more. IDS West also preserves its counterpart’s focus on networking. Its central bar and opening night party ensure that you’ll have plenty of time to mingle with big industry names.
3. NeoCon (Chicago, June 12 – 14, 2017)
You don’t have to stay north of the border if you want to attend an exciting trade show. The NeoCon design expo brings 50,000 interior designers to TheMART, Chicago’s massive design centre. You’re sure to benefit from the event’s specific focus on design for retail stores, workspaces, public places and more. The historic event also offers over 100 seminars, so you’ll be sure to come home with some new ideas in tow.
4. HighPoint Market (North Carolina, Apr. 22 – 26, Oct. 14 – 18, 2017
The HighPoint Market draws over 75,000 people to North Carolina twice a year. Over 75,000 trade practitioners from more than 100 countries attend the event, which focuses specifically on furnishings. If you want to learn about the newest products, there are few places that are quite as enriching as this.
5. IIDEXCanada (Toronto, TBA 2017)
Toronto conferences begin and end the year, as IIDEXCanada usually takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in November or December of each year. The two-day expo usually features keynote speakers, cocktail parties, networking breakfasts and awards for the top industry professionals. Interior designers can take advantage of over 350 seminars and some of the most enlightening keynote speakers available.
