A unique spirit sets designers apart from other artists and allows them to mark their own path.
But this ingenuity is not always easily accessible. Designers can maintain their own style and approach, but they must also keep up with the tools and trends their industry offers. True icons maintain a singular presence while understanding their art’s progression, and the greatest interior designers are no different.
So how do you balance the industry’s advances with your own originality? You attend conferences and events. These gatherings give you the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest names in interior design, but they also allow you to display your work in a supportive, accomplished setting. The right event can enhance your professional and personal life in ways you never imagined.
With this in mind, here are some innovative conferences that all interior designers should keep on their calendars. Inspiration isn’t limited to a time or a place, but you may find it at these events across North America in 2017.
1. Interior Design Show (Toronto, Jan. 19 – 22, 2017)
For nearly 20 years, the Interior Design Show has attracted some of the best talent from around the world, and the 2017 event looks like it will continue this trend. An exclusive party opens the event in style, while the following day offers professionals the chance to learn about new products and methods that will soon dominate the industry.
The stacked list of speakers and seminars also offers many incredible opportunities. Attendees can listen to innovators such as internationally renowned architect David Adjaye, television presenter Scott McGillivray and artists Jaime Hayon and Nika Zupanc. With so many highlights, Canadian designers can’t afford to miss this amazing event.
2. Buildex Vancouver 2017 (Vancouver, Feb. 15 – 16, 2017)
Buildex caters to all aspects of construction, architecture and design, but that doesn’t mean interior designers can’t benefit from this two-day event. Professionals from many different industries will gather to listen to over 100 speakers and participate in 70 seminars. With so many networking and learning opportunities, you can’t pass up this opportunity.
3. NYCxDESIGN 2017 (New York City, May 3 – 24, 2017)
New York City’s design scene comes alive for three weeks this May as NYCxDESIGN expands to new heights in 2017. This year’s lineup has yet to be announced, but it’s expected to include over 500 events. Highlights from previous years include an opening party at Industry City in Brooklyn, a Seaport Culture District and amazing displays that reached every borough in New York.
4. Burning Man (Black Rock City, Aug. 27 – Sept. 4, 2017)
Black Rock City may be a temporary municipality for the attendees of the annual Burning Man festival, but that doesn’t mean the area skimps on design. The festival has established a unique identity, and its many temporary design installations have played a major role in shaping that personality. If you can make your way out to the Nevada desert, you’ll experience a week of amazing structures and interiors built by artists from around the world.
5. IDS West (Vancouver, Sept. 28 – Oct. 1, 2017)
The Interior Design Show doesn’t just take Toronto by storm each year. A Vancouver edition usually follows the eastern event in late September. While it’s too early to elaborate on the event’s programming, past years have offered the elaborate parties, stylish exhibitions, and exciting networking opportunities that IDS has become known for.
