Inspiring Content Leading Design Voices

Speakers: Pooya Baktash (Partisans and Serotiny), Sabine Grimes (Unison Group Inc. ), Zahra Ebrahim  (Monumental) and Alex Bozikovic (Architecture Critic, The Globe and Mail). Moderated by Dezeen US Editor Ben Dreith. 

Thursday, 10:30-11:30am

This engaging panel of speakers will discuss what they feel the city of Toronto and Toronto’s design landscape needs in the next 5 years. This includes opinions and critical commentary on proposed projects, planning and bylaws, infrastructure, and community planning. How can design improve or solve some of the challenges the city is facing? This panel discussion will kick off the 25th edition of IDS Toronto. 

Join Claire Weisz FAIA in conversation with Dezeen’s US editor Ben Dreith. 

Thursday, 12:30-1:30pm

Claire Weisz is a founding partner of WXY, whose work as an architect and urbanist focuses on innovative approaches to public space, structures, and cities. Her firm, WXY, is globally recognized for its place-based approach to architecture, urban design, and planning, and has played a vital role in design thinking around resiliency. Among its award-winning projects are the SeaGlass Carousel and the Spring Street Garage / Salt Shed. In 2019 Fast Company named WXY one of the World’s Most Innovative Architecture Firms. 

Todd Bracher in conversation with Dezeen's US editor Ben Dreith.

Thursday, 2:30-3:30pm

Join an exploration Todd’s design ethos and key designs in his career as Creative Director for Humanscale. Bracher’s strategic approach to design helps Humanscale leverage their unique assets to achieve market growth, increase revenue, elevate brand engagement, and update product portfolios for a contemporary audience. His work strikes a rigorous balance between science, wellness and contemporary culture.

Bonnie Hvillum in conversation with Elizabeth Pagliacolo of AZURE Magazine

Friday, 12:30 - 1:30pm

Natural Material Studio is a Copenhagen-based design, research and consultancy practice founded in 2018 by material and interaction designer, Bonnie Hvillum. The studio is driven by a desire to change our collective understanding, relation and perception of materials. They do so by working from a renewable and circular point of view, with both science, biology, chemistry, design and art as our building blocks. Forever forward-thinking, their work revolves around the principles of circular design – reuse, recycle, renew and rethink. Through a material-led approach centered around the properties and qualities of often discarded or under-utilized natural resources, Natural Material Studio explores material limitations and opportunities in order to create novel design solutions

Ian Rolston in conversation with Stefan Novakovic of AZURE Magazine

Friday, 2:30-3:30pm

Join Ian Rolston, the founder of Decanthropy, for an engaging keynote presentation on Dismantling Design. Decanthropy is an equity innovation studio engineering change for brands, businesses and built environments. The studio develops and executes human-centered strategies to solve the right problems at the right time.  The studio works with executive leadership teams to shift thinking, to establish strategies that embed structural equity throughout organizations and projects.  

Jordan Bennett, Shirley Blumberg of KPMB, Omar Gandhi of Omar Gandhi Architect in conversation moderated by Elizabeth Pagliacolo of AZURE Magazine

Friday, 4:30-5:30pm

Shirley Blumberg, Omar Gandhi, and Jordan Bennett believe collaboration is the key to unlocking powerful design solutions. Together, the group discuss their collective process imagining a new art gallery for Nova Scotia. Drawing on their shared values, and diverse perspectives, this talk investigates how three award-winning designers create in harmony through a unified approach.

Introduction and Q+A by The Globe and Mail Style Advisor editorial director Andrew Sardone 

Saturday, 11am-12pm

The work of Mexico designer Fernando Laposse focuses on environmental crisis and the loss of biodiversity. He speaks often about the transformative power of design to help solve the ecological problems that the world is facing. At IDS, he will explain how that’s possible and highlight how resetting the way we look at the potential of humble materials – from corn leaves to loofah – can help designers and homeowners build more sustainable spaces. 

Kelly Reynolds and Chad Falkenberg (Falken Reynolds, Vancouver), Daej Hamilton (Daej Designs, Toronto), Megan Cassidy and Jane Son (Casson Hardware, Toronto). Moderated by The Globe and Mail style contributor Odessa Paloma Parker.

Saturday, 1-2pm

How do you love – and live with – good design that values comfort and practicality as much as style? For the 2023 edition of The Globe and Mail’s annual Designing Canada list, we’re redefining what “liveability” means in interiors. On stage, style contributor Odessa Paloma Parker interviews a panel representing top designers, makers and retailers who will share how they create beautiful spaces that work for everyday life.

Image credit: The Collective You

Treana Peake Founder of OBAKKI in conversation with The Globe and Mail Style Advisor editorial director Andrew Sardone.

Saturday, 3-4pm

Obakki and its founder, Treana Peake, are redefining the way Canadians consider craft and sustainability when shopping for their homes. What makes the Vancouver-based marketplace stand out is how it highlights the thoughtful stories behind the objects that surround us. Peake and The Globe and Mail Style Advisor editorial director Andrew Sardone will discuss why those details matter and how she works with artisans to bring economic stability to their communities by allowing them to focus on craft and creativity.

Brian Gluckstein in conversation with Lynda Reeves

Sunday, 11am-12pm

Come and meet our House & Home Designer of the Year and hear his inspiring story of a three-decade career designing for some of Canada’s biggest names, here and abroad. Brian shares his personal views on what it takes to make it in design. Learn his signature style and hear tips on finding your own. We’ll debate the trends — good and bad.

Jackie Kai Ellis in conversation with Lynda Reeves. 

Sunday, 1-2pm

Some of our most famous designers of all time were stylists, first and foremost — think Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and, most recently, Athena Calderone. Creating a room that resonates or a vignette that grabs the eye is about learning the rules and when to break them. Jackie’s rooms have graced the cover of House & Home and, now that she’s living in Vancouver, she brings a fresh West Coast vibe to the spaces she creates. Hear her story and learn her favourite styling tips to try at home.

Tommy Smythe in conversation with Lynda Reeves.

Sunday, 3-4pm

Tommy and his team at TOM Design Studio are producing some of the freshest rooms on our pages that still fit the “classic” mode. What makes a room up to date but still timeless? When are trends to be embraced and when should we pass? Hear Tommy’s best advice for finding your own perfect mix.