A few months ago I attended the Toronto Interior Design Show (IDS) as part of a school assignment as well as a "get out and experience it" scenario. Held once a year at the Toronto Convention Centre is a massive 3 day event showcasing everything from leading furniture designers to artisanal handicraft from North America and beyond. 

IDS is full of innovation and creativity, energy and a sense of excitement. It's really awesome knowing that everyone in the room is there for the same reasons...inspiration and networking. Walking into the event you instantly feel like you are amongst "your kind" and that you could easily talk to fellow designers all day regarding their newest sustainable wall coverings or to hear about leading technologies in kitchen and bathroom designs. There is excitement and passion at every booth and as a student, this is the best place to get out and meet people. 

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I must note that as a student it can be quite daunting and scary to breach your comfort zone and introduce yourself to industry leading designers. Since you don't have much first hand experience designing actual spaces, designers and retailers sometimes won't give you the time of day or at least the acknowledgement that any future designer wants to hear. However, any designer out there would be a complete fool to not give you that respect. As students, we ARE the future. We will be the ones deciding where to source our furniture and materials from and we will be the ones deciding who we want to give our business to. I held that thought closely all day and will remember who I spoke with you and with who I was denied. 

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Nonetheless, I left IDS with a smile on my face, new favourite designers and a persistent urge to go home and launch myself into a new weaving project. I think next year I will have more confidence as a designer since I will be out in the workforce applying my knowledge and skills from college. Who knows, maybe one day I'll end up with my own exhibit at the IDS?

 

 

 

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