2023 IDC Design Symposium

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Design Tour 1 – Pinterest Office

Pinterest, the visual discovery engine, enlisted Gensler to create a transformational workplace representative of its brand identity, company values, and collaborative culture. Inspired by the curatorial nature of the platform, discovery and inspiration are woven throughout Pinterest’s office space. Experiences are fun and functional, with ease-of-use criteria met before whimsy. Creating a memorable first impression, it embodies the brand ethos at every turn, and has proven to be a strong center of attraction for both current employees and new recruits. In a world where going to work is no longer a binary choice, Pinterest’s Toronto office offers a wide spectrum of experiences and is rooted in the idea that people are now the number one workplace amenity.

LOCATION:
Pinterest Canada
85 Richmond Street West, 8th Floor
Toronto, ON M5H 2C9
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This tour accounts for one IDCEC hour.

4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Design Tour 2 – Polar Asset Management Partners

A focus on health and wellness is an investment in people’s sustained performance. Polar Asset Management Partners places its workforce resource as a central pillar to its success. To support this vision and value, designed experiences embrace all the ways in which people work and collaborate. Whether it is spaces for focus and concentration or health and wellness, the central goal is to affirm our individual human-ness. That we come from different stages of life, practice different patterns of behavior and possess a range of strengths. Polar Asset Management Partners’ office facilitates this spectrum and is how we achieve high-performance in the workplace.

LOCATION:
Polar Asset Management Partners Inc.
16 York Street, 29th Floor
Toronto, ON M5J 2Z2
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This tour accounts for one IDCEC hour.

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Welcome Reception

LOCATION:
Intercontinental Hotel
225 Front Street West
Toronto ON M5V 2X3
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8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Networking Breakfast

LOCATION:
TEKNION
120 Bremner Blvd., Suite 2010
Toronto, ON
M5J 0A8
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9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Professionally You: A Keynote on Personal Leadership

For early career, or career-pivoting, professionals, one’s personal leadership can earn them opportunities, respect, and sense of pride.

In this presentation, personal leadership attributes such as intention, confidence, learning, and integrity will be highlighted, along with happenstances of opportunity, challenge, and risk-taking. Whether preparing for one’s first job, a new role, or starting their own business, professionals should benefit from a sense of clarity of their career objectives, leadership style, and self. Attendees will reflect on how networking, mentorship, and industry involvement can support their individual objectives and create value for others and the interior design profession overall.

Industry knowledge and leadership concepts are reflected with personal anecdotes of successes and lessons learned, aiming to bring the somewhat peripheral concept of “leadership” to life in attendees’ daily work and in service to their broader career objectives.

This presentation accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Keynote speaker:

Russell Pollard (he/him), MBA

Russell is an independent consultant, guest speaker, and entrepreneur embedded in the design and architecture professions and in Queer business communities. His work supports professional services firms in how they manage people, workplace culture, and change, and shape marketing and business development.

Since 2017 he has chaired the Associates Leadership Series of the Museum of Architecture, bringing together architects and designers from across London, England for leadership learning and peer mentorship. He also served on the Board of the Society for Marketing Professional Services Ontario for four years, including as President, and since 2021 has chaired the Toronto Society of Architects’ “Inclusion in Construction” program.

Supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion is integral to how he manages his business, develops training programs, and supports clients. And, in how he contributes to industry change. Through his company Framework Leadership, he has supported groups such as Society for South Asian Architects, Black Architects and Interior Designers Association, and Building Equality in Architecture Toronto. In 2022 Russell founded Pride Talks to support Queer inclusion in the design professions and provide a platform for Queer speakers to represent and support their communities.

Russell has a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor in interdisciplinary leadership, and certificates in leadership and inclusion. He is proud Maritimer (Nova Scotia) and currently lives in Toronto.

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

PROpel Panel on Leadership

This panel discussion will bring interior designers, educators, and experts together to share their experiences within the interior design industry, the impact that mentorship has had on their careers, and practical tips for becoming a better leader in the industry.

Along with discussing their experiences with mentorship and leadership, panelists will share about the benefits of pursuing a master’s program, post-covid changes to work and design, the importance of work-life balance, and the impacts of emerging technology and future opportunities for designers.

The panel is sponsored by Levey, and will be moderated by Design Symposium keynote speaker, Russell Pollard, MBA.

This panel accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Sponsored by:

Panelists:

Stanely Sun, Co-Founder, Creative Director, Mason Studio

BID HONS, BSC HONS, NCIDQ, IDC, ARIDO, BCIN

Stanley Sun’s vision is informed by a unique blend of formal studies in human sciences, fine arts and interior design. Approaching each challenge with a combined scientific and humanistic perspective, he first observes how people experience and react to the built environment to create a rational and intuitive design solution. Of particular interest to Stanley’s practice is the science of light and the physiological and psychological response people have to light. As an advocate for Canadian design, Stanley has been published widely and has participated as a keynote speaker at leading design conferences. He is also a sessional instructor at his alma mater, Toronto Metropolitan University.

Umid Abdullaev, Instructor, Department of Interior Design, University of Manitoba

Umid’s interests include design research, history of architecture, computational design and close-knit collaboration with different disciplines such as Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and various Engineering professions. His approach to teaching includes bringing his 10-year practice experience of working in multiple typologies into the classroom. He focuses on using building and software technology as it is typically practiced in the industry through workshops, group discussions and one-on-one coaching. One of his teaching goals is to raise awareness of practice in the classroom whether it be through lectures, storytelling or practical advice, and prepare students for successful careers.

Keshia Caplette  

President, IDC Board of Directors  

Keshia Caplette is a versatile and innovative Interior Designer with the Interior Designers Association of Saskatchewan (IDAS). With over eight years of experience in the interior design, architectural and construction industries, Keshia has worked on a variety of projects ranging from residential, multi-family, industrial and institutional work, along with healthcare and corporate ventures. For Keshia, the last the last three years of serving on IDC’s board of management has been an opportunity to grow, both as a designer and an individual. Keshia brings a strong voice for members from across the country based on the network that she has helped grow through the PROpel program and her involvement with board activities. Keshia strongly believes in the advocacy efforts that the board has undertaken and is passionate about ensuring the interior design professions is moving forward. 

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Networking Break

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

GEN Z IS HERE: ARE YOU READY?

Gen Z designers are changing the way we communicate and collaborate in the workplace. Join ThinkLab as we look beyond the STEREOTYPE of Gen Z and instead explore them as a PROTOTYPE shaping the future of how all generations are shifting in this new hybrid work setting.

This interactive presentation is followed by crowd participation in a ‘Would you rather’ game.

This presentation accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Presenter:

Amanda Schneider, Founder and President, ThinkLab

Amanda Schneider, LEED AP, MBA is an accomplished entrepreneur and founder of ThinkLab, a research and strategy firm for the interiors industry. With a passion for design, research, sales, and strategic launch practices, Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. She is a respected thought leader in the industry and has been featured in prestigious publications, including the Huffington Post, Interior Design Magazine, and many others. As a sought-after keynote speaker and host of the popular podcast, Design Nerds Anonymous, Amanda regularly shares her insights and expertise with audiences around the world.

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Networking Lunch

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

What Workers Want: Findings from Gensler’s Canadian Workplace Survey

The Canadian Workplace Survey from the Gensler Research Institute identified a surprising shift in the reason workers want to return to the office: they are prioritizing focusing on getting work done.

In addition to needing effective spaces that support individual and virtual work, office workers are seeking a new mix of experiences. As our clients consider the future of their workplaces, our survey data lends timely insight into employees’ desire for choice, flexibility, and variety.

Join Annie Bergeron, Principal and Design Director at Gensler Toronto as she offers insights on the future of work, including:
• What’s working in offices where workers are returning
• What’s not working to support employee’s critical work activities
• What’s missing that may increase people’s willingness to return to office more often

This presentation accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Presenter:

Annie Bergeron, Principal + Design Director, Gensler Toronto

Annie is a Principal and Design Director in Gensler’s Toronto office with more than 20 years of experience designing for tech and media companies. She oversees the strategic planning, design, construction, and branding implementation for trusted clients such as LoyaltyOne, Facebook, Booking.com, and Weber Shandwick. A highly regarded voice in the Toronto design community, she is an active critic and guest lecturer, a sought-after media spokesperson, and a panelist and speaker at national industry conferences. Her versatility has won her the Ryerson Award of Recognition for Design Excellence, numerous ARIDO Design awards, product design awards from NEOCON, and VMSD’s award for visual merchandising. Annie holds a Bachelor’s in Interior Design from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Why Standards Matter

This course provides knowledge about BIFMA’s mission and work. The course explains Why Standards Matter to all involved with furniture procurement to ensure decisions are informed by safety, wellness, and sustainability. In this course, you’ll learn about the historical context that drove the need for developing industry-wide furniture performance standards and understand the impact of social, economic, and technological trends on the bottom line for business owners. You’ll identify how testing procedures simulate actual use over the life of the product and you will know how to access LEVEL and BIFMA Compliant as the tools to evaluate your furniture selections.

This presentation accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Presenter:

Jennifer Wammack, Outreach & Learning Director, BIFMA

Jennifer Wammack is BIFMA’s Outreach & Learning Director, a role created in 2017 to enhance engagement with influencers of the commercial built environment. Since that time, Jennifer has been the organization’s brand ambassador, communicating BIFMA’s message as the industry leader in developing furniture safety, durability, and sustainability standards that ensure product performance and inspire confidence wherever people work, learn, heal, and play. Prior to BIFMA, Jennifer had a successful career as a commercial textile designer with manufacturers Milliken, Guilford of Maine, and Valdese Weavers. She spent several years with IDA Design, an award-winning furniture design consultancy. As part of that leadership team, Jennifer’s role included design strategy, trend research, marketing, and sustainable practices. Jennifer holds a BFA in Textile Design from Rhode Island School of Design and a Master of Management in Sustainable Business from Aquinas College.

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Networking Break

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Mindful MATERIALS Common Materials Framework

Over the past decade, demand for materials transparency has grown exponentially, bolstered by the rise of pledge commitments like the Interior Design Pledge for Positive Impact. The Mindful MATERIALS Common Materials Framework (CMF) provides a mechanism for understanding and evaluating materials’ impacts on human health, climate health, ecosystem health, social health and equity, and a circular economy. Learn how to take the first steps to integrate healthier materials into your specifications using the Common Materials Framework and gain the confidence you need to drive mindful and consistent holistic materials sustainability decision-making everywhere.

This presentation accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Presenter:

Jon Strassner, Workplace strategist, climate activist and podcast host

With over 25 years of industry experience, working closely with the architecture and design community and manufacturers, Jon is passionate about understanding the role we all play in Net Positive Impact, where we don’t just take less from the environment, but restore, regenerate, and replace what has been damaged or destroyed. A passionate founding member of Next Wave Plastics, Jon has worked tirelessly to bring climate awareness to our industry. An Impact Icon 2022 award winner, his thought leadership has not gone unnoticed as designers and manufacturers alike are working to understand their role in climate change. Jon is also the co-founder and co-creator of the Break Some Dishes podcast, where he and his partner, Verda Alexander, look for stories and personas in the sustainability world and bring them back to our industry for inspiration and greater understanding. Together they have released over 50 episodes since 2019.

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Break

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Awards Celebration Cocktails (Ticket required)

Enjoy a delicious cocktail and capture the moment in IDC’s photo booth, before the Awards Celebration kicks off at Aria.

Please note, Design Symposium registration does not include attendance to IDC’s Awards Celebration. Attendees must have a separate ticket to attend the event at ARIA.

LOCATION:
ARIA
25 York St
Toronto, ON M5J 2V5
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7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Awards Celebration Gala (Ticket required)

Join IDC at Aria in Toronto, Ont. to celebrate and honour our members’ achievements at this year’s live and in-person awards celebration. The event will celebrate winners of the 2023 Value of Design Awards (VODA), winners of the Industry Partners-exclusive Innovation Awards, winners of the Innovation in Design Thinking Student Competition, and recipient of the Legacy Award for Distinguished Service.

IDC awards will be presented during a sit-down dinner. Dress code is business attire.

Please note, Design Symposium registration does not include attendance to IDC’s Awards Celebration. Attendees must have a separate ticket to attend the event at ARIA.

LOCATION:
ARIA
25 York St
Toronto, ON M5J 2V5
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The IDC Awards Celebration gala accounts for one non-IDCEC hour.

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Networking Breakfast

LOCATION:
TEKNION
120 Bremner Blvd., Suite 2010
Toronto, ON
M5J 0A8
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9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

The AI Revolution: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

AI is revolutionizing the way we work and run our businesses. Tech entrepreneur Nicole Verkindt dives deep into AI’s latest advances in technology to explain where it’s going and how organizations can best prepare for an AI-fuelled future.

In this presentation, Verkindt will explore the opportunities and challenges ahead while outlining tech trends, AI ethics, how this technology may affect the interior design industry, the talent requirements and training needed for this new future, and how organizations can use AI to achieve their greatest potential and competitive advantage.

This presentation accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Keynote speaker:

Nicole Verkindt, Tech Entrepreneur | Founder, OMX

Named “Canada’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” by Startup Canada in 2017, Nicole Verkindt is a serial entrepreneur. She has a knack for finding industry gaps and building innovative platforms and technology to fill them. Speaking to the importance of entrepreneurial and disruptive thinking, diversity in leadership, technology, and innovation, Verkindt empowers audiences to turn their ideas into success.

In 2012, Verkindt founded and launched OMX, an online supply chain data analytics business. The technology platform helps to increase and measure local spend/socio-economic impacts, including ESGs (environmental, social, governance) and other sustainability metrics. Today, Verkindt is the CEO of Buggy.ca, Canada’s rapid grocery delivery business, and an active angel investor involved in dozens of Canada’s early-stage tech businesses.

Verkindt is a frequent technology commentator on CBC and a technology columnist. She was also an investor on Gimlet Media’s The Pitch in the US and a “Dragon” on CBC’s Next Gen Den, which focused on early-stage technology. Verkindt sits on the board of the Canadian Commercial Corporation and is a Next Gen member of the Business Council of Canada (BCC), where she is also the Co-Chair of the BCC’s Task Force on Canada’s Economic Future.

In 2018, Verkindt was awarded the Peter Brojde Award for Next Generation Executive Leadership, and in 2019, she was named Startup Canada’s Ambassador for Women’s Entrepreneurship and one of Canada’s “Top 40 under 40”.

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Emerging Tech as a Successful Business Tool

Many have heard the names spoken but few are familiar with how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverse are changing the way that architects, designers, and manufacturers work day-to-day to expand their creativity and tell their stories.

In this insightful session, join a group of industry practitioners in conversation as they explore issues from multiple perspectives that range from hopeful to concerning, and delve into compelling, real-world examples of how creative industries are already leveraging these emerging technologies and what they mean for the future.

This panel accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Presenter:

Andrew Lane, Co-Founder, Digby

As co-founder at digby, Andrew draws from over two decades of digital business, innovation and change management experience to help heritage-rich global brands navigate their first steps into emerging technologies with a focus on building customer relationships and evolving business processes. A seasoned entrepreneur, intrapreneur, speaker, and educator with deep expertise in navigating what’s next, Andrew made his career building and leading teams and organizations from startups to multinational corporations through change and transformation. He’s spoken at leading conferences in multiple industries, designed and delivered innovative courses for prominent colleges and universities in digital media and technology, and sat on numerous boards and councils aligned to helping organizations and individuals chart their course into new territory.
Andrew is also a co-host of Barriers to Entry, an emerging media podcast for the architecture and design industry, and a co-founder of Interior Design Magazine’s Metaverse Architecture & Design (MAD) Awards.

Panelists:

Mark Cichy, Director of Design Technology, HOK

Mark is a Principal and the Director of Design Technology at HOK where he works on various architectural, research, and innovation projects. He has worked on a wide variety of complex project types, domestically and internationally. He is an expert in the use and development of digital process implementation, complex data rich systems, and strategic solutions that solve business related challenges through the application of advanced technologies. He serves on various committees within HOK and at various academic institutions.

Mark is an experienced technical innovator and developer. His work spans many different market sectors including science and technology, aviation, defense, healthcare, sport, transportation, and government. Mark believes that our built fabric is the result of intense collaboration between many professionals across multiple disciplines and stakeholders.

Linda Zhang, Principal Architect, Studio Pararaum

Linda Zhang (she/her) is a registered architect (AIA, OAA), interior designer (NCIDQ), and drone pilot (RPAS Advanced Operations) as well as an artist and educator. She is an assistant professor at Waterloo University School of Architecture and a principal at Studio Pararaum (Toronto—Zürich). Her research areas include memory, cultural heritage, and identity as they indexically embodied through matter, material processes and reproduction technologies. She is a 2022 Artist-in-Residence at the EKWC (European Ceramic Work Centre, Oisterwijk, NL), 2022 Toronto Metropolitan University Library Research-in-Residence and 2021-2022 visiting scholar at NYU’s Asian/Pacific/American Institute. Previously, she was the recipient of the 2019 Multicultural Fellow at NCECA (National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts), 2017-2018 Boghosian Fellowship at Syracuse University SoA as well as 2017 Fellowship at the Berlin Center for Art and Urbanistics.

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Networking Break

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Are You a Brand? Thriving in a World of Brands

We are overwhelmed with brands. They are a relationship we trust and seek out. Brands are personal and subjective and reside in the hearts and minds of its users. This seminar is highly interactive and will help designers see their role as a brand that connects and creates a bond with the client. Designers will be inspired and uplifted to realize that indeed, they are a brand!

This presentation accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Presenter:

Mike Peterson, President, Visionary Design Marketing, Founder, Science in Design

Mike’s experience is rooted in years as a leading advertising executive at Hearst Magazines including House Beautiful and Country Living, working with leading national advertisers. Mike’s experience in the home furnishings industry include President/CEO of LaBarge Furnishings and as Vice President of Corporate Marketing for such companies as Henredon, Lexington, Drexel Heritage, and more.
As Publisher at LUXE Magazine for nearly a decade, the LUXE brand exploded both in popularity, brand recognition, and increased sales. In this capacity, Mike developed close relationships with luxury design firms, design centers and interior designers in helping them grow their businesses.

Today, Mike helps to educate designers on their ability to improve the health of their clients. Studies from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, the United Kingdom and more, are an integral part of Mike’s effort to help designers realize their value proposition goes beyond aesthetics to include health at home. Mike is a regular keynote speaker and panel moderator at High Point furniture market, the Dallas Market Center, The Las Vegas Surfaces Expo, the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, IWCE, and at numerous IFDA and ASID events around the country.

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Networking Lunch

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

The Importance of Neuroaesthetics for Interior Design

This enlightening panel discussion features two prominent individuals in the design world, Don Ruggles and Mike Peterson, as they delve into “The Importance of Neuroaesthetics for Interior Design.” In this captivating dialogue, Don will explore the profound impact of neuroaesthetics on our well-being and the spaces we inhabit. Discover how the intersection of science and art can transform interior design, making spaces not only visually appealing but also enhancing our emotional and cognitive experiences.
Learn from Mike Peterson how you can, and need to, position your business as an alternative health resource. Mike will share case studies of designers who have repositioned their firms to reflect the health benefits they provide. In this discussion, you will gain valuable insights into the intricate harmony between aesthetics, neuroscience, and well-being, and learn how to create environments that stimulate while positioning yourself as improving client health. A thought-provoking conversation that promises to reshape your approach to interior design and its impact on health and well-being.

This panel accounts for one IDCEC hour.

Presenter:

Mike Peterson, President, Visionary Design Marketing, Founder, Science in Design

Mike’s experience is rooted in years as a leading advertising executive at Hearst Magazines including House Beautiful and Country Living, working with leading national advertisers. Mike’s experience in the home furnishings industry include President/CEO of LaBarge Furnishings and as Vice President of Corporate Marketing for such companies as Henredon, Lexington, Drexel Heritage, and more.
As Publisher at LUXE Magazine for nearly a decade, the LUXE brand exploded both in popularity, brand recognition, and increased sales. In this capacity, Mike developed close relationships with luxury design firms, design centers and interior designers in helping them grow their businesses.

Today, Mike helps to educate designers on their ability to improve the health of their clients. Studies from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, the United Kingdom and more, are an integral part of Mike’s effort to help designers realize their value proposition goes beyond aesthetics to include health at home. Mike is a regular keynote speaker and panel moderator at High Point furniture market, the Dallas Market Center, The Las Vegas Surfaces Expo, the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center, IWCE, and at numerous IFDA and ASID events around the country.

Panelists

Donald H. Ruggles

Donald H. Ruggles, AIA, NCARB, ICAA, ANFA , Hapi, is CEO Emeritus of Ruggles Mabe Studio, a boutique residential architecture + interior design firm based in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1970, the firm is dedicated to the idea that beauty can improve the lives of its clients. Their award-winning projects have been featured in publications world-wide.  Don is the author of the book Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture (2017) and Executive Producer of the full-length documentary movie Built Beautiful (2020).  Don serves on the Board of Advisors for the College of Architecture & Planning at the University of Colorado Denver, the Board of Directors for the Human Architecture & Planning Institute (Hapi), the Advisory Board of the Building Beauty Institute in Sorrento, Italy and is Board Emeritus for the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Rocky Mountain Chapter. Additionally he was recently designated the Director of Classical Studies at the University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture & Planning. Don lectures extensively on the importance of connecting architectural design with our health and well-being and is currently working on two new books to be issued in 2024.

Linda Kafka

Linda Kafka is a known figure in the residential interior design industry across Canada and the United States, celebrated for her steadfast commitment to prioritizing human health and well-being in architecture and interior design. She is a well-regarded educator within the sector, specializing in aging in place, and holds the WELL AP certification. With over two decades of experience in the built environment, Linda merges science and design to advocate for the significance of interior design.
She co-founded Science in Design with Mike Peterson, which is an innovative educational platform focused on neuroaesthetic design education for interior design and architecture professionals. Linda’s dedication to the field, expertise in livable aging-in-place environments, and emphasis on collaboration and education have firmly established her as a leading figure. Her influence continues to drive positive change and innovation in interior design, leaving a lasting impact on creating healthier living spaces. Through her mentorship, she inspires professionals to view interior design as a multidisciplinary art that considers human behavior, emotions, and functionality.

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Networking Break

3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

IDC Annual General Meeting

Join members from across Canada at IDC’s 51st Annual General Meeting. This is an opportunity to hear a report on IDC’s activities over the past year and connect with IDC CEO, Trevor Kruse.

Meet the 2023-2024 Board of Directors, new IDC Fellows, and this year’s Propel Emerging Leaders program participants.

The AGM accounts for one non-IDCEC hour.

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Symposium Wrap-Up