The Interior Design Show West (IDSwest) is coming up quickly, running from September 29th to October 2nd. It’s Western Canada’s premiere residential design show, and it’s gearing up to showcase some 200 curated exhibitors, all putting forward quality products and services to an audience of industry professionals, architects, designers, and consumers. It attracts over 28,000 attendees over three and a half days; roughly 22,000 of whom are avid design wonks looking to source and purchase some of the latest trends and innovations in contemporary home design.

Here are six things you shouldn’t miss…

Opening Night

Who doesn’t love an opening night party with custom cocktails, live music and whole lotta fashion and design going on? The IDSwest Opening Night Party goes down on September 29th, and they’re expecting some 4000 guests in attendance. 4000! Anticipate the show’s 2011 signature “Fluoro” cocktail pour at the tom dixon pop-up bar (see below), Vancouver Fashion Week preview shows and plenty of design and architectural eye candy (bonus: Montreal’s DJ Mario Galego is spinning beats). Tickets for the shindig are just $20 and available online at www.idswest.com.

Time: 6PM to 9PM
Location: Inform Interiors on-site exhibition space 319 at IDSwest
Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1055 Canada Place

Speakers

Internationally acclaimed and award-winning industrial designer Ross Lovegrove will be forecasting the future as the keynote speaker. His resume spans nearly thirty years, and his projects include some of the most memorable designs of each decade, including Walkmans for Sony and computers for Apple. Lovegrove is also the author of the widely successful Alessandri Office System. Winner of numerous awards, Lovegrove’s work has been extensively published and exhibited internationally including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Guggenheim Museum (NY), the Pompidou Centre (Paris) and the Design Museum (London), where in 1993 Lovegrove curated the first permanent collection. Lovegrove is also author of the book SUPERNATURAL, The Work of Ross Lovegrove by Phaidon. As someone who creates what many in the design community see as the new aesthetic expression for the 21st century, Lovegrove will be bringing a range of experimental and progressive ideas to the stage. Design professionals and the public alike are invited to join this forward thinker at 5:00PM on Friday, September 30th, 2011 at IDSwest.

Also joining IDSwest this year will be award winning lighting designer Jeremy Cole. As someone who counts Harry Winston, Bulgari and Anne Fontaine as clients, Cole has honed his handmade lighting into a luxury design phenomenon. His work can be found in hotels, restaurants, retail stores and offices worldwide. Cole will be addressing visitors to IDSwest on Friday, September 30th at 3:00PM.

Rounding out this year’s key presenters is local design darling Omer Arbel, Creative Director of Bocci, whose latest pieces include the 2010 Winter Olympic medals. Arbel’s designs cover a broad range, from luxurious private residences such as the nearly complete 23.2 house to bespoke lighting installations such as the 28 chandelier; to the innovative yet accessibly priced electrical wall units of the 22 series (which retail at $15 per component in North America). Arbel will be presenting on the main stage at 7:00PM on Friday, September 30th, 2011.

Molo Softshelter

As chronic fearers of The Big One, we’re particularly keen to check out this “unique system for creating personal space within a larger shelter area in order to provide individuals and families with a sense of privacy and encourage community-building in the days following a disaster.” Because you never know…

L41

We saw this baby at the preview a few months back and architect Michael Katz and designer Janet Corne did an awesome job of it. It’s one of the feature displays at IDSWest, a marvel of modern living on a diminutive scale. Think top of the line appliances, a gourmet kitchen, a full projection screen and an outdoor patio all stuffed inside a 220 sqft micro-home conceived for a generation that understands full well that small is beautiful. The L41 is factory built and “move-in ready”.

Studio North

One of the most exciting areas on the IDSwest show floor is Studio North: a participation option for emerging design firms. This year look for the distinct handmade tile of Edgewater Studio and the sculptural painting work of our pal Dina Gonzales Mascaro (interview).

Tom Dixon’s Pop Up Bar

Straight from the UK and presented by Inform Interiors, the Tom Dixon Pop-Up Bar is set to be the hottest spot to meet up on the IDSwest floor. In true Tom Dixon style, it will have a dockside atmosphere decked out with Jack Lights, Slab tables and Fluoro chairs. Etch lighting will provide ambience overhead and Etch candleholders will sit along the bar counter, where signature cocktails will be served to match.

We hope to see many readers at the opening night party and throughout the weekend!