IDS West: Our Picks for the Best of IDS Vancouver 2025

September is unofficially design month in Vancouver—it’s firmly anchored on two sides with our own design awards on September 11 and, of course, the biggest design show in Western Canada: IDS Vancouver. The show is well worth the visit: you’ll spot trends from the floor while you take in talks on big-picture thinking in the design world—along with some inspiration for your next home project.

Stay a While

The central feature this year, Night and Day, takes a dive into the hard-working field of hotel design, with designers creating on-floor activations that capture what makes these hospitality spaces so compelling. Watch for WL Design 25 winner Capella Design’s take on the accessible hotel room—the firm has made its name with design-forward mobility products: beautiful, functional pieces like side tables and shower stools that work for everybody. “Anyone can use a side table that’s more comfortable,” Capella Design co-founder Kaly Ryan told Vancouver magazine earlier this year. “[Co-founder Patrick Glinski’s] 13-year-old daughter uses his shower seat more than anyone in the house. We think about accessibility as being a binary, but it’s not.”

Western Living Saturday

We’re back on stage again this year, hosting talks with Vancouver designer and Netflix star Karin Bohn (top) on designing a life—and business—with purpose, and Toronto designer Paolo Ferrari (above), who’s forecasting how hospitality spaces might evolve in a time of uncertainty: how can designscapes provide hope, reassurance and an essential dose of awe? Plus, don’t miss fan-favourite Kelly Deck of Kelly Deck Design, live from the main stage on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Light the Way

Get into lighting trends this year—literally. “Illuminate” features 10-metre-long tunnels of architectural scaffolding that will be an immersive experience to tour and will spotlight releases from 10 different brands; watch for the latest from Vancouver-based A-N-D—whose team sits on our Designers of the Year judging panel this year—as well as Tom Dixon, Kuzco and more.

Live from Vancouver, It’s Aly Velji!

You’ll spot Calgary designer Alykhan Velji in a sound booth by Bureau on the show floor, capturing live interviews with IDS Vancouver speakers for the second season of his Inspire podcast. (If you haven’t listened yet, get into season 1 now: Velji has smart discussions with very cool people that explore and celebrate the creative process.)

And Don’t Miss These Booths

If there’s one exhibitor you should always look out for, it’s Lock and Mortice. The Abbotsford-based furniture designer has long been at the forefront of sustainable booth design (every piece of their space is reclaimed after the show, often being incorporated into furniture designs). Last year, their display was interactive, too, with a build-your-own miniature set of their latest designs. And  for an Instagram-ready experience, head to Montauk: they’ll have something bold and colourful, perfect for a selfie or three.

IDS Vancouver runs September 25 to 28 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.