2026 IDS Toronto
Registered Members: “Meet the Interior Designers” Program |
Students and Interns: IDS 2026 BID Design Justice Charrette
ARIDO will be returning to IDS Toronto in January 2026 and will have a presence on the show floor. ARIDO’s involvement with the show is to continue educating the public on the importance of consumers hiring and working with a Registered Interior Designer.
For 2026, ARIDO will use its presence at the show to elevate the current CREDENTIALS MATTER campaign to continue its responsibility in advocating for the value of interior design and the importance of credentials in Ontario.
Registered members who didn’t get a chance to get their CREDENTIALS MATTER assets yet, the photo booth will be available once again at the ARIDO booth.
Calling Registered members: “Meet the Interior Designers” Program
During Public Days at the show on January 24 & 25, 2026, ARIDO will connect the public with Registered Interior Designers. During the “Meet the Interior Designers” program, consumers can connect with ARIDO Registered members to better understand how the services of an interior designer that holds the credentials in Ontario can impact their lives and space.
We are looking for Registered members to support this program on both Saturday, January 24th and Sunday, January 25 at the show in Toronto at the MTTC center. ARIDO will provide access to the show on public days and showcase those volunteering members to the public through pre-event promotion by both ARIDO and the IDS show.
Registered members interested in volunteering during Public Days at the show can sign up using this form. Please include a short bio and upload your headshot to enable ARIDO to showcase your involvement to the public in advance of the show.
ARIDO staff will hold a meeting with all volunteers in advance of the show to provide information and resources.
The deadline to sign up is December 31, 2025.
At last year’s Interior Design Show, Ali Merchant, ARIDO, Eyad Boukli, ARIDO, and Joanne Chan, ARIDO offered their expertise as part of the ‘Meet the Interior Designer’ activation.
IDS 2026 BID Design Justice Charrette
ARIDO is pleased to announce the return of the ARIDO BID Student Charrette. During trade days at IDS 2026, ARIDO will be running a BID Student Charrette in the ARIDO booth on January 22 and 23, 2026.
The Design Justice Charrette 2026 is an immersive, collaborative 2-day student design challenge hosted at the 2026 Interior Design Show (IDS) in Toronto. This program is designed and led in partnership between ARIDO, inspirED Learning Lab and Ojiibik.
This transformative event will bring together 50 emerging interior design students from diverse backgrounds and institutions across Ontario to tackle critical social and environmental challenges through an innovative art installation.
Over two intensive days, participants will engage in rapid prototyping, concept development, and presentation, fostering cross disciplinary collaboration under the guidance of intern and industry mentors. What makes this charrette unique is its explicit centering of design justice principles, focusing on equity, accessibility, and community empowerment in built environments.
The expected outcome is to generate 10 high-impact, art installations shared on the floor with the design community, industry leaders, exhibitors and the public – sparking conversation and demonstrating the power of design for social good.
BID Student Applications – EXTENDED DEADLINE – DEC. 23rd
This is a preliminary call out for 4th year ARIDO BID Student members wishing to participate. BID Students can register using this link. The deadline to register is December 23, 2025. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
All BID Students who apply to participate in this Charrette will be invited to a Draft Day Event. Those who are selected will be required to participate in person during this two-day Charrette.
Charrette Mentors – Learning from Experienced Emerging Professionals
EXTENDED DEADLINE – DEC. 23rd
ARIDO Intern Members can volunteer and guide teams through the charrette process in-person during this two day event. They bring real-world expertise, technical knowledge, and strategic thinking to help participants succeed.
Mentors serves as coach, technical advisor, and creative sounding board throughout the two days. They’ll help you navigate challenges, refine ideas, and push your thinking beyond the obvious solutions.
Mentor Responsibilities
- Facilitate team collaboration and creative problem-solving
- Provide technical guidance on materials and construction
- Offer critical feedback during concept development
- Help teams stay on schedule and meet deliverables
- Connect teams with relevant IDS exhibitors and resources
Mentor Applications
Volunteer interns with design experience who wish to serve as charrette mentors, can apply using this link. Intern Mentors will volunteer to provide guidance and expertise throughout the process. The deadline to register is December 23, 2025.
