In less than a month, some of the international design community's most prolific designers will be in Toronto participating in the IDS 09 AZURE TRADE TALKS SERIES...here's an update on what they've recently been up to... at December's DesignMiami Fair, Antwerp-based design firm, STUDIO JOB introduced a new collection, Bavaria. The limited edition furniture series is made from intricate brightly coloured marquetry and was inspired by traditional handpainted German furniture. Typically known for their dark sensibility, this new series is strangely and at first glance seemingly, cheerful. Farm animals, implements, crops and produce are all happily portrayed - the only thing missing is the farmer...the next chapter in their evolving narrative...BEN VAN BERKEL OF UNSTUDIO (NETHERLANDS) has been busy as well with the recent opening of the Luxury Shopping Plaza 'Star Place' in Kaohsiung, Taiwan; the upcoming opening of the Music Theater of the University in Graz, Austria as well as a chair for Walter Knoll called Mychair...and for those of you who are bilingual or interested in brushing up on your french, PARISIAN DESIGNER CHRISTOPHE DELCOURT will be interviewed and interpreted on the main stage by writer/curator Emmanuelle Vieira accompanied by a multimedia presentation... join us at the KRUPS STAGE on February 5th to hear more...each of these talks is recognized for CEU CREDIT by the Interior Design Continuing Education Council (IDCEC). Participating associations include ARIDO, ASID, IDC, IDEC AND IIDA.

...in addition, the IDS 09 TRADE SEMINARS are all accredited. Each of the 8 seminars has one educational hour that is worth one CEU point. Learn and earn CEU CREDIT for every educational session that you attend on Trade Day... at a very reasonable cost...topics include Colour Trends, Lighting Fundamentals, Bath and Kitchen Trends, Luxury versus Sustainability, Green Design, LEED and Paint, Global Design Trends and Green Residential Architecture...limited space is available. Register now to get your seminar(s) of choice...

...and finish off the day inspired and with a few laughs among friends...PECHA KUCHA (Japanese for chit chat) presents 8 interesting and diverse designers (including Industrial Designer PATTY JOHNSON; LINDA MILROD of the AGO TRANSFORMATION; artist CLINT ROENISCH, and more) all hosted by FLARE MAGAZINE'S ARREN WILLIAMS... who will each talk about their inspiration in 20 slides, and spending only 20 seconds on each one.

...and don't miss aMUSE, the IDS 09 OPENING NIGHT PARTY ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5...Toronto's first design party of the year...GROUP TICKET RATES ARE AVAILABLE...and register here for IDS 09 Trade day, if you haven't yet...