Location: Vela A
Today's homes are increasingly sophisticated. Interior design, construction, lighting, shading, climate, security, entertainment, wellness, accessibility, and smart-home technology can no longer be considered independently. Yet designers, builders, renovators, and technology integrators often enter a project at different stages, sometimes without fully understanding what each profession brings to the table.
Moderated by Pam Hope, this multidisciplinary panel brings together representatives from Interior Designers of Canada (IDC), the Decorators & Designers Association of Canada (DDA), CEDIA, and the Canadian Home Builders' Association (CHBA), represented by a RenoMark renovator and custom home builder.
At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: Why do designers and technology integrators need each other, and how do they find the right professionals to work with?
Panelists will explore when integrators should become involved in a project, how designers and builders can identify qualified technology partners, and how integrators can build stronger relationships with the design and construction communities. The discussion will also look at how each profession can better understand the language, priorities, and responsibilities of the others, helping to reduce costly changes, protect the design vision, and create a more seamless experience for the client.
As more systems within the home become connected, collaboration also has implications for safety and privacy. Cybersecurity and digital safety are emerging considerations for residential design, making the integrator's expertise increasingly important in helping safeguard connected environments and the people who live in them.
Designers don't need to become technology experts, and integrators don't need to become interior designers. But they do need to understand each other's value, know when to bring one another to the table, and develop trusted professional networks before the next project begins.
This panel moves beyond the technology itself to explore how we build the collaborative relationships needed to design better, safer, smarter, and more human-centered homes.
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