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© 2025 Interior Design Educators Council
Chicago
Chicago, IL
“IDEC Chicago will be a celebration of design, research, and education.
Our Annual Conference brings you value to your dossier – it is a place to connect, network, forge partnerships in pursuits of knowledge about all things design.
Conference planning is in full swing and I would like to personally invite you to attend the 2017 IDEC Annual Conference in Chicago, March 8-12. We are developing a line of programming that will have something for everyone. Here is just a sneak preview of our current line-up so that you can start planning your trip.
I’m looking forward to seeing you in Chicago.”
Migette Kaup
IDEC President, 2016-2017
March 8-12, 2017
Dr. Richard Buchanan
Conference Agenda
Download copy of presentation schedule here.
Day 1
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Writers Workshop
Pre-Conference Opening Reception
Day 2
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Keynote address: Dr. Richard Buchanan, Surroundings and Environments: The Grounding of Interior Design in Research and Education
Weatherhead School of Management
Research and Scholarship Concurrent Presentations
Strolling Lunch with Exhibitor Sponsors and Student Poster Presentations
DINNER ON YOUR OWN
Pecha Kucha
Day 3
Friday, March 10, 2017
Strolling Breakfast with Exhibitor Sponsors and Professional Poster Presentations
New Members/ Grad Student Fellows Breakfast
Student Competition Display
Research and Scholarship Concurrent Presentations
LUNCH ON YOUR OWN
Research and Scholarship Concurrent Presentations
Network Happy Hour
DINNER ON YOUR OWN
Day 4
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Business Meeting
Regional Meetings
Town Hall Meeting/Open Forum
Local Tours
Service Outreach Charrette – Partnered with CJE Senior Life and the Weinberg Community for Senior Living in Chicago
President’s Dinner – Sponsored by IIDA
Day 5
Sunday, March 12, 2017
CIDA Workshop
Registration Fees
*Early Bird Rates extended to Wednesday, January 25, 2017.
Registration Type
Early Bird* | Regular | |
|---|---|---|
Member | $500 | $575 |
Non-Member | $625 | $725 |
Student | $250 | $325 |
One Day (Member) MUST select Thursday or Friday | $225 | |
One Day (Non-Member) MUST select Thursday or Friday | $275 |
Workshops and Tours
Prices | |
|---|---|
Workshops and Tours (Member/Non-Member) | $75/$90 |
CIDA Workshop | $400 |
Tours | TBD |
Mobile App
Navigate the event like a pro with the 2017 Annual Conference mobile app, powered by Core-apps
With the Annual Conference mobile app, you can:
- Stay organized with up-to-the-minute Exhibitor, Speaker, and Event information
- Receive important, real-time communications from IDEC
- Build a personalized schedule and bookmark exhibitors
- Take notes and download event handouts and presentations
- Rate and comment on the sessions you attend
- Locate sessions and exhibitors on the Westin River North venue map
- Find attendees and connect with your colleagues
- Stay in-the-know and join in on the conversation using the Social Media icon
Concerned about not having a strong signal at the event hotel during the conference? Anxious about the idea of your battery dying right in the middle of building your event schedule? Don’t worry – we have you covered! Our mobile app is native – which means an internet connection is not needed to access any of its impressive features. And to help keep your batteries fully charged, we are providing attendees with a free “Juice” bar to power up mobile devices. There will also be other areas throughout the conference that will allow you to plug-in and power up.
Hotel information
Hotel
The Westin Chicago River North
320 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
Phone: (312) 744-1900
Hotel Reservations: (866) 716-8108
King or Double Room Conference Rate: $189 plus applicable taxes (room wi-fi included in price)*
*Hotel cut-off date extended to Wednesday, February 15
Air Travel
Delta Air Lines is offering special discounted* airfares for IDEC 2017 Conference attendees traveling between the participating U.S. Airports and Chicago.
*Please note the following:
- Not all fare codes are eligible for a discount; fare rules determine eligibility
- Discounts vary, depending on the class of ticket purchased, and apply to round trip travel only.
- Not valid with other discounts, certificates, coupons or promotional offers.
- Name changes on the ticket are permitted at $200 USD/$200 CAD on select fares.
To take advantage of these Travel Discounts for flights to and from O’Hare and Midway airports in Chicago:
- Visit the www.delta.com web site and click the Advanced Search link
- Complete the required fields, and enter meeting code “NMPN3”
You may also call Delta Meeting Network® Reservations at 1.800.328.1111. (Please use the same phone number to make changes to an existing Delta Meetings Network reservation.) - On the Search Results page, verify the discount is applied. (reminder: not all fare codes are eligible).
Sponsors & Exhibitors
The IDEC Annual Conference draws on average more than 350 of the most influential interior design educators to its location – and Chicago will be no different. Be a part of the advancement of interior design education, scholarship, and service this year.
Click here to View the available opportunities and to see a list of current sponsors and exhibitors. If interested, please contact Kelly Smykal at ksmykal@idec.org or 847-686-2323.
Scholarship
The Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) invites educators from around the globe to submit their scholarship in the form of abstracts, creative scholarship, and/or Pecha Kucha presentations of creative teaching ideas. Submissions are double-blind reviewed by a panel of distinguished interior design educators who will recommend acceptance for presentation at the IDEC 2017 Annual Conference to be held in Chicago, Illinois, March 8-12, 2017.
We are no longer accepting submissions. Thank you to those who submitted! Email info@idec.org with questions.
Awards
The Interior Design Educator’s Council values the recognition of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service from both its own membership and the larger international design community. Awards will be presented at the 2017 Annual Conference.
- Service Award
- Merit Award
- Presidential Award
- Arnold P. Friedmann Educator of Distinction
- Teaching Excellence Award
- Scholarship Excellence Award
- Community Service Award
- Book Award
- Media Award
- Partners in Education Award
- Industry Merit Award
- Institutional Merit Award
Tours
Don’t Miss these unique Tour Opportunities!
Tour #1 – Frank Lloyd Wright by Bus – Registration CLOSED
Discover the neighborhood where Wright’s famed Prairie Style of architecture evolved. This tour includes bus transportation from the IDEC Host Hotel to Oak Park with commentary; a one-hour interior tour of Wright’s Home and Studio and a walking tour (3/4 mile) of the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District.
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Cost: $80 per person
(Water and snack provided on the bus)
Tour #2 – Historic Treasures of Culture and Commerce: Tour is Sold Out!
Learn about the great late 19th— and early 20th—century architectural landmarks of Michigan Ave. and State St., ranging from museums to department stores, skyscrapers to concert halls, including the Reliance Building, the Sullivan Center and the Chicago Cultural Center. After the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, Chicago was determined to become a great cultural—as well as commercial—metropolis, and this tour is a testament to that era’s ambitions. See buildings by Burnham, Sullivan, Holabird and Roche and other noted architects. Hear about the city’s architectural gems and the men and women who inspired them. The tour also touches on Millennium Park, Chicago’s exciting 21st Century design that’s at once park, outdoor gallery, garden and music venue. Highlights include interiors of dazzling beauty and startling originality of many impressive buildings including the Cultural Center, Macy’s on State and the Palmer House Hotel.
Date: Saturday, March 11
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (Please meet in the hotel lobby at 1 p.m. to walk with the group for one mile, or share a taxi to the Chicago Architecture Foundation Shop and Tour Center, 224 S. Michigan Ave.)
Cost: $20 per person
Thank you to IDEC Sponsors and Partners
Want To Become A Conference Sponsor?
To become an IDEC event partner, simply access the details in our Sponsor Packet for comprehensive information on our partnership opportunities.
