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© 2025 Interior Design Educators Council
Thank you to IDEC Sponsors and Partners
Chicago, IL
Join us in Chicago for our 2025 Annual Meeting!
Online Registration has now Closed. On site registration will be available at the conference starting on Sunday, March 16, at 7:00 am.
We are planning an exciting and educational agenda. Hope you can join us.
March 16-19, 2025
Columbia College Chicago
REGISTRATION PRICING
Online Registration is now closed. On site registration will be available March 16 starting at 7:30 am.
Member:
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Non-Member:
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Student Member:
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Student Non-Member:
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One-Day Member (Choose your day):
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One-Day Non-Member (Choose your day):
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Retiree Member:
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Retiree Non-Member:
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CONFERENCE AGENDA
For the most up-to-date schedule, please refer to the conference app.
Sunday March 16, 2025
6:30 am – 8:00 am Breakfast on your own
8:00 am – 6:00 pm Registration Open, Student Center, Columbia College Chicago
11:30 am – 1:00 pm Lunch on your own
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Exhibits Open
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Abstract Presentations & Panels
5:00pm – 6:30 pm Welcome Reception with Exhibitors + JID 50th Celebration
Monday March 17, 2025
7:00 am – 4:30 pm Registration – Student Center, Columbia College Chicago
7:30 am – 8:30am Breakfast with Knowledge Networks Exhibitors
8:30am – 9:00am President’s Welcome Address
9:00am – 10:00 am Opening Keynote: The Perpetual Futurist, Developing Future-proofed Interior Design – Avinash Rajagopal
9:45am – 10:30am Exhibits Open
10:15am – 12:15pm Abstract Presentations & Panels
12:15pm – 1:45p Lunch on your own
1:45pm – 3:15pm Abstract Presentations & Panels
2:00pm – 4:30pm CV Review
3:00pm – 4:30pm Exhibits Open
3:30pm-4:30pm Fellows Forum
5:00pm – 9:30pm IDEC Promenade – Special Event at The Merchandise Mart
Tuesday March 18, 2025
7:00 am – 5:00 pm Regular Registration – Student Center, Columbia College Chicago
7:00 am – 9:15 am Student Day – Student Center, Columbia College Chicago
6:30 am – 8:00 am Breakfast on your own
8:00 am – 9:15 am Student Day kick-off with Exhibitors
8:00 am – 10:45 am Abstract & Panel Presentations
10:00 am – 1:30 pm Student Day at Fulton Market
11:15 am – 1:00 pm Keynote Luncheon and State of IDEC Presentation
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Keynote: Future Casting for Interior Design – Kay Sargent
1:15 pm – 5:30 pm Abstract & Panel Presentations
1:15 pm – 4:00 pm Poster Presentations
2:30 pm – 5:00 pm Service Charette
5:15 pm – 6:45 pm Student Day Closing Reception with Exhibitors and Faculty
7:00pm Dinner on your own
Wednesday March 19, 2025
6:30 am – 8:00 am Breakfast on your own
7:30 am – 10:00 am Registration
7:45 am – 11:15 am Exhibits Open
8:00 am – 11:30 am Abstract & Panel Presentations
8:30 am – 9:30 am Poster Presentations
11:45 am – 2:00 pm Closing Awards Luncheon
Preconference Sessions
Building VR environments for Interdisciplinary learning
This workshop invites participants to design an interactive learning space. This process has been developed, over two years, to serve an interdisciplinary public history program for pre-college students. The program is co-taught by history and design faculty, who believe that technology can expand the reach of the traditional museum. In addition to engaging in a love of history, students reveal a unique, hidden history of the city. Through spatial design processes, they share stories in a more inclusive manner.
The IDEC workshop simulates aspects of this learning process. It demonstrate the tools deployed and explain how each serves the economic, social and academic needs of the students. Digital modeling, graphic editing and the translation to multiple reality platforms will be demonstrated.
Sensory Processing, Cognitive Well-being and Neuro-inclusion
Work environments today need to be designed to be inclusive for all. The fact is that today we are living in a time of increased numbers and awareness about individuals with neuro-sensitives and special needs, such as ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia. In fact, 1 in 5 people is considered neurodivergent, but fewer than 50% know it. And when we design for the extreme, we benefit the mean, for everyone is impacted by sensory stimuli in the built environment, even neurotypicals. Spaces today need to reflect the diverse makeup of organizations. Not only is designing to be inclusive the right thing to do but there is also a compelling business case for it. In this workshop, we will explore design strategies for creating neuro-inclusive workspaces.
IDEC CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
The Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) invites educators and practitioners from around the globe to submit abstracts that explore and celebrate all facets of interior design, its teaching, and scholarship, including history, theory, practice, pedagogy, interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as diversity, equity & inclusion, social & environmental stewardship, or other topic/s of current and/or continuing relevance. Authors are invited to submit creative and/or scholarly abstracts that engage various modes of inquiry. However, all submissions are expected to contain original scholarship or ideas not previously presented at scholarly venues, including regional and previous IDEC conferences. Abstracts are blind-reviewed by qualified reviewers who score submissions to determine presentations for the IDEC 2025 Annual Conference to be held in Chicago, IL on March 16 – 19, 2025
CALL FOR ABSTRACT REVIEWERS
Separate from abstract submission, the review process is one of the most critical aspects in the development of a discipline’s body of knowledge and is incumbent on highly qualified scholars to evaluate research and teaching. To identify and engage such members, IDEC is looking for reviewers that span the entire membership to provide breadth and depth in the evaluation of conference abstracts related to all forms of scholarship. This open call invites all members to submit their credentials for consideration.
All reviews will occur in an online format. Reviewers will learn the process and their role through training materials and a required virtual information session.
Eligibility
- Willingness to review abstracts for the annual conference as needed
- Be an active IDEC member in good standing
- Complete a brief reviewer training (PowerPoint presentation)
- Attend a virtual information session
- Use rubrics provided to give high-quality feedback, helpful comments, and critique in a timely manner
Time Commitment
- Abstract reviews will occur in early October – early November.
If you are interested in serving IDEC through this valuable position, please complete the online form, whether you have reviewed it in the past or not, by September 1, 2025
Scholarship Categories
All abstracts submitted for review must be identified by one of the categories outlined below:
- Creative Scholarship: 1. Design as Concept 2. Design as Tangible Built Form
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL)
- Scholarship of Design Research (SODR)
- Scholarship of Design Practice (SODP)
Scholarship of Design Research (SDOR)
Abstracts explores the interior design discipline’s theoretical, historical, or practical aspects in practice and education. Scholarship of Design Research abstracts should identify the question or theory being explored, the framework of exploration, and conclusions drawn from the examination. The Scholarship presented is expected to have reached preliminary conclusions and implications that can be shared with the audience. Note that Undergraduate work is restricted from submitting under this category.
Creative Scholarship (CS)
Creative Scholarship must be original work of the designer(s)/artist(s). Interior Design educators or graduate students must have completed all projects within the last three years. Individuals whose work is accepted will be assigned a presentation time to share their work, relate their process, conceptual and theoretical thinking, and discuss the creation of their work with the conference attendees. All submissions must include an Appendix of up to five pages or images. Note that Undergraduate work is restricted from submitting under this category.
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL)
Abstracts emphasize teaching methods used in interior design courses. SoTL abstracts should identify the problem being addressed, the method or strategy used to address the problem, and an analysis of the outcomes (e.g., student work or learning). It is expected that the Scholarship presented will have reached preliminary conclusions or implications that can be shared with the audience. SoTL submissions must include an Appendix of up to five pages or images. This appendix should include supplemental materials, which may consist of (but is not limited to) project outlines, project statements, and examples of student outcomes if available. Note that Undergraduate work is restricted from submitting under this category.
Panel (P)
A 30–45-minute discussion panel with three or more panel members focused on the conference theme. Panel presentations encourage open discussion and opinions. A moderator will submit the abstract proposal and invite three to five presenters to participate. (No names of any participants should appear in the abstract). The topic should be one that would benefit from diverse opinions and open discussion. Panel presentations are 55 minutes in length. Typically, panelists make their presentations in the first 35 minutes, followed by 20 minutes of discussion with the audience. Note that Undergraduate work is restricted from submitting under this category.
Poster (PST)
Poster abstracts provide a forum for presenting material suitable to a graphic format or work that has not yet reached final conclusions. Posters will be presented in a shared setting, allowing the presenter to speak one on one with attendees. Note that this category is open for all submissions.
Abstracts submitted in this category must include a description of/or information concerning the proposed graphic presentation (medium, format, etc.). The poster must be 36″ H X 42″ W. Posters will be presented in an open forum at a designated time(s) during the conference. At least one presenter must be present during the designated time slot. Therefore, only one poster submission per person will be accepted. Please note that any abstract submitted in the poster category (except Undergraduate Student Posters), regardless of SOTL, SODR, or Creative Scholarship, must have an appendix.
Hotel Information
The Blackstone, Autograph Collection
636 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Conference Room Rate: $179/ per night
Stay in the heart of Chicago at The Blackstone, Autograph Collection!
IDEC reserves rooms at the host hotel for conference registrants. For access to the special rate at the Blackstone, please complete your conference registration. A link to reserve your hotel will accompany your registration confirmation.
