After a couple of disappointing years at IDS, one might be forgiven for wondering if the show had lost its relevance to the design community. There are only so many plasma screen TVs, sub-zero fridges and marginal doodads one can look at without getting the feeling that your brain is going to explode out of sheer boredom.
However, this year’s display at Toronto’s Direct Energy Centre, propped up many a wilting hope. On view were clever ideas aplenty from students and established designers alike, trendy objects that actually had some depth to them, plus one-of-a-kind incidental pieces that were alternately intriguing and amusing. Here, in no particular order, is our pick of the glitter: