10 must-see architecture and design events to check out this January

With 2024 in the rear window (don't miss Archinect's Year in Review series with the biggest stories), now is a good time to look forward to the upcoming architecture and design events in the new year.

From the roster of current and upcoming events listed on Bustler, here is a brief curated selection of recommendations worth seeing this January.

UPCOMING EVENTS

DesignTO Festival 2025 | January 24 – February 2, Toronto

"Celebrating 15 years of impact, DesignTO brings people together to design a better future that’s sustainable, just, and joyful. As Canada’s largest non-profit design festival, the 10-day event features 100+ free events and exhibitions, both online and in-person, across Toronto. Most events and exhibitions are free, but some require an RSVP or purchased tickets. All window installations are viewable from the outdoors."

The Interior Design Show | IDS 2025 | January 23–26, Toronto

"The Interior Design Show celebrates and promotes the best in global and Canadian design, from emerging designers to legacy brands. [...] On Thursday 23 and Friday 24 January, the Show is open for industry professionals, with a full seminar program, networking opportunities and the biggest industry party on Thursday night where everyone is welcome. On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January, we open our doors to the public and design lovers can enjoy the beautiful exhibition and meet renowned Canadian designers speaking on the main stage through our Keynote program, which is included with show access."

Maison&Objet Paris | January 16–20, Paris

"With the inspirational theme Sur/Reality, Maison&Objet and Peclers Paris are exploring, in January, the prolific vitality of a new Surrealism. It feeds on fantasy, distortion, randomness, humour and poetry to construct a narrative of new creative landscapes and of productions that are as surprising as they are desirable. At the show, this trend takes shape in unexpected objects and dreamlike settings that invite us to let go, and addresses consumers' newfound appetite for the strange and the surprising."

Oslo Design Fair 2025 | January 26–28, Oslo

"Oslo Design Fair is Norway's largest trade fair and most important meeting place for the design- and interior industries. Through workshops, talks and exhibitions, the Fair will showcase close to 400 exhibitors and the best of Norwegian craft and design."

ADFF:Mumbai - Architecture & Design Film Festival 2025 | January 9–12, Mumbai

"STIR is bringing the Architecture & Design Film Festival, New York to Mumbai from 9–12 January, 2025. The world’s largest film festival dedicated to architecture and design will showcase 20+ films from 11 countries over four immersive days at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai."

ADFF:Chicago - Architecture & Design Film Festival 2025 | January 29 – February 2, Chicago

"The Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF) is America’s largest film festival devoted to the creative spirit of architecture and design. Our curated films and panel discussions provide unique perspectives about the process behind architectural, graphic, and product design, urban and environmental issues, architectural photography, historic preservation, and much more. Our goal is to identify films with impassioned, human stories that appeal to a sophisticated design audience and those with a general interest in architecture and design."

ONGOING EVENTS

Visible Vault: Open Collections Storage | Ongoing, Washington, D.C.

"Visible Vault: Open Collections Storage showcases a broad range of artifacts from the Museum's permanent collection, highlighting America's architectural and design heritage.  The exhibition provides visitors with a unique opportunity to engage with significant historical objects that were previously unavailable to the public due to their size, scope, and material. This exhibition is a testament to the Museum’s commitment to preserving and sharing the fascinating narratives of the world we design and build."

Meditations in Glass | Until February 3, Palm Springs

"Meditations in Glass presents selections from the museum’s permanent collection, mixing pieces by well-known contemporary artists and designers, both those who work in glass occasionally and artists whose careers have focused on the medium. Artists and designers included in the exhibition are Masahiro Asaka, Michael Aschenbrenner, Larry Bell, Lynda Benglis, Cini Boeri and Tomu Katayanagi, Charles Butcher, Fernando and Humberto Campana, Nicole Chesney, Jim Dine, Mel Douglas, Mildred Howard, Karen LaMonte, Beth Lipman, Marvin Lipofsky, Jessica Loughlin, Flora Mace and Joey Kirkpatrick, Richard Whiteley, and Christopher Wilmarth."

To Build Law | Until May 25, Montreal

"To Build Law, the forthcoming documentary conceived by Francesco Garutti and directed by Joshua Frank, will follow bplus.xyz (b+) and station.plus (s+) as they establish a policy lab, HouseEurope!, to propose industry reforms and shift cultural norms. To Build Law will closely observe the b+ team during various phases of conceptualization and development of a European Citizens’ Initiative meant to incentivize renovation over demolition and new construction. Through this bottom-up legal tool, architecture becomes an open process of establishing partners, drafting legislation, filming stories, strategizing communications, coordinating campaigns, collecting votes, and building a movement."

Restless Architecture. Diller Scofidio + Renfro | Until March 16, Rome

"Curated by one of the world’s most famous and influential design studios, which is also featured, the exhibition investigates movement as an internal property of architecture: buildings that change their configuration, have mobile elements and swell or turn to welcome visitors."

Do you have an architecture or design event you want to promote? Submit it to our event calendar via Bustler for review and a potential feature.