Reflecting on KBIS 2023

Work of Design

Feb 9

Key Takeaways for Kitchen, Bath and Interior Designers

As an NCIDQ Certified Interior Designer and a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer (CMKBD), attending industry tradeshows is a crucial part of staying up-to-date with industry trends and advancing your skills. Recently, Andrew and I had the opportunity to attend the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) (along with the Las Vegas Market, the International Builders Show, and more), and I was thoroughly impressed by the wealth of information and inspiration available and the level of detail and colourful inspiration. In this post, I'll be sharing my key takeaways from the event and how they can benefit fellow interior designers and kitchen and bath designers.

Please be sure to scroll down to see my gallery of the hottest trends that I spotted.

Our last industry tradeshow visit was in February 2020 at Design and Construction week. While there was a lot to see and do, I found navigating the show three years ago difficult because, due to an ongoing traumatic sports injury at the time, I was physically unable to keep pace. I have some documentation of what I saw, but pain is an invisible beast to battle and in combination with an early quarantine due to COVID-19, I can honestly say that I lost my mojo.

It’s been a lot of energy and work to get well again, and I was eagerly anticipating seeing colleagues, trends, and returning to public speaking. KBIS 2023 did not disappoint me.

Here are the highlights.

Latest design trends:
One of the highlights of the tradeshow was getting a sneak peek at the latest design trends in the market. From bold patterns to statement lighting fixtures, there was no shortage of innovative ideas that can be incorporated into our projects. The biggest trend: Colour pop everywhere. It was fantastic!
New product releases:
The tradeshow was a perfect platform for manufacturers and suppliers to showcase their latest products. It was exciting to see how these new offerings can enhance the functionality and aesthetics of our designs. Some of the biggest new products that I saw were by Häffle. Check out our Instagram Reels for what took my breath away.
Networking opportunities:
KBIS provided an excellent platform for connecting with other professionals in the industry. I was able to have meaningful conversations with suppliers, manufacturers, and fellow designers, which will surely lead to new business opportunities and collaborations in the future. It was great to meet new colleagues (silver) and reacquaint our old friends (gold) — some I hadn’t seen in well over five years.
Continuing education:
The seminars and workshops offered at the event were extremely valuable for my professional development. From learning about new design techniques to staying updated on industry best practices, I left feeling inspired and more knowledgeable about the field. Everyone should check out the Voice from the Industry (VFTI) sessions. I have the privilege of working with the NKBA in new learning and certification initiatives, and, along with 10 other SME’s, three years of hard work resulted in launching the new Certified Kitchen and Bath Designer (CKBD) Pathway to Certification. A truly reimagined route to be proud of.

It was the National Kitchen and Bath Association's (NKBA) 60th Anniversary, and there were many incredible and outstanding events, like the Design Industry Awards where Cool and the Gang played a few sets live (what a surprise!) and The Bash.

The 2024 dates for these shows are listed below:

KBIS & IBS 2024 - February 27 - 29, 2024
Las Vegas 2024 Winter Market - January 28 – February 1, 2024

As a side note, to anyone at LV Market who may pick this up, being co-located with KBIS and the other co-located shows has an incredible advantage for our business and our clients. We highly recommend that this be a continued goal.

In conclusion, attending KBIS was an incredibly enriching experience. I would highly recommend it to any interior designer looking to stay ahead of the curve and further their skills. By being exposed to the latest design trends, new products, and networking opportunities, we can enhance our projects and take our careers to the next level.

Written by Corey Klassen, CMKBD NCIDQ IIDA