Wednesday, October 7
Day 1
- 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Exhibition
- 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM · Conferences
- 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM · Lunch / Bistro
- 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM · Cocktail / Networking
Explore the full Expo Design 2026 program, including conferences, key moments, and activities across multiple stages.
Wednesday, October 7
Thursday, October 8
Philippe Hébert – Lightbeans
Discover how the next generation of designers visualize, select, and integrate materials into their projects.
Christian Marin – Dorr Industries
Marc-Antoine Bélisle
Discover Expo Design's guest lectures and exhibitor presentations.
Judive Jean-Gilles & Florence Morin-Laurin — Les Elles de la construction
Lecture in French with simultaneous translation into English.
Judive Jean-Gilles is Chair of the Board of Directors of Les Elles de la construction and President of Cygne Béton, a Québec company specializing in the design and manufacturing of concrete furniture and architectural elements. As co-founder of the company, she combines management, design, creativity, and entrepreneurship in a sector where material, precision, and on-site execution are at the heart of project quality. Committed to the recognition and professional development of women in the industry, she brings an entrepreneurial, hands-on, and strategic perspective.
Florence Morin-Laurin is President of FML Consultation and a member of the Board of Directors of Les Elles de la construction. With a background in construction, she has evolved into project management, business development, and strategy for companies in the construction, real estate, and professional services sectors. Her work focuses on structuring growth, highlighting expertise, and developing lasting business relationships. At Les Elles, she brings this strategic perspective to the service of women's visibility and their full participation in the evolution of the industry.
Presented by Les Elles de la construction, this lecture highlights the concrete contribution of women and diverse teams in the building, design, and construction industry. For over 13 years, Les Elles de la construction has supported the recognition, professional development, and visibility of women in an industry that remains largely male-dominated.
In design projects, the quality of the spaces delivered depends as much on the richness of exchanges within the team as on the individual talent of its members. When professionals with complementary profiles work together, they draw upon a broader range of references, experiences, and sensibilities — which translates concretely into better creativity, more effective problem-solving, and a closer alignment with the real needs of occupants.
Through examples drawn from their practice, Judive Jean-Gilles and Florence Morin-Laurin illustrate how diversity of profiles, roles, and viewpoints directly influences design decisions and the overall performance of projects. Their insights are grounded in concrete situations where a different perspective made it possible to identify an issue, defuse a blind spot, or open an unexpected creative avenue.
A lecture rooted in the realities of the field, inviting design professionals to reflect on the composition and dynamics of their project teams, as well as the role women play in the decisions that shape our spaces, our job sites, and our living environments.
Marie-Chantal Milette — Kryptonie
Lecture in French with simultaneous translation into English.
Marie-Chantal Milette is among the rare colour specialists in the world. A graduate of The Creative Circus in graphic design and advertising, she also studied under Leatrice Eiseman, director of the Pantone® Color Institute and a global authority on colour psychology.
Known for having successfully predicted Pantone's Colour of the Year on multiple occasions, she is today a sought-after speaker and trainer. She works with organizations such as Sico, Formica, L'Oréal, Costco, Logiflex, Artopex, and the APDIQ, and has already raised awareness of the power of colour among thousands of professionals. Through her lectures, she conveys a unique vision that transforms our way of seeing, understanding, and using colour.
What are the currents that will shape the spaces, products, and behaviours of tomorrow? Through an accessible and inspiring analysis, colour expert Marie-Chantal Milette will present the five major trends that will define 2027. Emerging colours, rising materials, new processes, and changing consumer expectations: this lecture offers a concrete preview of the future to help design professionals make better decisions today. Leave with tangible action points you can integrate into your projects right now.
Jenchieh Hung & Kulthida Songkittipakdee — HAS design and research
Lecture in English with simultaneous translation into French.
Lecture presented by Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS design and research. Presented at Expo Design by Kulthida Songkittipakdee.
Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee are world-renowned architects based in Bangkok, leading the Thai firm Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS design and research, widely known as HAS design and research. The practice has earned a strong international reputation for its innovative design approach and commitment to sustainability.
Notable projects include Museum of Modern Aluminum Thailand, Simple Art Museum, High Line Bangkok, Aluminum Grotto and Public Ground, The Glade Bookstore, Forest Villa, and Casa de Zanotta.
Their work has been widely recognized through numerous international honors. The firm was the first Thai firm to be listed in the Wallpaper* Architects' Directory in the United Kingdom and featured in the Louis Vuitton City Guide Bangkok in France. The studio has also received prestigious awards such as the Créateurs Design Award in France and the Golden Trezzini Award in Russia.
In addition, they have been invited as jury members for leading international platforms, including the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) – RIBA International Awards: Asia Pacific Awards and the Grands Prix du Design Awards, marking a significant milestone as among the first architects from Thailand to receive such distinctions.
Beyond professional practice, Professors Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee have been recognized with lifetime honorary professorships and currently serve as professor/visiting professor at Tongji University and Chulalongkorn University. Through both their built work and academic engagement, they continue to shape the architectural discourse and inspire future generations.
Chameleon Architecture: Designing for a World in Transition reflects our firm, Jenchieh Hung + Kulthida Songkittipakdee / HAS design and research's ongoing inquiry into how architecture can adapt, transform, and respond to an ever-changing global context. In a time shaped by environmental uncertainty, social shifts, and technological acceleration, architects and professors Jenchieh Hung and Kulthida Songkittipakdee approach design not as a fixed solution, but as a living system. Our work explores flexibility, modularity, and cultural sensitivity as essential tools for resilience. Like a chameleon, architecture must continuously negotiate between permanence and change—blending into its context while retaining a distinct identity.
Jean-Luc Vincent, Benoit Meunier & Afram Karazivan — IES-Montréal
Lecture in French with simultaneous translation into English.
Lecture presented by an IES-Montréal panel of experts.
A graduate of UQAM in Environmental Design and LC-certified by the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions, Jean-Luc Vincent has accumulated over 40 years of lighting expertise. A specialist in developing innovative technological solutions, he has collaborated with North America's leading manufacturers to support building professionals in their projects.
Deeply engaged within the Illuminating Engineering Society, he has notably served as president of the IES-Montréal section on two occasions and acted as vice-president for District 1 at the national level.
A lighting professional with 43 years of experience, Benoit Meunier has in-depth expertise in lighting design and solutions adapted to diverse environments. Holder of the Lighting Certification (LC) and a member of the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES Montréal), he has contributed to the evolution of lighting practices by combining performance, safety, and energy efficiency.
Throughout his career, Benoit has also been committed to education and training, passing on his knowledge and supporting the development of new generations of professionals in the field.
Having grown up in a family retail lighting business, Afram had the opportunity to work in lighting product manufacturing and design before joining the EDP agency in Montréal. With over 18 years of experience in specification, he has had the opportunity to collaborate with architects, designers, and engineers on several major award-winning lighting projects in Québec.
Designing quality lighting requires strategic decisions with lasting consequences. In this presentation, IES-Montréal will give the floor to a panel of seasoned experts to discuss the realities of the field.
From theory to practice, this group of experts will explore critical aspects of interior and exterior design. The goal? To identify the often-overlooked variables that influence the success of a concept. Join us for a candid discussion on the sound choices to prioritize in this ever-evolving technological world.
Mardi Najafi & Joanne Chan — SDI Design
Lecture in English with simultaneous translation into French.
Lecture presented by Mardi Najafi and Joanne Chan — SDI Design.
Mardi Najafi is Principal and Chief Creative Officer at SDI Design. With over two decades of experience in retail environment design, Mardi is recognized for his strategic vision and ability to create retail spaces that align brand identity, operational performance, and customer experience. He has led major international projects for leading brands across North America and beyond, working at the intersection of design, technology, and commerce.
Joanne Chan is Principal and Chief Innovation Officer at SDI Design. A specialist in digital ecosystems and technology integration in retail, Joanne explores how AI, data, and omnichannel strategies are transforming the relationship between brands and their customers. Her work sits at the intersection of innovation, strategic design, and the transformation of commercial formats.
North American retail is entering a new era shaped by shifting consumer expectations, economic uncertainty, digital acceleration, and the renewed importance of physical experience. As brands rethink how stores function, connect, and perform, retail environments are becoming more agile, experiential, and operationally intelligent than ever before.
This presentation explores the major forces redefining retail across North America and beyond — from omnichannel integration and AI-driven personalization to evolving store formats, workforce challenges, and changing definitions of value. Through industry insights, emerging case studies, and design-led perspectives, the lecture examines how retailers can remain relevant, resilient, and competitive in a rapidly transforming market.
Attendees will gain a forward-looking understanding of the trends shaping the future of retail and the opportunities emerging for brands willing to rethink the role of the physical store.
Stéphane Bernier, Claire Tousignant, Jacynthe Leduc, Raphaëlle Parenteau & Tony Babinski
Lecture in French with simultaneous translation into English.
Panel moderator: Stéphane Bernier. Panelists: Claire Tousignant, Jacynthe Leduc, Raphaëlle Parenteau, Tony Babinski.
With several decades of experience, Stéphane Bernier leads the retail environments practice at Ædifica. Recognized for his ability to translate brand identity into high-value spatial experiences, he has led major projects for local, North American, and international brands — in Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. His approach, at the intersection of architecture, experience design, and brand strategy, aims to create environments that generate engagement, desirability, and measurable results.
Director and partner at MASSIVart, a Montreal-based firm active internationally in cultural strategy, public art, and place-based experience creation, Claire Tousignant designs integrated strategies that bring together artistic vision, business objectives, and long-term impact. She works with real estate developers and institutional partners, orchestrating complex projects in which design, production, and execution form a cohesive whole.
With more than two decades in the industry, Jacynthe Leduc leads creative development and global expansion strategy for the Garage and Dynamite brands at Groupe Dynamite Inc., with major rollouts across North America and Europe. Her portfolio includes prestigious corporate environments and award-winning international flagships, where she combines bold imagination, execution rigor, and environmental commitment.
With nearly 20 years of experience designing large-scale projects for clients in the corporate, cultural, institutional, and hospitality sectors, Raphaëlle Parenteau develops workplace strategies at Ædifica tailored to the new realities of work. Her collaborative approach, grounded in market intelligence, aims to create environments that precisely reflect the values and ambitions of each organization.
Tony Babinski works at the intersection of retail, architecture, and placemaking, specializing in shaping customer journeys that turn spaces into destinations. His projects include Adidas stores in New York, London, and China, the award-winning MuvBox in Times Square, a museum for the Ajax club in Amsterdam, and the JARDIN D'HIVER installation with Ædifica. He is also the author of the official history of Cirque du Soleil and co-author of Conversational Capital (Financial Times Press).
An experience-centred approach — storytelling, journey mapping, and attention to the human experience — has become a pillar of the most innovative design practices.
By looking beyond the functional and the technical, designers can place the experience at the heart of the project. Every decision then contributes to a coherent, meaningful journey — from concept to delivery.
Successful experiential design evokes profound reactions: surprise, wonder, a sense of belonging. Emotions that transcend trends and give rise to environments that last.
For architects and designers, an “experience-first” methodology also becomes a powerful tool. It clarifies intent, aligns stakeholders, and protects the integrity of the project against the inevitable trade-offs of budget and schedule.
Johannie Sirois-Paquette — Formica Canada
Johannie works with architects, designers, and fabricators in the selection and implementation of innovative and durable surfacing solutions.
This presentation explores how colour choices in commercial environments influence functionality, emotional impact, and user experience.
Cedrick McClish — Hettich
Biography coming soon.
FurnSpin turns furniture into a true experience with a 180° pivot that reveals, conceals, and transforms. Hettich outdoor kitchens push the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.
Christian Marin — Dörr Industries
With an international career spanning more than 25 years in sales and business development, Christian brings recognized expertise in B2B account management, specialized furniture, and consumer products.
Philippe Hébert — Lightbeans
Philippe Hébert is co-founder and CEO of Lightbeans, a Québec technology company transforming how materials are visualized and specified in architecture.
Discover how the next generation of designers visualizes, selects, and integrates materials into their projects using visualization tools and hyperrealistic 3D textures.
Marc-Antoine Bélisle — Dörr Industries
For the past 4 years at Dörr Industries, Marc-Antoine has supported clients in the specification and installation of Integra “FLUSH WALL DOOR” door systems.
Johannie Sirois-Paquette — Formica Canada
Johannie works with architects, designers, and fabricators in the selection and implementation of innovative and durable surfacing solutions.
Discover the latest FENIX® innovations as well as the newest Homapal® metal laminate developments: shimmering 3D patterns, satin copper finishes, and inspiring surfaces for elegant, durable designs.