Photo credit: LAAB Collective
Photo credit: LAAB Collective

Index-Design and Ivanhoé Cambridge Invite You to the First-Ever Défi-Design Event Focusing on Office Spaces

Défi-Design, an innovative concept that generates real-time ideas, will be live-streamed on May 21st to registered participants free of charge. The event, initiated by Index-Design, LAAB Collective, and Körnelius and presented by Ivanhoé Cambridge, is highly anticipated in the design, real estate, and business communities. Spanning 180 minutes, the first challenge will focus on work environments in office buildings, as companies navigate the return to the office in a post-pandemic world where work dynamics have been significantly disrupted.

Artopex ,showroom Montreal, Lemay
Photo credit: Artopex
Artopex, showroom Montreal, Lemay
Photo credit: Artopex

Urban Centres’ Lifeblood

Business communities in major urban centres serve as the economic and cultural lifeblood of downtown areas. For building owners, managers, developers, and investors, the gradual return to the office presents both opportunities and challenges. They need to prepare in accordance with government and public health protocols, while also addressing the changing preferences of employees who have embraced hybrid work arrangements.

Artopex, showroom Montreal, Lemay
Photo credit: Artopex
Artopex, showroom Montreal, Lemay
Photo credit: Artopex

Reinventing Spaces

Each Défi-Design event will be live-streamed for free, featuring three teams composed of professionals, ideators, creators, architects, and designers. These teams will generate ideas to (re)develop spaces, review their functions, and meet new user needs, expectations, and aspirations. After 120 minutes, each team will present its space and layout solutions to a jury consisting of local influencers and personalities actively involved in revitalizing downtown cores.

During the event, the design teams will propose creative strategies and solutions in real-time to redevelop a space that will be unveiled on the morning of the event. The winning team will have the opportunity to implement their concept and transform the space for the owner or tenant.

The event is open to anyone with an interest in the transformation of living spaces and cities, requiring prior registration.

Artopex, showroom Montreal, Lemay
Photo credit: Artopex
Artopex, showroom Montreal, Lemay
Photo credit: Artopex

Putting Users First

The Défi-Design concept aims to promote agility and innovation by applying collective creativity to specific issues related to space, layout, and corporate culture. It treats space as a service that is desirable, functional, and practical for the user. Défi-Design adopts a “design-thinking” approach to create new value propositions for companies, demystifying the creative process while delivering an entertaining and inspiring live performance.

Office space planning
Photo credit: Raj Rana_Unsplash
Office space planning
Photo credit: Raj Rana_Unsplash

Partnering in Promising Innovations

Ivanhoé Cambridge, the first presenting partner of the concept, is proud to participate in the inaugural edition of Défi-Design. Annik Desmarteau, Vice President, Offices, Quebec, expressed their excitement, stating, “As a major property owner in downtown Montreal, it is an opportunity for us to draw on local knowledge to inspire our ongoing thought process about collaborative, collective workspaces. Our office buildings serve as idea labs that we make available to local talent, enabling us to amplify and disseminate innovative office space concepts in collaboration with our partners”.

Défi-Design : Retour au bureau
Photo credit: Carl Robichaud, Creative Director
Défi-Design: Retour au bureau
Photo credit: Carl Robichaud, Creative Director

Source: V2com newswire