Collaborations with Dutch designers, an exhibit highlighting objects from Japan’s bustling capital, and a giant indoor treehouse are just some things you can expect to see at the 13th annual IDS Vancouver, which returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West building (1055 Canada Place) from September 28 to October 1.

The largest design event this side of the 49th parallel, this year’s fete features nearly 200 exhibitors and a slew of international names that will be speaking about—and showcasing—some of their most forward-thinking and influential works.

Among the big-name appearances are renowned Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon, who is best known for his playful, contemporary pieces; Italian designer Matteo Cibic, the creative mind behind eccentric projects like the Domsai terrarium and Rome’s TIM Towers, and London-based designer Camille Walala, whose vibrant patterns decorate buildings in Sydney, New York, and beyond.

Lifestyle blogger Kate Arends will also take the stage during the four-day event, as well as local designers Kelly Deck, Gaile Guevara, Karin Bohn, and Gillian Segal.

Of special note this year is the Mix: a brand new program that will see Dutch luminaries OS & OOS, Studio RENS, and Sabine Marcelis collaborating with Vancouver designers Brent Comber, Bobbie Burgers, and Martha Sturdy, respectively, on three separate installations. The three pairs will also conduct talks and special events under the Second Narrows Bridge and at Burgers’s and Sturdy’s studios leading up to and during the fete. Entry to these functions requires a wristband.

Other highlights include the Tokyo Exchange, the fourth instalment of IDS Vancouver’s international exhibit, which will feature objects like adjustable coloured-glass tables, veneer-and-natural-leather bags, and experimental sand clocks that, apparently, “[express] nothing” by Japanese designers; the Hay pop-up shop, an on-site boutique that will offer a range of goods from the quintessential Scandianvian brand; and the Tree House, an indoor passage spanning 50 to 100 feet that will explore the whimsical wood structure's transformation from organic to manmade matter.

Like in past IDS Vancouver iterations, Studio North will present custom and limited-edition creations by Canadian designers, including ecofriendly upcycled-chopstick startup ChopValue; Collect will display fine art by local and international names; and Prototype will debut innovative pieces, like pared-down chessboards and self-watering indoor gardens, in a competition among up-and-coming designers.

Clay & Glaze, an exhibit of modern handcrafted ceramics, and the District, an on-site marketplace where attendees can take home an assortment of home and décor goods, also make returns.

IDS Vancouver takes place at the Vancouver Convention Centre’s West building from September 28 to October 1. Tickets start at $14 and are now available online. For more information about the event, visit IDS Vancouver’s website.