Olivia Botrie
Creative Director / Principal DesignerDart StudioOlivia Botrie is the creative director and principal designer of Dart Studio, a Toronto-based design firm known for full-service residential and commercial projects. With over a decade running complex builds from concept through construction, she brings a practitioner's eye to the real decisions — and missteps — that define how a project actually gets built. Her work has been featured in House & Home, Toronto Life, Rue, Homes & Gardens, and international publications. Before founding Dart in 2015, she studied at McGill University and the International Academy of Design in Toronto, and worked as a designer and stylist for HGTV and W Network. Today, Dart Studio operates with a multidisciplinary team delivering projects across North America and beyond.
The Great Specification Debate: Design Decisions Under Pressure
Designers don’t always agree and that’s what makes this session worth attending! In this fast-paced live debate, top designers go head-to-head on the
…Designers don’t always agree and that’s what makes this session worth attending! In this fast-paced live debate, top designers go head-to-head on the choices that define every kitchen: appliances, cabinetry, surfaces, lighting, and layouts.
Then the c
Designers don’t always agree and that’s what makes this session worth attending! In this fast-paced live debate, top designers go head-to-head on the choices that define every kitchen: appliances, cabinetry, surfaces, lighting, and layouts.
Then the curveballs hit. Budgets get cut. Products get backordered. Contractors push back. Clients suddenly change their minds. Designers must defend, rethink, or completely rebuild their specifications live on
Designers don’t always agree and that’s what makes this session worth attending! In this fast-paced live debate, top designers go head-to-head on the choices that define every kitchen: appliances, cabinetry, surfaces, lighting, and layouts.
Then the curveballs hit. Budgets get cut. Products get backordered. Contractors push back. Clients suddenly change their minds. Designers must defend, rethink, or completely rebuild their specifications live on stage.
Expect strong opinions, surprise pivots, audience reactions, and plenty of industry truth bombs as design ambition meets real-world constraints. Entertaining and strategic, see how they adapt, problem-solve, and still deliver exceptional spaces under pressure.
