Each year, the industry trailblazers make up the IBS Education speaker lineup. The 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) lineup is no exception. With 120+ sessions to choose from, spanning design, sales, marketing, construction, technology and strategy, attendees get front-row access to the people shaping the future of the industry.
Meet Dawn Duhamel
One of these voices is Dawn Duhamel, CSP, whose command of consumer behavior, design trends and real-world builder experience makes her an essential guide for anyone looking to step confidently into what’s next.
Dawn brings a career’s worth of panoramic perspective. As Vice President of Business Development at DTJ Design, she helps lead one of the country’s most recognized and integrated architecture, planning and landscape architecture firms. Her previous roles span major builders across the country, including Standard Pacific Homes, John Laing Homes and Pulte Homes. She’s also a respected national speaker, a past Chair of the Denver Professional Women in Building Council, a former MAME Awards Chair and the Denver SMC’s “Person of the Year” honoree.
Her experience sits at the intersection of design vision and market reality, giving her the rare ability to translate consumer desires, cultural shifts and new-product innovation into strategic, actionable guidance for builders.
Dawn’s IBS Education Session
Hear from Dawn in her session, An Insider Guide to 2026 Design & Product Trends.
What the Session Is About
The product universe at IBS can feel like a fast-moving current. Dawn and her co-presenters are some of the Builders’ Show expert navigators, distilling the must-see products, finishes and innovations of 2026 before you ever step onto the exhibit floor. This talk-show-style session is rapid, visual and filled with insights drawn directly from meetings with national suppliers and manufacturers.
Attendees will discover the societal shifts driving these new products, the consumer preferences shaping them and why these trends matter for builders aiming to stand out in a competitive market.
What You’ll Learn
Attendees will walk away with clarity on:
- The top design and societal trends influencing 2026 products.
- New colors capturing consumer attention and the reasons behind them.
- The “why” behind new product launches and how to turn that knowledge into a competitive advantage.
Ways to integrate product and design trends into models and speculative homes.
Dawn’s Take on IBS, the Industry & What’s Ahead
Hear about the Builders’ Show from Dawn.
What are you most looking forward to at IBS?
I look forward to uncovering standout products from longtime favorites while discovering fresh innovations from new exhibitors. And, as always, I’m energized by reconnecting with colleagues I see only once a year at the show.
Dawn’s advice for first-time attendees:
Plan with purpose. Choose your sessions first, then map out your time on the show floor between them. Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. And don’t be shy about using the floor map to create a strategy.
Best place to be at IBS?
Everywhere. Product booths buzzing with invention, education sessions sparking new thinking and awards celebrations honoring excellence. There’s something to absorb in every corner.
Most interesting 2026 industry trend?
Yet to be determined. The fun, she says, is in discovering it.
What shifts will define the next five years?
Affordability will steer the industry. Builders will continue working to provide choice and personalization without overburdening budgets for either themselves or their buyers.
Biggest challenge right now?
Affordability, hands down.
Ready to Learn from Dawn in Person?
Register for an IBS Expo+Education Pass to attend Dawn’s session and choose from 120+ education sessions designed to elevate your business, sharpen your strategies and expand your expertise.