Our 2024 DesignTO Calendar
There’s a ton to see at this year’s festival – here’s what you can’t miss.
With a stacked lineup of parties, panels and exhibits happening across Toronto, the 2024 DesignTO Festival is positioned to be a city-wide celebration of our exceptional design community. Beyond the festival’s highly anticipated Launch Party on January 19, we’ve curated a shortlist of programming to help you plan your visit.
Evolving Fragments
January 17-28, 2024
Issues Magazine Shop
Stop by this boutique magazine shop in Little Portugal to catch a vivid window installation courtesy of Toronto-based artist Mads Brimble. In the artist’s return to the DesignTO Festival, a selection of sculptures developed from a genetic algorithm are brought to life through laser-cut coloured acrylic, and are interlocked by hand to form captivating forms and patterns.
Art Intelligence: The Near Future of Art in Canada
January 18-28, 2024
Gallery 1313
Presented by Partial Gallery, this exhibition celebrates the near future of art in Canada as it becomes further impacted by social, cultural and technological factors. In addition to artworks by exciting names such as Hau Pham, Jason Zante and Chico Togni, a series of interactive programming will explore the dynamic interplay between the artist’s journey, art collecting and technological innovation.
DesignTO Tours: hollis+morris
January 19-26, 2024
hollis+morris
Get an up-close and personal look at one of the city’s biggest names in lighting and furniture design. In their new 14,000-square-foot-showroom, hollis+morris welcome visitors to tour the production space designed by architect Jonathan Mandeville of Passage Studio (Halifax) in collaboration with hollis+morris founder Mischa Couvrette.
Typogram
January 19-28, 2024
The Bakery
Kunel Gaur is a multi-disciplinary designer whose work sits at the cross-section of typography, architectural influences, and tech. Exclusively for the 2024 DesignTO Festival, Guar’s exhibit utilizes typographic forms as a canvas for the myriad influences borrowed from the dynamic street visual culture.
Pola Lighting Collection
January 19-28, 2024
Milky’s
Anony’s latest lighting collection makes its debut at the 2024 DesignTO Festival with an exhibition at local coffee shop Milky’s. Inspired by arches and structures often seen in architecture, the must-see collection features a floor lamp, table lamp, sconce, pendant, and cluster all in a brushed nickel finish.
Design Collection Opening Party
January 20, 2024
STACKT Market
Housing twelve unique exhibitions over the course of the 2024 DesignTO Festival, STACKT Market welcomes attendees to its free Opening Party; celebrating the work of its international roster of talent. Over drinks and live music, visitors will experience a range of works, including ceramics by artist Elena Mahno, a textile installation by Deanna Armenti, an interactive display by Chaimi Design Collective, and so much more.
DesignTO Talks: Dematerialized
January 24-25, 2024
Online
DesignTO’s ninth annual symposium brings together eight multidisciplinary experts to explore the complexities of dematerialization in an increasingly digital world. Speakers include Lynne Heller, Austin Houldsworth, Alex Yueyan Li, Neo-Futuristic Walks, Joel Ong, Justin Kyung In Park, Skawennati, and Ruby Thelot, covering such topics as the future of digital artifacts, the ecological impact of computation and spaces for Indigenous self-determination.
Mjölk
January 24-25, 2024
Mjölk
From its cherished showroom in The Junction, Mjölk will host design lovers from across the city to witness the debut of an exquisite, limited-edition collection of vases between designer Luca Nichetto and the visionary design shop. Additionally, this exhibit will include two made-in-Canada designs by Thom Fougere, including an armchair and wall light framing the enduring appeal of natural wood.
Collect & Collaborate: A Design Salon
January 27, 2024
Staples Studio Corktown
Join DesignTO at the Staples Studio Corktown for ‘Connect & Collaborate’, a salon-style, in-person gathering where the focus is on getting to know others in the Toronto design scene, fostering creativity, and sparking innovation. Highlights of the salon will include a social workshop and the opportunity to share your work for discussion and critique.