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When Times Get Tough, the Creative Get Creative

From our home offices, a letter to readers and subscribers about how we’re navigating these challenging times

By Designlines

Dear readers,

Only a couple of months ago, we were hard at work putting the finishing touches on our Small Spaces issue. Covid-19 still seemed like just a news story – albeit a serious one – when we sent the issue off to the printers, but the hard reality of a global pandemic sent us home soon after. Even from makeshift home offices, though, we’re still hustling to bring you the best of Toronto design. Our website is thriving, with design inspiration from our archives, retailer spotlights and features from our most recent issue going up daily. Designers and retailers haven’t stopped the creativity, and neither have we.

Our Small Spaces Issue is worth dwelling on for a second. More and more of us are occupying less and less square footage, but the examples set by COMN Architects, Creative Union Network, Johnson Chou and even a cool DIY project show how good design can maximize every square inch of a home. As a reminder of what we have to look forward to, this issue also features Partisans’ newest restaurant project, the towering, terracotta-clad Gusto 501, and so much more besides. This is DL at its best, and if you’re looking for some hot-off-the-presses reading, you can order your copy here. If you’d like immediate access, sign-up for our newsletter and get a digital copy for free.

Due to the extraordinary challenges we are all facing, we will not be publishing our June/July issue. We’re disappointed, as we’re sure you are, but it’s not something we can produce safely – or responsibly – in the current environment. Our subscribers will of course have an extra issue added to their subscriptions.

The sky isn’t falling, though. Our fall issue is on the rails and will be coming out just as we are all back to business post-summer. Before it hits showrooms, we will also be opening up a call for submissions to our Designer of the Year Awards for 2021.

In the meantime, keep your eye on our website and social feeds for updates. We are asking designers to send us shots and descriptions of their new or upcoming projects – whether they’re products, spaces, arts or crafts  – to [email protected]. We’re still here and excited to hear what you’re up to.

To readers, writers, retailers and Toronto’s design community, stay safe.


Categories: News

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