The Toronto Design Offsite Festival (TO DO) kicks off today, which leads into the annual Interior Design Show, taking place January 21 – 24. Whether you only have time to check out a window installation or you’d like to hear innovators speakers, support emerging designers or attend a party, here is a short list of a few standout events:
TO DO Festival
The Opening Festival Party at Shopify Studio: January 18, 2016
Looking for a place to drink, dance and schmooze with VIPs, designers and fellow festival-goers? Head over to the Shopify Studio for the Keilhauer Toronto Design Offsite Festival Party. It’s free, with no RSVP required – just suit up, show up and enjoy. More info here.
Outside the Box: January 18 – 24, 2016
The Toronto Design Offsite Festival and WantedDesign have shipped bankers boxes across the country, from Chicago, Edmonton, Halifax, LA, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle and Portland to be unpacked and installed for the third edition of ‘Outside the Box.’ Local designers have been given the theme “multiples” to “reflect the particular resources and makers of each area” they have shipped their box from. Details here.
Herman Miller Threads: January 22, 2016
In this interactive presentation, Steve Frykholm and Clark Malcolm share the history of Herman Miller’s people, products and events – all driven by the tastes of the audience. Sit back and watch video clips, images and audio segments from the famous design company’s 107-year story. This is a free event with limited seating, but you can save yourself a spot here.
Blindfolded Walking Tour: January 23, 2016
Sight is arguably the most important human sense, but what if you were blind? How would you use your other senses to enjoy a walk around the city? Jonathan Silver has coordinated a blindfolded walking tour for people with vision “to understand the importance of multi-sensory design and to learn to experience the city non-visually.” The first 20 minutes will be spent blindfolded the last 10 minutes, eyes are opened in order to retrace their steps. RSVP for this free event here.
Student Shows: January 13 – 30, 2016
Interested in seeing what the emerging generation of talented designers are creating at school? OCAD will have an exhibit and window installation for the fifth year in a row called Tables, Chairs and Unrelated Objects 5. Find more info here.
The Sheridan College Furniture Craft and Design Exhibition will feature furniture by emerging makers and designers at Craft Ontario. Get a taste of the show here.
To view the event calendar for the full week of offered events go here.
Interior Design Show
The Interior Design Show will be taking place for its 18th year at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building. Here are some exhibits worth checking out:
IDS16 Opening Night Party: January 21
If you have the money to buy a ticket ($56/each) to the biggest design party of the year, you will want to make sure you are at the opening event for IDS16, hosted by British furniture designer and guest of honor Tom Dixon. Buy tickets here.
Habitat For Humanity’s Brick For Brick
Habitat for Humanity Canada is the official charitable partner for IDS16. Visitors to the space will watch a real-time build of a giant home made out of mega blocs, all to “raise awareness of the fact that 1 in 5 Canadian families are living in unstable or inadequate homes.” For more information on this exhibit go here.
AZURE trade talks: February 22, 2016
These are reserved for professionals in the design trade, but for students and interns who want to kill two birds with one stone, each talk is worth 0.1 IDCEC credits. These lectures by industry moguls from around the flobe include IDS16 guest of honor Tom Dixon, and they’ll take place for the entire day. Buy tickets here.
For more information about admission fees and the full three day schedule visit the website here.
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