The DesignTO Festival is an Endorphin Rush
Mark your calendars and be sure to join us January 24 to February 2, 2025 as we celebrate 15 years of fantastic DesignTO Festival programming. The Festival schedule is now live and absolutely packed with exciting design content that we have organized according to our mission: to increase the public’s knowledge and appreciation of design and its role in creating a sustainable, just and joyful world.
Because there’s a lot to take in, we are going to walk you through each of these pillars in our upcoming newsletters. Today we begin with “Joy.” The 11 Festival highlights (arranged alphabetically) below are sure to leave you happy. In fact, these installations, exhibitions, and events are likely to ignite your endorphins – the happiness hormones – that are associated with feeling satisfied, excited, and stimulated. It’s been proven that when endorphins kick in we are that much more likely to build bonds and relationships. And this is the point of our “Joy” pillar – that we come together as a connected community to marvel at how design can contribute to our shared happiness. En-joy!
January 21-31, 2025 | on view 24/7
313 Roncesvalles Avenue
This installation features multi-coloured, handwoven wool floor pillows, filled with shredded memory foam shaped like fish. The project is a playful exploration of floor pillows within the limitations of hand-woven kilim techniques.
At the conjuring of roots, I wished to meet Me…
January 1-31, 2025 | on view 24/7
Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge & Dundas Square), 1 Dundas Street East
‘At the conjuring of roots, I wished to meet Me…’ is an exhibition of photos that explore ideas of the self through costuming by Toronto-based, Ghanaian-Nigerian photographer and visual artist Delali Cofie on five digital screens at Sankofa Square.
January 24-February 2, 2025 | see listing for hours of operation
55 St Clair Avenue West
Studio Rat’s immersive inflatable installation and lighting concept quilted from reclaimed waste plastics is sure to make you smile in wonderment. Hand-crafted inflated modules form a soft-glowing grid, illuminating surface patterns inspired by traditional quilt motifs.
Connect & Collaborate: A Design Salon
January 25-31, 2025 | see listing for hours of operation
411 Richmond Street East, Unit #203
A fun and approachable salon-style community gathering designed to help you meaningfully connect with fellow design enthusiasts, share your work and ideas, and be open to possible future creative collaborations.
Design Collection @ STACKT Launch Party
January 25, 2025 | 6pm-10pm
28 Bathurst Street
Be the first to meet the designers and curators of a collection of projects being showcased at STACKT. Tour the grounds and groove in the Techno Salon at this public opening and industry meet-up. These projects will then remain on view at the shipping container market until February 2.
January 24, 2025 | 7pm-11pm
235 Queens Quay West
Kick off the 15th DesignTO Festival at our official Launch Party! Mix and mingle at the Harbourfront Centre event that brings Toronto’s creative community together. As a fundraiser for the non-profit Festival, all proceeds will go to help achieve our purpose to bring people together to design a better future. Get your tickets now.
January 24-February 2, 2025 | viewable daily 5:30am-12:45am
West Wing at Union Station, 65 Front Street West
‘Dwell’ is a design exhibition that offers opportunities to slow down and connect in the hustle and bustle of Union Station – Canada’s busiest transportation hub. Five artists and designers explore what taking pause amidst the rush of urban travel looks like.
January 24-February 2, 2025 | see listing for hours of operation
1655 Dufferin Street, Basement
Highlighting the dynamic talent of Montreal’s design community, this exhibition celebrates both individual creativity and the collaborative spirit that fuels it. Together, Ensemble showcases a diverse range of furniture pieces, reflecting Montreal’s forward-thinking and vibrant design scene.
January 28, 2025 | opens at 9am
205 Richmond Street West
Learn low fidelity prototyping for tinkering with physical materials (crafting materials, electronics, etc.) and bringing creative ideas to life. Diverse participants of all ages, including those with sensory disabilities, are encouraged to attend.
January 24-31, 2025 | see listing for hours of operation
35 Golden Avenue, Unit #114
This immersive exhibition creates a harmonious space where work and humanness can coexist with unapologetic self-celebration. It fosters abundance and empowerment by challenging societal norms of productivity and perfection while encouraging participants to pause, appreciate the present, and explore the intersection of daily life, personal growth, and creativity.
January 24-February 2, 2025 | on view 24/7
830 Dundas Street West
Featuring blown glass sculptures by Lauren Rice, each one attached and connected by handcrafted, recycled leather harnesses, this exhibition is not just about showcasing art; it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and joy. It aims to inspire conversations around love, identity, and the transformative power of connection.
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This list is just a fraction of the 100+ events, exhibitions and installations taking place across the city of Toronto. Next newsletter we will explore the Sustainability pillar in which you will see plenty of programming around how to design a greener future. Start planning your 10-days of DesignTO today!
