Since 2011, DesignTO has featured a wealth of talent through our annual festival. This Artist + Designer Spotlight series gives our audience the chance to learn more about the creatives showcasing their work in DesignTO’s thematic and prototype exhibitions, symposium and talks.

Name

Jeremy Labelle

How would you describe your practice?

My background is industrial design, but my current day job is in the public services, which affords me complete creative freedom over my personal design practice. My passion is maintained by participating in design events, developing my own products and creating content to grow my YouTube channel. I am always interested in new challenges and freelance projects along the way.

Which exhibition, symposium or talk will you be participating in and what is it about this project that peaked your interest?

I’m excited to be a participant in the 2021 DesignTO ‘Work/Life’ prototype exhibition! This past year has been unlike any year that most of the population has ever experienced. Many people were required to merge their work and home life, disrupting the daily balance. All of the sudden, “work from home” meant the office was anywhere it could fit in the home, especially if there was no dedicated workspace. This provided an excellent opportunity to re-imagine daily life, and experiment on a solution in efforts to bring some harmony back into the everyday routine.

What can attendees expect from the project you are showcasing at the 2021 DesignTO Festival? For those unable to visit your work, how would you describe it to them?

‘Shuttle’ is a portable office/storage solution in one, holding all the tools necessary to work remotely everyday. It can be set up in a variety of locations around the home to create a dedicated workspace. When the workday is over, all items can be quickly organized and stowed away, out of sight, reviving a healthy work/life balance.

Have you been involved with DesignTO before?

I had the opportunity to participate at the Interior Design Show (IDS) in Studio North as part of the Prototype platform, in 2018 and 2019, and I am glad to be involved in the DesignTO Festival once again in 2021. It’s always exciting to see all the amazing design work coming out of Canada. Very inspiring!

Do you have any memories from past DesignTO Festivals you want to share?

My very first year participating at IDS, I won the Best Prototype Award in Studio North for a set of salt and pepper shakers, which was a very pleasant surprise! It was a great opportunity to experience not only IDS, but many of the offsite events throughout the city. After the win, I completed the design process, found a manufacturer and brought the shakers to life, which are *shameless plug* currently available on my website.

As an artist/designer working in Canada, what role do you feel DesignTO plays in the art and design industry?

Acting as a catalyst, DesignTO is critical in the encouragement and promotion of art and design. They advocate the brilliant work of all the talented Canadian humans in their collective pursuit of creative endeavours, showcasing it for the world to enjoy.

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Be sure to see the Jeremy Labelle’s work, part of the virtual exhibition ‘Work/Life’.