Design Hustle: what masters and new voices teach each other

‘Design Hustle’ is a candid, cross-generational exploration of contemporary design practice, through conversation with Arancha González Bernardo, Pat Hanson, and Paul Lee. 

Established architects and interior designers join emerging voices in a dynamic conversation, sharing insights on purpose, profit, planet, and process, while learning from each other’s approaches to today’s professional challenges and opportunities. The discussion sparks an engaging exchange of ideas and debate, offering a nuanced view of how the field is evolving, where it is resisting change, and how diverse experiences are shaping the future of the design.

Schedule

6:00pm Doors Open

6:30pm Talk Starts

Speakers

Arancha González Bernardo is a Spanish architect and co-founder of Odami, a design firm based in Toronto. Founded in 2018, the studio focuses on residential and commercial projects, supplemented with material experimentation and furniture and object design. Prior to co-founding Odami, Arancha worked in offices in Spain, Austria, and Canada, collaborating on projects in cities across Europe and North America. Arancha completed her studies in Architecture at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in La Coruña, Spain. In addition to Odami, Arancha is a Sessional Lecturer at the School of Interior Design at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Pat Hanson (Founding Principal and Creative Director, BFA, MArch, OAA, AAA, FRAIC) is a founding partner of gh3*. Under her leadership, the firm has established a reputation for design integrity across a range of building typologies and through all scales of practice. She is the architect of institutional, infrastructural, and residential projects that create meaningful connections between architecture and landscape within the urban realm. She is a strong and insightful advocate for the potential for built form to rise above the merely functional, to integrate the pragmatic with the poetic, and to achieve an aesthetic impact that brings pleasure to everyday uses.

Paul Lee is a Project Designer at Mason Studio, contributing to hospitality, retail, and single and multi-residential projects. Working across all phases of the design process, Paul has a particular passion for early concept design and a knack for materiality. Their approach is sparked by curiosity, community connection, and an excitement for storytelling through space. Known within the studio as adaptable, highly creative, and responsive, Paul brings flexibility, fresh ideas, and iterative thinking to interdisciplinary teams. Energized by the evolving landscape of hospitality design, Paul is committed to creating spaces that are functional, meaningful, and memorable.

Moderators

DesignTO Artistic Director Deborah Wang and DesignTO Festival Coordinator Renée Powell-Hines.

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This talk is eligible for 1 OAA Structured Learning Hour. A sign up sheet will be available at the event.

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‘Design Hustle’ is organized by DesignTO, and supported by Cosentino. The DesignTO Festival is supported by the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto.

About DesignTO

DesignTO is a charitable arts organization celebrating 16 years of designing a sustainable, just, and joyful future. From January 23-February 1, 2026, the DesignTO Festival features 100+ free events and exhibitions across Toronto, showcasing hundreds of artists and designers. As Canada’s largest annual design festival, DesignTO has welcomed over 1 million attendees, reached 2.6 billion people through media, supported 7,000+ artists and designers, and generated $159 million in tourism impact since 2011.