Shipped across the country in Bankers boxes, this annual traveling exhibition presents a dozen distinct national and international showcases each year. Working with local correspondents, each box houses a collection of thoughtfully designed objects, reflecting the particular resources and makers of that area. Over 200 design studios and makers have been a part of ‘Outside the Box’ since its debut in 2015 in Toronto. Through this series, readers will have the chance to learn more about what we will be seeing at the 7th edition of the exhibition.

City: Seattle
Curator: Darin Montgomery

Is this your first time being involved with the TO DO Festival?

2018 will be my third year curating the Seattle box.

Can you tell us about the work you will be showing at the Festival?

We’ll be showing a collection of objects from Seattle based studios. The work includes wood and cast aluminum objects, as well as textiles.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

From a variety of sources including everyday objects, nature, and necessity.

How would you describe your practice?

We’re a small multi-disciplinary studio with an emphasis on product and how it relates to space.

As a designer, what role do you feel TO DO plays in our art and design industry as a whole?

TO DO is one of my favorite design events. It balances professional and grass root influences, and continues to be accessible and sincere. I think it’s difficult to measure the impact TO DO has on the art and design industry but, I can imagine a huge void if it didn’t exist.

This seventh edition of ‘Outside the Box’ features responses on the theme “matter.” This theme encompasses material transformation and change, and the essence of material. It looks at how materials are created, reused, or recycled. Correspondents are invited to explore “matter” in any way.

The project was created by the Toronto Design Offsite Festival, and is organized in partnership with WantedDesign.

Participating cities and correspondents:

Asheville – Marilyn Zapf
Boston – Kelly Harris Smith
Fogo Island – Alexandra McIntosh
Montreal – Tara Farsky Milroy
Philadelphia – Philadelphia Center for Architecture and Design
Portland – Studio Gorm
Saint John – Geof Ramsay
San Francisco Bay Area – Melanie Abrantes
Saskatoon – Crystal Bueckert | Storefront
Seattle – Darin Montgomery
Toronto – SOUVENIR | Danielle Suppa
Vancouver – Riley McFerrin