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: Vancouver
Curator: Riley McFerrin, Hinterland

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

I showed with Dear Human a couple of years ago, and was excited to be invited to curate the Vancouver group for Outside the Box this year.

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

I designed a small wooden piece featuring large dowels mortised into a solid block. Playing with material and shape repetition.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I try to be inspired by nature and natural materials as much as possible. I’m lucky enough to be able to spend time working in the shop one day and then out in the forest the next. At the mill sawing logs into furniture parts and then in the city an hour later. The border territory where people and the wilderness intersect is a very interesting place to be inspired.

How would you describe your practice?

I design and produce limited quantity pieces with a small group of crafts people by hand in our own small studio in Vancouver.

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

I think it’s really nice to have smaller offsite shows running simultaneously to larger trade shows which allow designers and artists to show more experimental works maybe not as focused on commerce. These shows help push the overall quality of design across the trade.

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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