Orphan Spaces

More Charrettes to Rescue Orphan Spaces Announced!
April 21 and May 10, 2006


The Orphan Spaces series is presented by the Design Exchange in partnership with the Clean and Beautiful City Secretariat, City of Toronto. These new charrettes will bring together design professionals to reinterpret underutilized spaces throughout Toronto not currently represented by Business Improvement Areas (BIA). In large urban centres, there are often neglected ‘orphan spaces’ – areas that become lost in the shuffle of new homes, businesses, parks and transit corridors.

The two-part charrette on Friday April 21 and May 10 will feature presentations by design professionals, city officials and other community members. Participants will be in teams that must include an individual trained in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design or urban planning. These teams will brainstorm and develop strategies for beautification of a particular Orphan Space. Subsequently the teams will submit their project and ideas to the DX.

Phase 2 will take place on Wed May 10 at DX, to critique the submissions. A panel of judges will select a winning project which will be announced that evening, which is also the kickoff for the DX annual festival digifest. The winning project will be featured in Canadian Architect magazine. Teams are encouraged to register now as space is limited. Admission is free. Teams are required to attend both days. For further information and registration forms, visit www.dx.org/orphanspaces. For further info on the Charrettes contact Paola Poletto, DX Senior Director, Programs 416.216.2155 or paola@dx.org

ICFF Call for Submissions
Change of Date

Please note that the deadline for submissions for the New Design Canada booth at ICFF has been moved up to: Monday, March 20, 2006 – 5:00 PM The annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) will be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center ICFF, May 20 -23, 2006. This opportunity is open to firms that have goods and services that are export-ready or have potential inroads into the American market. Those studios selected will have their product(s) promoted in a finished group booth/exhibit at ICFF, marketing materials and New Design Canada website. If accepted, each exhibitor must pay a participation fee and must arrange for shipping to and from ICFF. 50% of shipping costs will be reimbursed. Successful candidates must be registered or in the process of registering with the Virtual Trade Commissioner. The jury process is anonymous and jurors are not publicized. The Design Exchange encourages young designers to participate. The Design Exchange acknowledges the generous support of the Consulate General of Canada in New York and the Department of Canadian Heritage through its Trade Routes Initiative.

Please submit proposals to Rachel Gotlieb at the following email address: newdesigncanada@dx.org

By Design Exhibit
2 for 1 Admission
only from March 11-19, 2006

Enjoy this special 2 for 1 offer with friends and family this March Break. Curators from museums and galleries across Canada have loaned significant Canadian-designed objects from their collections to this exhibition. From a remarkable pair of Innu Kamiks (boots) to a turbine rotor of the late-lamented AVRO Arrow jet plane, BY DESIGN represents Canadian achievements in technology, agriculture, transportation, decorative objects and furniture design. Only until March 26, 2006. Learn More

Festival of Architecture and Design Invites New Partners

Building on the tremendous success of the annual Doors Open Toronto weekend, groups across the city will be celebrating Toronto's architecture and design communities throughout the entire month of May.

fAd 2006, Toronto’s Festival of Architecture and Design, will include a wide range of activities involving architecture, landscape architecture and design exhibitions, films, lectures, book launches, readings and walking tours. Festival partners invite additional organizations, firms or individuals in Toronto's design communities to help showcase the tremendous talent that our city enjoys.

The City of Toronto will publish and showcase the fAd events calendar. If you are planning an event for May 2006 and interested in it being part of fAd, please contact Elyse Parker with program ideas and event information by March 28, 2006, at 416.338.2432 or eparker@toronto.ca

fAd 2006 is also part of “Live With Culture”, a 16-month celebration of Toronto’s extraordinary arts and cultural communities, shining a spotlight on the vibrant and diverse activities happening in the city each and every day. From September 2005 until the end of 2006, “Live With Culture” showcases the vast scope of the city’s culture of creativity and inspires culture in Toronto to become a daily part of everyone’s life.

Further information on both fAd and Live With Culture is available online at www.toronto.ca/fad

CONNECT: National Student Design Competition
Deadline April 7, 2006 Learn More

The 11th Annual Canadian High School Design Competition
Deadline April 28, 2006 Learn More

DX Call for Hi-Resolution Photography and Fashion Design Volunteers

Occasionally the DX requires Hi-Resolution, non-specific images of designers and design professionals for use in in various non-commercial marketing collaterals such as Membership, MES and Corporate brochures. If you are interested please email your submissions to info@dx.org

The DX is looking for Volunteer Students of Fashion Design to assist in the development of a workshop for kids. For information contact education@dx.org or call 416.216.2138