| PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
Dear Members
and Friends,
Can you imagine something better? When asked about the difference
design makes, I challenge my audiences to imagine something
better. Design creates better products and better environments,
makes our lives healthier, safer and more enjoyable. It drives
the economy and good design choices can help protect the
earth. See the big picture and ask others to imagine
something better - and don't settle for less.
We
are ready for May - the Festival of Architecture and Design
in Toronto. At the DX,
we have many great events planned and hope that you join
us. Bringing together a community of people to celebrate
and discuss design is important in Canada. One day I dream
of Canada, by Design - sustainable communitites, affordable
well-designed housing, cities that produce energy (rather
than consume it), green tansportation, beautiful street
scapes, indiginous landscape - and clean air. The fight
to 'be sustainble' has a lot to do with fighting mass consumerism.
Asking yourself if you 'really need it' should be a daily
mantra among those of us trying to make a difference. This
fall, I decided to go car-less and hitch rides from my
husband who drives a vintage car powered on bio-diesel.
The inner fight I face - (to buy or not to buy) a newer
car is tremendous. Balancing the needs and the wants to
live a more 'sustainable' life is a battle.
Fight
the battle. Sam
DX
BOARD MEMBER PROFILE
Paul Rowan
Paul
Rowan is Umbra's co-founder and VP of Design. In
addition to managing Umbra's prolific design team,
he is also the designer of many of Umbra's most iconic
items, including the original Umbra shade and vinyl
clock, as well as the Crunch® can, the Simple family
of frames and hundreds of other items.
Umbra began in 1979, when boyhood friends
Paul Rowan and Les Mandelbaum joined forces to create
exciting, everyday products
that alter the overall
aesthetic of a home, beginning with a printed window
shade unlike anything then in the market ("umbra" means
shade in Latin). Twenty-eight years later, Umbra's
award-winning design team – 30 men and women
from all over the world and notable outside product
designers,
all under Paul Rowan's direction – remains the
heart and soul of the company.
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DESIGNER
IN FOCUS
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Fleming
Design
Fleming Design
is a full service design agency specializing in multi-component
campaigns for print and the Web. Their motto: storytelling
through design.
Fleming Design collaborated with longtime client Nintendo
of Canada to launch Wii as a radical new gaming product
and industry frontrunner. Fleming Design produced a
multi-phase campaign that stood out in a crowded marketplace
and was highly effective in demonstrating the unique
action, gameplay, and function of the Wii controller.
For nearly 20 years Fleming Design has worked with
Nintendo of Canada on all of their major product launches,
from NES and SNES to GameCube and from Game Boy to
DS and, more recently, to Wii, developing an excellent
reputation for creative campaigns that continue to
attract new and veteran gamers alike.
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CELEBRATE
THE FESTIVAL OF
ARCHITECTURE
+ DESIGN AT THE DX!
MAY
1, CONNECT COMPETITION RESULTS
MAY
7, JANET ROSENBERG LECTURE
MAY
15, CONTEMPORARY DANISH DESIGN
MAY
15, MAN AND WHOSE WORLD?
MAY
15, THE ARCHITECTURE OF JOHN LYLE, PAST AND PRESENT
MAY
19, NEW DESIGN CANADA AT ICFF IN NEW YORK
MAY
25, PECHA KUCHA, A 'CHIT-CHAT' WITH DESIGNERS
MAY
26, DOORS OPEN TORONTO
MAY
27, DOORS OPEN TORONTO |
Something Funny!
Check
This Out!
For the architect and designer types:
http://gawker.com/news/advertising/truth-vs-advertising-the-banana-republic-architect-ads-237391.php
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The People Who Need Us Most Cannot Afford Us!
Lend Your
Time and Expertise to Your Community Partners.
|
Register
Now!
DX
Power Lecture Series
May 7th, 2007
Janet Rosenberg
Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street, Toronto,
Historic Trading Floor
Cost: $15 per person
Students/Seniors: $10
Block of 10 tickets: $100
or free to DX Members
|
Janet
Rosenberg, founder and principal of Janet Rosenberg
+ Associates Landscape Architects Inc., possesses extensive
experience in the development of detailed design features,
the integration of artistic elements into the landscape,
and considerable horticultural expertise. She is endowed
with the fundamental understanding of large-scale site
development and environmental issues, a well-developed
sense of what constitutes the successful smaller-scale
space, and an intuitive comprehension of the enduring
relationship between built form and the landscape. |
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE
DX NATIONAL DESIGN CONFERENCE
York
University announces
an adjunct conference to OURTOPIAS.
The First Canadian
National Conference on Graduate Education in Design
Theme: Challenges and opportunities in a Changing World
June 13-14, 2007 - Presented in conjunction with The DX National
Design Conference
June 14-16, 2007 - More information: www.dx.org/conference
Questions? Email: dgrad@yorku.ca
 |
Sign
Up Now! SUMMER CAMPS
Conveniently located in the former Toronto
Stock Exchange building at the foot of Bay Street, the
Design Exchange offers camp activities for Young Designers
ages 7 to 12.
Camp themes vary.
For more information: education@dx.org
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CHILDREN
ARE OUR FUTURE. INVEST IN THEIR CREATIVITY. |
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Canada
in the Making
This exhibition features
the DX Permanent Collection, and showcases the most
important Canadian developments in modern design history.
Free Admission.
Supported by the Peter Munk Charitable
Foundation
and the McLean Foundation. |
David
Susuki
Presents
The Nature of Things
Build Green
Starring Vancouver's Peter Busby, Montrealers Danny
Pearl and Mark Poddubuik and Toronto Architect Martin
Leibhebber
Also Starrring Terrell Wong and the
DX Archetype House!
Airs Sunday
June 17th at 7:00 PM on CBC
Don't Miss It!
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Get Noticed!
City of Toronto launches the 2007 Urban
Design Awards.
The City of Toronto has officially launched this year’s
Urban Design Awards competition. Mayor David Miller will
host the awards ceremony at a gala celebration on September
17.
The deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. on Friday, June
1. Official entry forms can be printed from the City’s
website: www.toronto.ca/tuda.
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DX
TOURS AND WORKSHOPS
Bring your classroom to the DX! Guided tours
by professional educators are available to groups.
In addition to a tour of DX
exhibition spaces, these tours include a historical overview
of the architecturally significant Stock Exchange building,
as well as the areas renovated by KPMB, including the Resource
Centre and Chalmers Design Centre.When available, the stunning
historical trading floor is also included in the tour.
This space is a stellar example of Art Deco and Streamlined
Modern Design. Tours last approximately one hour. To supplement
the information presented in the tours, workshops are available
to provide an interactive experience which allows students
to further explore exhibition themes. Email: education@dx.org
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS!
Welcome Benjamin Moore!
We
love our corporate, individual and family members. Becoming
a
member
of the Design
Exchange
gives you special privileges such as discounts, networking
events and free admission.
Most of all, your support helps us create and host our
education programs. If you read EXPRESS, but have not
become a member
- what's stopping you?
Please email Rosa to discuss your ideas for the DX and
to join our community.
Is your company a corporate
member? We have great corporate benefits. This is your chance
to promote your product or service. Email Rosa at membership@dx.org
to find out more.
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Danish
Design at the DX
In the
Danish design tradition, quality is closely related
to function, aesthetics, economy and environment.
Through the 20th century, it has become a fundamental
principle for Danish designers to emphasise the user
needs and functionality. As a result of this practice,
the use of design driven products is an obvious and
integrated part of the Danish people’s everyday
living.
Therefore,
an exhibition about Danish design is also an exhibition
about the “Danish Way of Living”. The “Danish
Way of Living” exhibit will
show a select group of 12 Danish design companies
which adhere to a high standard of quality in all
phases
of the products’ making; from the development
of creative ideas, to the choice of materials and
manufacturing.
The products on display stretch from newly developed
designs to classic design icons. Common to all
of them is the endeavour to become an enriching
part
of the
user’s daily life – through high functionality
and a valid idiom. The exhibit is presented in
cooperation with the Royal Danish Consulate General
and World
Pictures Aps.
Join us for the
opening reception on May 15th at 5pm.
Special Guests:
Danish Minister of Culture, Brian Mikkelsen and the
Ambassador of
Denmark Poul E.D. Kristensen
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Applied
Arts, 2007 Design and Advertising Awards for
Entry
DEADLINE: MAY 4, 2007
Featuring the best work in DESIGN, ADVERTISING (print)
and BROADCAST categories.
Check
out the ALL NEW easier and faster way to enter online
at:
http://www.appliedartsmag.com/da
NEW!! THE PRINTING AWARDS
In keeping with our mandate to inspire and inform
our readers, we're launching a STAND-ALONE PRINTING
AWARDS.
Visit: http://www.appliedartsmag.com/printing
DEADLINE: MAY 18, 2007 |
ATTENTION
POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS! Connect
Exhibit, Coming Soon
ATTENTION
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS! Exhibit,
Coming Soon
|
A Plea to Design Schools
According
to Dan Saffer, IDSA, quite a few design schools no
longer teach design.
Instead, Saffer says, they teach "design thinking" and
expect that that will be enough. On his Adaptive Path
blog, Saffer asks design schools to please start teaching
design again. He says D schools are doing a serious
disservice to their students by only teaching them "design
thinking" when a class in typography or mechanics
or drawing might not only give them a valuable skill,
but also teach them thinking and making and doing—all
at the same time.
For more of Saffer's plea, visit
http://www.adaptivepath.com/blog/2007/03/06/design-schools-please-start-teaching-design-again/.
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DX
CULTURE CORNER
From Canadian
Doug Coupland . . .
Face it.
Your 20's suck. Paulo Costanzo (40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS,
ROAD TRIP, JOEY) stars as Ryan, a twentysomething
uberslacker who is nonetheless willing to fall into
accidental success. After losing his job the same
day he is dumped by his yuppie girlfriend, Ryan gets
a dispiriting job with a tacky lottery magazine,
photographing winners and writing their stories.
In a Mandarin language class Ryan is taking for work,
he meets and is immediately smitten by the lovely
Ming (Steph Song). Unfortunately Ming is currently
involved
with a fast-talking scammer, Bryce (JR Bourne). Bryce spots a money-laundering
scheme involving the new lottery winners and Ryan soon launches himself into
the lifestyle of the suddenly rich and not-otherwise-likely-to-be-famous. Soon,
without a lot of thought, Ryan has got the sports car and leather jacket of
moneyed youth -- something that puts him at odds with Ming, the beautiful set-dresser
from class who just so happens to be in the process of breaking up with Bryce.
All Ryan needs to do is convince Ming how different he is from Bryce, which
proves a bit harder than ever expected.
“EVERYTHING’S GONE GREEN” comically illustrates how hard it
is to know what’s real in a world filled with fabrication and hidden agendas.
This film marks the first screenplay written by the acclaimed author Douglas
Coupland ("Generation X").
http://www.everythingsgonegreen.com/about.html
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YOUR
BEST EVENT IS AT THE DX!
The
DX is a non-profit with a mission to promote Canadian
Design.
All proceeds from your Events go to support DX initiatives.
We
have a great professional events team that can produce
product launches, press events, AGMs, client appreciation
events, social gatherings and even DX weddings.
PLAN
YOUR AGM NOW
Are you planning your
annual general meeting for spring
2007. Why not consider the Design Exchange? The DX
features
the original TSE Trading Floor, a spectacular art
modern space featuring Charles Comfort's murals heralding
the
economic drivers of the 1930s. The DX is a splendid
space for such meetings, large enough to accommodate
several hundred stakeholders. We offer in-house audio
visual services for every need and to ensure that
your
presentation has maximum impact. Our Meeting & Event
Services would be happy to assist you, so please
do not hesitate to contact us at: 416-216-2140 or email
Meeting & Event Services.
Book your Summer Corporate
Event this Month and Receive a Discount!
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Friday
Night, May 25th,
Kick-Off
Doors Open at the DX
Pecha
Kucha Toronto
Pecha
Kucha means Chit Chat in Japanese and Toronto
will have the first ever Pecha Kucha night in
Canada.
The
authors Sean Stanwick and Jennifer Flores of Design
City Toronto, in conjunction with 2007 Toronto
Doors Open, are hosting Pecha Kucha Night in Toronto.
Featuring 15 presenters from the hottest architecture
and design firms in the city, presentations will
be followed by cocktails to encourage the casual
exchange of ideas and networking.
http://www.pecha-kucha.org/toronto/
Presenters
include:
Kuwabara
Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects
Diamond + Schmitt Architects Inc
Montgomery Sisam Architects
Johnson Chou Inc
Quadrangle Architects Ltd
Evergreen
Sterling Finlayson Architects
Giannone Associates
munge//leung: design associates
SMC Alsop Architects
3rd UNCLE design inc
Zeidler Partnership Architects
du Toit Allsopp Hillier
PLANT Architect |
JOIN THOUSANDS FOR DOORS OPEN
AT THE DX ON MAY
26TH AND 27TH.
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Invest
in the Future of Canada.
Encourage Your School Boards to Provide
Leading Edge Learning Environments for Our Children.
For
More Information - Check Out the Following Link
http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/learning_environments/front_lrnenvironments.htm
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DO
YOU NEED A RENOVATION INTERVENTION?
Are you or anyone you know trapped in a house not
suited to your ever-changing family - making everyone
nuts? We want you and your family to scream SAVE
US FROM OUR HOUSE!
Applications are being taken now for this all-Canadian
hit relationship-reno-reality TV series on W NETWORK,
brokering peace between families and their homes.
Relationship Strategist Hina Khan and Contractor Dylan
Marcel, along with their expert DX design teams tackle
the emotional and physical issues in your home, breaking
down the walls tearing your family apart, and forever
transforming your home-life with innovative and custom-made
solutions.
We're looking for exuberant,
outgoing, outspoken and frustrated couples & families
of all sorts living in the Greater Toronto Area who
are struggling in the hell that has become of their
happy home!
Families like yours with conflicts arising from or
made worse by their homes are presently being considered
for season 3. If you have a home environment causing
you to scream
SAVE US FROM OUR HOUSE, tell
us your story.
saveusfromourhouse@gmail.com
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COLLECTION
NEWS
The DX is seeking Clairtone
items, documents, photos, films and archives.
If you have Clairtone objects that you are willing share with
the DX for an upcoming Clairtone book and exhibit, please
contact Samantha at sam@dx.org.
NEWS
FROM THE WINNIPEG DESIGN SCENE!
The Design Buzz from Winnipeg. Submitted by Sandra Sasaki.
Industrial Design: Two industrial design firms from Winnipeg
are finalists in the Prototype Competition at the Interior
Design Show in Toronto. The Oi Loveseat
(“oi” = “hello” in many languages) comes
from Winnipeg’s Cocoon Branding Inc. www.cocoonbranding.com - the
Winnipeg-based multidisciplinary design firm with a focus on bold brand concepts
and innovations.
Saw - a lamp and stand which is a modern take on an old weathered
sawhorse, comes from local designer, Matthew Kroeker of Matthew Kroeker Design
- www.matthewkroeker.com.
You may remember that last year’s Prototype winner was Kroeker’s
Splinter chairs - two chairs that mate neatly along a broken line of shifted
wood slats.
VOLUNTEER
YOUR TIME AND LEARN ABOUT DESIGN!
The DX has programs, lectures and many
activities for the public, and we need your help! We are always
looking for new people to join our volunteer corps. Whether
it's working on an event, graphic or web design, or assisting
in our admin. office, you can be sure your time and help will
make a difference! Your energy and imagination will help us
deliver our programs! So visit the
DX Volunteer Program and find out how to register
- or send your information to
Volunteer Coordinator Daniela Mason.
SUPPLIERS
AND VENDORS, CONTRIBUTE IN-KIND TO THE DX!
Calling all design suppliers!
The DX is looking for suppliers and vendors
to help keep our facility on the leading edge of interior
design. If you have products that you would like to showcase,
we can help each other! We are always looking to update our
areas with the newest products - carpeting, flooring, paint,
lighting, equipment, furniture, signage, etc. Over 250,000
people see our spaces each year so this is a great opportunity
for you. As well, we can promote you via this Express newsletter
and on our website. If you are interested, please don't hesitate
to call Samantha Sannella @ 416.216.2145.
JOB
OPPORTUNITIES
Industrial Designer at Accenta.
Requirements: Bachelor or Diploma in Industrial Design, 3
Years Working Experience, Excellent written English, French
an asset, Specializing in Retail Furniture, POP, Displays,
Merchandisers, Kiosks and Exhibits. Email nm@accenta.com.
THE
DX
PET PEEVE!
Utility Poles
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Why
the #$@% are we still putting up UTILITY POLES?
This month's Pet Peeve is the utility
pole.
Strung
over cities in Canada, the utility pole has become
an accepted part of the landscape
- it's visual noise vibrating over sidewalks, interfering
with views and providing a place for unruly pigeons.
Burying electric and telephone wires cost too much
money,we're told - but does that comparison include
lift trucks,
crew pay, snapped lines and accidental electrocutions
while tree trimming?
We
need Utility Corridors!
The
advantages of utility corridors are the reduction
of maintenance manholes, one-time relocation, and less
excavation and repair. One of the greatest advantages
is public safety. Common utility ducts prevent downed
power lines and other utilities from blocking roads,
thus speeding emergency access after major natural
disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis
(or blizzards!) They also allow rapid access to all
utilities, without
having to dig access trenches or resort to confused
and often inaccurate utility maps.
Canada,
it's time to get modern!
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The
Design Exchange gratefully acknowleges the City of Toronto
as a key partner.
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