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Toronto Design Offsite

February 22, 2017 by SingYu Lam in Event

Last year I was only able to make it to two Toronto Design Week events. This year though, I did my research, made a list, and set aside an entire day to hit up as many places as I could.

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The first place I checked out was actually a sneak preview of the thesis work by my own school’s graduates. The soon-to-be alumni had their projects up on display in varying stages of completion for people to come and get a taste for what it’ll be like in May.

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There were certainly some interesting projects that piqued my curiosity. I’m excited to see how it’ll look when it’s all done.

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I completely forgot to take any pictures of the posters.

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Right around the corner from the Rally gallery is a store called Gravitypope, where Sam Kennedy had set up shop with his Feltro line of toys.

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You can stick the trapezoids together in all kinds of combinations to make different things.

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This project really made an impression on me when I first saw it back at OCAD’s grad show in 2013, the last grad show I attended as a high school student.

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Sam had a similar set up (albeit a bit smaller) to what he had now – several Feltro tiles on display and several tiles scattered around just inviting you to pick them up and start playing. I really enjoy interacting with the felt tiles and Sam’s ability to present his work is phenomenal.

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The crown of Upper and Lower Egypt.

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The entrance from Gravitypope.

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I thought it was pretty cool how they also used Feltro in their window display.

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A little further down Queen is a store called Cambie Design. They had a small showing of products collectively called 7 Wares & Meaning. The selection of items are supposed to reflect and represent the essentials in a home.

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The fourth place I went to was Craft Ontario. I knew I had to visit because one of my favourite projects from OCAD’s most recent grad show was on display – the kompact kitchen station, by Victoria Milley and Felicia Semiawan.

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These beautiful herb keepers that are placed on top.

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Louie George Michael’s "David Mazeltov" double chair was a stand out piece I knew I had to see in person. She integrated the two seats in such a charming and pleasant way, adding verticality to an otherwise grounded form.

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The rest of the store is just filled with some really cool stuff.

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Afterwards, I dropped by Souvenir quickly to take a look around. I’ve been here before and although it’s small, the store is excellently curated by Danielle so it’s a pleasure to be in every time.

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Oscar Kwong's Luna pitcher.

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My last stops were around the Gladstone Hotel, at both the CUTMR (Come Up To My Room) and the Outside the Box exhibition across the street.

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CUTMR is a series of installations by different artists that you can visit one after the other as you work your way upstairs.

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Closer to the top of the hotel, specially designed rooms were put on display as part art and part advertisement to spend a night in them.

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White walls, brick, and wood. Authenticly Scandinavian.

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This elevator is so old it still needed a human operator.

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Finally, I walked across the street to Outside the Box, a display of products carefully selected by correspondents all around North America and laid out to be shown on a series of tables. Each collection was an eclectic set and unique from the rest.

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Sometimes I see designs that just instantly infatuate me. I want this lamp.

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And that was it for the night.

February 22, 2017 /SingYu Lam
Event
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