The Toronto Design Exchange

July 2014

Samantha L.

Toronto, if nothing else, has a genuine love for the arts. This cultural hub of Ontario is home to some of the most interesting collections of all things creative. The Toronto Design Exchange is home to Canada’s only museum dedicated to the “pursuit of design excellence and preservation of design heritage.” Located in the historic Toronto Stock Exchange building, the Design Exchange has created its own place in the world of design through exhibitions, educational programming and seminars. Although the doors opened in 1994, the design community has been rallying for this museum for decades. Two years ago, the DX altered their previous mandate by becoming exclusively a Design Museum to allow for larger audiences to experience the collections.

The current collections have over 450 industrial design objects and over 1000 paper archives, with over 300 exhibitions, seminars and lectures to date. These collections range from furniture design to architecture, graphic design to fashion – the exploration is truly endless.

Currently open at the DX, TAPAS: Spanish Design for Food has free admission from June 12 to August 10. Curated by Juli Capella, this collection explores the rich gastronomy and design in Spain. Over 150 accessories, utensils and furnishings are presented in three main facets: The Kitchen, The Table and The Menu. Keep an eye out this fall for Politics of Fashion, Fashion of Politics – an exhibit guest curated by Jeanne Beker.

Along with various exhibits that are introduced through the DX, there is a permanent collection that showcases Canada’s industrial history of the last five decades. The collection has over 600 design objects and archival materials.

            The DX is not one to limit itself – the design education is a large part of the museum’s mandate. With day camps, design student competitions and various workshops, the DX is fully immersed in developing young talent and supporting the arts. The Design Exchange is also a not-for-profit registered charity with the sole goal of promoting the experience of design.

            The Toronto Design Exchange is clearly one of the city’s must-sees, whether you fancy a stroll through the exhibits or desire to participate in one of their seminars, it has a little something for the creative part in all of us!