DesignTO, in Toronto Festival returns in Toronto from January 24 to February 2, 2025, marking its 15th anniversary. Recognized as Canada’s premier annual design festival, DesignTO transforms Toronto into a vibrant nexus of creativity, presenting over 100 complimentary exhibitions and events. Over the past 15 years, the Festival has welcomed more than 1 million attendees, showcased the work of over 6,500 creatives, reached an audience of 2.6 billion through media coverage, and generated $120 million in tourism impact. This year’s Festival presents bold and innovative ideas addressing critical issues such as the climate crisis, social justice, and advancements in technology.
“DesignTO is not merely a festival; it is an ‘anti-loneliness machine,’” remarked co-founder Christina Zeidler. The Festival serves as a platform where creativity fosters connections, inspiring a future that is more sustainable, equitable, and filled with joy.
Discover Interior Design Show – IDS in Toronto
2024 DesignTO Festival Launch Party
DesignTO festival and the promotion of schools and young designers
In collaboration with the University of the Arts London (UAL), DesignTO highlighted Canadian and British designers. In addition, faculty, students and alumni from UAL and OCAD dialogued with each other and with experts in the field, talking about research and creativity in design.
DesignTO Youth, on the other hand, is a community engagement program that gives young people access to creative disciplines, culminating in a public exhibition of their work at the DesignTO Festival. For 2022-23, DesignTO Youth has partnered with JAYU, a charity that shares human rights stories through the arts and conversation. Thus, young artists have the opportunity to imagine Toronto’s future.
The DesignTo Awards
The DesignTO Awards started in 2013 with the iconic design brand Herman Miller. Since then, the DesignTO Awards has partnered with organizations such as DIALOG and Yabu Pushelberg.
DesignTO recognizes design excellence in the Festival each year with up to 24 DesignTO Awards. An annual jury of designers and industry experts vote for the ‘Founders,’ ‘Emerging Artist/Designer’ and ‘Best Product’ awards, as well as three ‘Best in Festival’ categories and three ‘Juror’s Choice’ each, while the public votes for four ‘People’s Choice’ awards.
Awardees are recognized and celebrated through DesignTO’s extensive network. Prizes accompany most awards.
Discover Milan Design Events 2025
DesignTO 2024
Explore the DesignTO 2025 Festival Schedule
2025 DesignTO Launch Party
Date & Time: January 24, 2025 | 7–11 PM
Location: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Celebrate the start of DesignTO’s 15th Festival at the official Launch Party! This event brings together Toronto’s creative community while raising funds for the non-profit Festival.
Enjoy a one-night-only installation by Toronto artist Asli Alin, preview the ‘REVIVE’ exhibition at Gallery 235, and explore new exhibitions showcasing works in lighting, sculpture, glass, textiles, and more. Dance to music by DJs Fly Lady Di and Delicious.
At the Conjuring of Roots, I Wished to Meet Me…
Dates: January 1–31, 2025
Location: Sankofa Square, 1 Dundas Street East, Toronto
Photographer and visual artist Delali Cofie presents a series of photos on five digital screens, exploring themes of identity and heritage.
BIPOC Portfolio Collaboration 2025
Dates: January 30–31, 2025
Format: In-person and online
Hosted by Gensler, this collaboration offers BIPOC students a chance to engage with industry professionals in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and more.
Bubble Quilt
Dates: January 24 – February 2, 2025
Location: 55 St Clair Avenue West
Studio Rat’s immersive installation transforms reclaimed waste plastics into an inflatable, glowing quilt, inspired by traditional patterns.
Discover Courmayeur Design Week-end
DesignTO 2024
DesignTO Talks: Net Positive
Date & Time: January 31, 2025 | 2 PM
Location: Ace Hotel Toronto, 51 Camden Street, Toronto
This half-day event gathers ten multidisciplinary experts to discuss innovative, abundance-driven responses to the climate crisis.
Tickets: $40 + HST (member discounts available)
DesignTO Youth: Story Story
Dates: January 25 – February 15, 2025
Location: Collision Gallery, 30 Wellington Street West, Toronto
A group exhibition featuring nine emerging artists from the DesignTO Youth program, reflecting on themes such as family, identity, and femininity.
DesignTO Youth Story Story – Lacework by Mal Yu
Dwell
Dates: January 24 – February 2, 2025
Location: Union Station (West Wing), 65 Front Street West, Toronto
A design exhibition that offers moments of pause in the busy urban environment. Showcasing furniture, florals, rugs, and animation, it invites visitors to reflect and reconnect.
Ideas Forum: Labour in Architecture
Date & Time: January 28, 2025 | 12 PM
Format: Online
This panel discussion, hosted with the Toronto Society of Architects, delves into the workplace dynamics of architecture teams and their evolving practices.
REVIVE
Dates: January 24 – March 30, 2025
Location: Gallery 235, Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
This exhibition features works by seven local and international artists, exploring endangered creative practices through sculpture, installation, photography, and more.
Surface Impressions
Dates: January 24 – February 21, 2025
Location: Umbra Concept Store, 165 John Street, Toronto
An exhibition exploring how creative processes can transform materials in unexpected ways, with contributions from nine local and international designers.
The Invisible Tide
Dates: January 24 – February 1, 2025 (specific dates vary)
Location: Mason Studio Cultural Hub, 91 Pelham Avenue, Toronto
A sensory installation by Mason Studio that immerses visitors in an unfamiliar yet resonant journey through light, sound, smell, and touch.
Why visit
Some data show that the DesignTO festival has a very positive impact on Toronto. In 13 years, the Festival has produced over 1,000 events. It has involved over 6,000 artists and designers. Visitors to the various events, including exhibitions, presentations and talks, totaled more than 160,000 in 2024, over 950,000 since 2011, attracting more than 19,000 tourists. And the figures on the economic impact generated by the DesignTO festival on Toronto are really interesting. In fact, the Festival produced more than $11.3 million in tourism spending, increasing direct GDP +$5.9 million, and $9.5 million in total economic impact on GDP.
The DesignTO festival engages the design community and citizens in a positive development throughout the city. The events, exhibitions, and presentations revolve around all the issues surrounding design. Several talks, with experts and internationally renowned designers, address a wide range of topics.
The aim of the Festival, in fact, is to make the general public love design and understand its value.
With more than 100 exhibitions and product presentations, talks, and guided tours, the DesignTO festival is an ideal place to expand design knowledge, especially among the general public.
DesignTO, various locations, Toronto, January 24-February 2, 2025
DesignTO is a design festival open to the general public
Size: 500 exhibitors, designers and artists, 160.000 visitors in 2024
Visit website DesignTo.com for more info on venues and exhibitions
