REGISTER FOR THE ITALIAN DESIGN DAY 2025 HERE!
The Italian Cultural Institute in Toronto and the Italian Trade Commission of Canada in collaboration with the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario, the Consulate General of Italy in Vancouver and Emily Carr University of Art and Design of Vancouver, present the 9th edition of the Italian Design Day (IDD), an annual recurrence dedicated to the celebration of the excellence of design Made in Italy design all around the world. This year's theme is "Inequalities - Design for a better life". Two events will take place in Canada, one in Toronto and one in Vancouver, on Februrary 18 and 21, respectively.
Italian architect Maite García Sanchis (Adjunct Professor, Politecnico di Milano) will be the keynote speaker at both and will then join a panel discussion with distinguished scholars and professionals.
“Design, declined in its various scales, from urban design to product design, can give form to the system of accords expressed in a social contract, typical of society, and work for the community interpreting the relationships experienced subjectively through the feelings of belonging and participation", Architect García Sanchis writes. "By reading these two models as parts of a single scheme comprehensive of society as a whole, Design becomes a valuable tool that can identify critical aspects and intervene in favor of a better life by addressing the challenge of sustainable development.”
Italian architect Maite García Sanchís (Adjunct Professor, Politecnico di Milano) will be the keynote speaker at both events.
In Toronto, Ms. García Sanchis will then join a panel discussion bringing together two distinguished professionals, i.e. Ronen Bauer, Partner at Moriyama Teshima Architects and Lisa Landrum, Professor and Chair of the Department of Architectural Science at Toronto Metropolitan University and led by moderator Elizabeth Pagliacolo, Editor in Chief at AZURE Magazine.
In Vancouver, the panel discussion will include a few prestigious speakers i.e. Robin Mitchell Cranfield, Instructor at Emily Carr University, Master of Design, Tommaso Oberti, President at Oberti Resort Group and Pheidias Group and Brian Dust, Architect at NSDA Vancouver and will be moderated by Maria Elena Lanzafame, Trade Analyst, Italian Trade Agency's Office in Vancouver.
Both panels will explore how design can address social inequalities and contribute to sustainable development and reply to questions from the audience.
To learn more about all of our speakers, click here.
Participation is free and requires registration.
Events' date and location
Toronto
Spadina Theatre, 24 Spadina Road, Toronto
Date: February 18th, 2025
Vancouver
Emily Carr University of Art & Design, 520 1st Avenue East, Vancouver
Date: February 21st, 2025
Preliminary event programme (for both locations)
5.30 pm Registration
6.00 Introductory remarks – Video
6:15 Keynote speech - Maite Garcia Sanchìs
6.50 Panel Discussion
7:20 Questions & answers
7:35 Final remarks
A networking cocktail will follow the discussion
9:00 Event ends
What is the Italian Design Day (IDD)?
The IDD is promoted worldwide by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Italy and is produced also with the contribution of several other partners, including Adi, Fondazione Adi, Triennale Milano, Salone del mobile di Milano, Federlegno arredo, Direzione generale creatività contemporanea of the Ministry of Culture and the Italian trade commission (aka ITA).
