Between our signature Come Up to My Room event, the Interior Design Show, and Toronto Design Offsite Festival (TODO), Toronto’s design scene really comes alive this time of year.

This year, we’ve partnered with TODO for an Art Hut exhibition entitled ‘Outside the Box.’ The project builds a map of design across North America.

Here’s how the project works:

First, leading curators and designers select correspondents in each participating city. This year ‘Outside the Box’ presents showcases from 6 Canadian and 6 U.S. cities: Asheville (North Carolina), Detroit, Edmonton, Halifax, Los Angeles, Medicine Hat (Alberta), Montreal, New York, Portland, San Francisco Bay Area, Toronto, and Vancouver.

Then, the correspondents must create a collection of thoughtfully designed objects that will fit into a standard Bankers box. Each box must include original works from local designers and reflect the particular resources and makers of each area. This annual traveling exhibition presents a dozen distinct national and international showcases each year. For this fifth edition of ‘Outside the Box,’ artists have been tasked with responding to the theme of “discovery.” From the curators:

“Discovery inspires, invites play and travel, and exposes us to new ideas, inspirations, and experiences. City correspondents and curators are invited to explore “discovery” in any way.”

Check out this year’s correspondents:

Asheville | Marilyn Zapf
Detroit | Alex Rosenhaus & Drew Arrison
Edmonton | Vivian HT
Halifax | Amanda Shore
Los Angeles | Erin Brown
Medicine Hat | Jenna Stanton
Montreal | Lysanne Latulippe
New York | WantedDesign
San Francisco Bay Area | Melanie Abrantes
Toronto | Shelter Bay
Vancouver | Kate Duncan

Since its debut in 2015 in Toronto, over 100 design studios and makers have been a part of ‘Outside the Box.’

‘Outside the Box’ was created by the Toronto Design Offsite Festival, and is organized every year in partnership with WantedDesign.

The ‘Outside the Box’ opening reception is this Saturday, Jan 21, from 5-8pm. See you there!