My partner and I were recently posed with the question, “What is Canadian design”? After many sleepless nights we formed a simple and approachable solution, almost by chance--Canadian design is the act of Canadians making design regardless of where they are located in the world. This simple answer made me look at the notion of Canadian design in such a different light. Where before I was thinking of landscape, Canadiana and toques, now I was looking at it in a much larger framework and side-stepping the all too prevalent stereotypes found throughout mass media.
If you think about Canadian landscape for example, there isn’t necessarily a collective Canadian experience. Having lived in Calgary, Vancouver and now Toronto I realize the vast social and geographical differences in each of these cities, and at times the differences seem as pronounced throughout regions of our country than between Canada and other countries. As a second generation Canadian, I have had the opportunity to live in the UK and Barcelona. I have been influenced by these places and it continually creeps back into my work. And at the end of the day, regardless where my inspiration comes from, I am still a Canadian creating design. Many people use Canada’s beautiful natural setting as inspiration and though I am continually inspired by our site and situation, I also look at other places and spaces, which include what we have started calling Streets as Laboratories.
Following are three slides from a presentation we gave on finding inspiration. From being Canadian, traveling, and living in other places, I realize my unique perspective allows me to locate beauty and creativity anywhere. Even in the garbage.
---ANITA MODHA
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