In today’s world, where people are being uprooted by the climate crisis, war, economic hardship, and social unrest, creative expression has become a vital way to make sense of displacement. The 2026 DesignTO Thematic Exhibition: Traces explores how artists, designers, and architects respond to these realities by capturing the emotional weight of migration, the impact of involuntary relocation, and the ongoing struggle to preserve culture and identity.
Acts of creative expression offer new ways of understanding what it means to lose a home, rebuild a life, and imagine belonging in unfamiliar places. From architecture shaped by conflict to art that gives voice to personal histories, the exhibition brings together powerful, human-centred perspectives on one of the defining issues of our time.
Sub-themes:
Emotional and Personal Experience
How can creative work express the emotional weight of being uprooted—the pain of leaving home, the uncertainty of starting over, and the resilience required to move forward?
Cultural Identity and Memory
In what ways do people carry culture with them? How does identity shift in new environments, and how do histories of colonialism and involuntary migration shape those transformations? How do we hold memories?
Environmental Displacement
How are artists and designers responding to climate crisis, ecological destruction, and resource extraction as growing causes of displacement? How can personal stories illuminate these global forces?
Conflict and the Built Environment
What happens to architecture and public space in times of war, political unrest, or forced relocation? How can design offer protection, dignity, or hope in the midst of crisis? How does the future shape the present?
Community and Collaboration
How can creative practices centre the voices and experiences of displaced people, fostering collaboration, shared storytelling, and new ways of imagining place and belonging?
How to Submit
DesignTO 2026 invite submissions from artists and designers working in all mediums and formats. Submissions of existing work or realized projects are preferred; however, we will consider submissions of new work and speculative projects. All submissions must include the following: A description of the project or work (max. 150 words) — please be sure to include the following details: title, materials/format, dimensions, year; A description of how your object or work connects to the exhibition theme (max. 300 words); A short bio on you and/or your creative practice (max. 150 words); 1-3 images of the project or work (max. 1MB per image); and Your contact info (name, email, phone number, mailing address), CV, and website URL (if available).
Deadline
Submissions are due Friday, September 26, 2025 by 11:59pm ET. The exhibition runs January 23 – February 22, 2026, as part of the DesignTO Festival, January 23 – February 1, 2026.
