Toronto’s design scene is thriving: the city is home to over 24,000 designers and 4,300 manufacturing firms. We boast some of the most respected high-quality office manufacturers in the world and a healthy community of craftspeople-makers working in ceramics, textiles and small-batch furniture. But the city still presents challenges to design brands aiming to expand their manufacturing prowess while keeping production local. And yet many are doing it — from big guns like Teknion to smaller outfits like Hollis + Morris and Paolo Ferrari.

What does it take to design and make things in Toronto? What kinds of resources — from metal factories to advanced manufacturing tools — are these labels tapping into? What level of quality, not to mention street cred, do they establish by keeping a tight geographical footprint? For IDS Toronto’s Trade Day, Azure Talks convenes a panel of established and rising brands that have found success making entire lighting and furniture collections in Toronto: Steve Verbeek (Teknion), Paolo Ferrari, Christian Lo (Anony), Brian Richer (Castor) and Mischa Couvrette (Hollis + Morris).

This talk is open to architecture and design professionals only, and qualifies for 1 CEU from IDCEC and 1 Structured Learning Hour from the OAA. Attendance is free – Registration to IDS20 Trade Day is required.

“Azure Talks: Made in Toronto” is generously presented by Teknion.