2013 Edition

Highlights

More than 20,000 visits were recorded this weekend at participating architects and designers who opened their doors as part of the 6th Design Montréal Open House. This resounding success is proof of the public’s interest in design and architecture.

Experience the 2013 edition with this video produced by orangetango.

The range of visitors was as varied as the motivations that drew them to the nearly 110 chosen locations; some came out of simple curiosity, others came to discover the creative practitioners in their neighbourhood, and still others were on the lookout for new ideas or to find a professional with whom to entrust their own project. The participants who opened their doors were unanimous in praising this welcome opportunity to reach out to citizens and to have their work better known.

Several visitors took advantage of the open house to exchange ideas freely with the designers and to learn about their award-winning projects and current endeavours. Young adults were able to discover a variety of workplaces and to draw inspiration for career or job choices from the passion of the designers they met. Each open house was a new opportunity to gain a better sense of the scope of design and its impact on our lives; interactive activities for children and adults (guided tours, creative workshops, presentation of mock-ups and visual projects, and more) helped shed light on the stages involved in developing a design project, from idea to reality. Making architecture and design available in this way helped to demystify, personalize, visualize and experience these creative fields, to the great joy of thousands of people.

The open house was in full swing in the streets and neighbourhoods of eight Montréal boroughs, with activities concentrated in the north and east on Saturday and in the downtown area and south on Sunday. Signs of the event were everywhere (streamers, marked trails, posters and iconic drawings). Visitors could be seen going door to door, with programs and maps in hand, eager to visit as many locations as possible. Advertised several days before the event, the walking trail laid out by Heritage Montréal in tribute to architect Luc Laporte thoroughly enthralled the public.

Producers and partners

Design Montréal Open House is an initiative of the Ville de Montréal in collaboration with the design community and partnership with the ministère de la Culture et des Communications, under the Agreement on the cultural development of Montréal.

2013 Promotional Campaign

Coordinated by

Bureau du design de la Ville de Montréal

Graphic Design

Based on an original idea by Orangetango (2010):

• DentsuBos
• Graphiques M&H
• Mathieu Lévesque, photographe

Sketches

• Daoust Lestage inc. architecture design urbain (place des Festivals, couverture avant)
• Michel Dallaire Design Industriel (BIXI, couverture arrière)
• Cardin Ramirez Julien + Ædifica (Planétarium Rio Tinto Alcan, affiches promotionnelles)
• Sophie Simonnet (mobilier, station et symbole métro STM)

Computer Graphic Design

Mance Lanctôt, Fig.com

Website

PixelCircus

Press Relations

Reeves & associés

Newswire

v2com

Registration & Eligibility

Registration is now over, stay tuned for more details to come soon!

Since 2007, the Bureau du design de la Ville de Montréal has organized the Design Montréal Open House event. The next edition will be held May 4 and 5, 2013.

Design professionals (architects / landscape architects / interior designers / industrial designers / graphic designers / fashion designers* / urban designers) who have won awards in 2011 or 2012 are invited to open the doors to their office or atelier and/or present an award-winning Montréal project (e.g., residence, building, park) that can be visited in situ.

Since the first Open House, close to 150 firms, projects and design venues have opened their doors and received more than 76, 700 visits.

Admissibilité

To be eligible, your office/workroom must:
• be located in Montréal
• have won a design award or be a finalist or winner in a project or concept competition in 2011 or 2012
• open its doors to visitors at no charge and/or present an award-winning Montréal project from noon to 5 p.m. on either Saturday or Sunday

*There is no fashion selection committee this year; If you are a fashion designer and have won a fashion award in the past to years, either local or international,
please contact us.

STEP 1 / REGISTRATION
DEADLINE: December 14, 2012
ONLINE FORM
Fill in this short form to register for the 2013 program. You will then receive the participant’s guide and participation form containing useful information for completing your registration and properly planning your participation in Design Montréal Open House 2013.

STEP 2 / SUBMISSION OF FULL DOCUMENTATION
DEADLINE: December 20, 2012
Return the completed participation form (description of the firm’s services and activity provided, list of awards won, photos of a recent project/collection).

Why be part of this event?

By taking part in the Open House, you help members of the public:

• discover the design and architecture disciplines
• dispel preconceived notions about these professions
• demonstrate the diversity and talent of Montréal designers

This is the perfect opportunity for you to stand out. Why not take advantage of the event to present a new creation! Hold a launch, vernissage, creation workshop, screening or entertaining activity…

You can also issue an invitation to your clients and suppliers and offer them a personalized welcome. The time is ripe to remind them that your work has won awards and that you’re being showcased among the city’s very best!

Another great advantage is that you will be part of the Montréal Designers Directory.

Designers and architects who agree to open their doors do so for a variety of reasons. Here are some examples:

• Contribution to the growth of design
• Engagement with the design community; employee pride
• Free visibility
• Development of business partnerships

Etc.

To learn more about
Design Montréal Open House

To learn more about the 2011 edition

A few testimonials from participants

Katrin Leblond, fashion designer
“The visitors had all kinds of comments and encouragement for me. The visibility provided was very good for business. I have the impression of being an integral part of the design community.”

Thien Ta Trung, Owner, Domison
“Our participation in the Open House day was a huge success. More than 500 design enthusiasts came to visit and discover our new boutique! The event helped us reach a large client group that is already receptive to design.”

Michel Dufresne, urban planner and partner, Groupe Cardinal Hardy
“Our participation allowed us to canvass our clients, local organizations, the borough technical department and the general public in a more personalized manner, through the local newspaper and an invitation card sent out by e mail.”

Natalie Dionne, architect
“I really enjoyed the chance to share our know-how, demystify the profession of architect, become better known to the public—and, against all expectations, greet 523 people!”

Partners

The Design Montréal Open House is an initiative of the Design Montréal office of the Ville de Montréal, produced in co-operation with the professional design community and in partnership with the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine du Québec, through the Agreement on the Cultural Development of Montréal.