The Design Exchange has reinvented its annual fundraiser from the traditional DX Black and White Gala to the brand new DX Intersection.  The new name reflects the way the event mixes up different crowds, disciplines and cultures in a celebration of Canada’s top designers, artists, architects, IT specialists, directors and dynamos.  One minute you are catching up with a software developer and the next a fashion designer followed by a financial CEO.  The crowd is eclectic yet one that enjoys the intellectual and social stimulus of the event.

The crowd at the DX Gala

This year’s event honoured renowned artist and author Douglas Coupland with the brand new Gamechanger Award for his groundbreaking work in the Canadian and international design front.  A special VIP dinner featuring Coupland was followed by a general party that featured a highly anticipated AUKTION presented by IKEA, a carnival style balloon raffle with prizes for all, and a killer dance party featuring the sounds of multiple DJs from Toronto-based trio Embrace who artistically combined hip hop, electronica and jam.

Auction items

While punk artist Niall McCLelland and Toronto-based artist-musician Alex Durlak created luminescent story-telling devices on the Trading Floor, Toronto filmmaker Scott Cudmore collaborated with musician Jonah Falco for an innovative art-music mix on the exhibition floor.  Twenty silent auction winners walked away with the trailblazing IKEA AUKTION pieces made by established Canadian personalities, designers and artists who were given a $500 budget at IKEA to select items to make their own creation out of pieces from the major furniture brand’s stores.

As a special treat, die hard partygoers were served breakfast treats from Food Dudes’ new food truck.  The night’s proceeds will go toward youth education programs and Canadian design preservation through the DX.

Photos courtesy of George Pimentel