The Design Exchange has the only permanent collection of modern Canadian industrial design in the country and has taken on the task of preserving Canadian industrial design heritage. The collection features a survey of Canadian chairs from the 1940's to present day including some really nifty "fifties" chairs. Acquisitions include an elegant aluminum floor lamp (c. 1948) by Winnipeg designer William Trott, Vello Hubel's award-winning Cloverleaf nesting tables (c. 1992) and the personal desk of John C. Parkin, a leading Modernist architect of the 1950's and 1960's. Parkin designed the desk himself and because of its sleek lines and minimalist structure, it is a perfect example of micro-architecture. The collection is also a wonderful place to view hot new products such as the Megapro 15 in 1 screwdriver, Karim Rashid's Garbo Can and Michael Santella's Flex Chair.

Although many artifacts of Canadian design have been neglected or destroyed, there is nonetheless a tremendous opportunity to reclaim our design history and to recognize landmark achievements as they happen. A case in point, DX rescued one of the last samples of Robin Bush's "Lollipop" seating, a 60's icon of the Canadian furniture industry, just days before it was thrown into the garbage by the Toronto Island Airport.

In 1991, DX began informally collecting with the donation of the Project G2 Stereo by Frank Davies, a designer for Clairtone Sound Corporation. In August 1996, the Design Exchange Board of Directors passed a motion to actively collect Canadian design and organize a Permanent Collection Committee. Since then the collection has grown to include historical and contemporary examples of decorative arts, furniture, graphic design, housewares, lighting, medical equipment, sporting goods and tableware. In 1997, many items in the DX collection were featured on a Canada Post stamp celebrating achievements in Canadian industrial design.

Source: Design Exchange