ROM Connects: Promising Futures in Canadian Design

Elizabeth "Dori" Tunstall is a design anthropologist, public intellectual, and design advocate who works at the intersections of critical theory, culture, and design. As Dean of Design at Ontario College of Art and Design University, she is the first black and black female dean of a faculty of design. She is a recognized leader in the decolonization of art and design education.

Anthia Barboutsis is an art jeweller from Toronto. Her work is rooted in traditional craft and draws inspiration from her Greek and Indian heritage. Barboutsis blends ideas from disciplines including history, philosophy, and contemporary art and design.

Harcharan Jagdev is a multi-disciplinary designer who builds living spaces and creates audiovisual and interactive experiences. The core foundation of his work is idealization.

From textiles to product design, Elfy Castro integrates traditional and modern techniques with sustainable media. Their work immerses viewers in diverse worlds where past and future find common ground through identity and story.

Khalalelo Sithole is a passionate fashion and textile designer. She is influenced by modern trends and sociocultural themes. Her work features dynamic color compositions, symbolic patterns, and storytelling.

Rachel Leung explores the function and symbolism of colour in her work. She uses hidden motifs in the details of her designs to draw viewers in and spark their curiosity.

Stephanie Singh is a Toronto-based interdisciplinary textile designer. Her work explores memory, preservation, love, care, loss, healing, and plant consciousness. Singh focuses on materials connected to her Caribbean culture, storytelling, and botanicals.