The inspiration for Todd Falkowsky’s work requires little explanation: his creating, consulting, crafting, and curating all derive from a love and fascination for The Great Big ‘C’: Canada!
While he has consulted internationally for some of the world’s leading agencies and brands, including IKEA, Ferrari, and Wolff Olins, Falkowsky’s drum definitely beats to the tune of O’Canada. He is the publisher of Canadian Design Resource, an online platform devoted to the celebration and recognition of Canadian designers, as well as the history, influences, trends, and symbols that continuously (re)define design in Canada.
Another project by Falkowsky is Motherbrand, which he describes as “a creative studio with broad expertise in content, experience, and brand design”. Motherbrand encompasses a diverse range of programs including events, exhibitions, pop-up souvenir shops, a magazine Hypergraphia, and Penny Smash – a hack on the familiar souvenir penny press.
But perhaps the most delightful salute to our True North is the series of furniture and design pieces crafted for Cabin, a 2003-2005 design exhibition of his Motherbrand Collection.
Cabin is an embrace of national icons and symbols that have come to be recognized as distinctively “Canadian.” Whether you own one or not, the cabin is a place, symbol, and experience well-known to every Canuck. It’s essence excites the summer months with promises of diving off the dock, grilling on the barbecue, and sipping frosty beers. In the winter, it embraces cocooning from snow drifts, savouring the smell of burning wood, and staying warm in “lumber-jack” plaids. Although this exhibition toured some time ago, it embraced the cabin and many other symbols that are a part of Canada.
Here are just some of Falkowsky’s pieces that playfully use Canadian symbols as resource and topic.
Antler Coat Rack (2006):
Photo Courtesy by behance.net/TFalkowsky
Prairie Bench Prototype (2008):
Photo Courtesy by behance.net/TFalkowsky
Both sculpture and furniture, the Prairie Bench mimics the wheat grass landscape of the Prairies. In case you were wondering, the design is comfortable too!
Toboggan Coffee Table (2008):
Photo courtesy of karenfron.com
Susan Armstrong of Canadian Design Resource perfectly addresses the nostalgia of Falkowsky’s piece, “The story of the toboggan’s past life remains, with the unique wear marks of wax and water spots reminding us of the thrill of winter and the wonder of childhood.”
National Park Tables (2004):
Photo Courtesy by behance.net/TFalkowsky
Canada’s National Parks harbour some of Canada’s most important treasures. Falkowsky brings there silhouettes into the home, creating surfaces of terrain to imagine the Canadian wild. Perhaps through projects like Falkowky’s, the topography of the National parks could be as recognizable as the Great Lakes’ distinctive shapes.
Canadian Table Cloth (2004):
Photo Courtesy by behance.net/TFalkowsky
Provincial and Federal symbols radiate from the centre of the table cloth to create a display and celebration of Canada’s past.
The National Colour Palette (2007):
Photo Courtesy by behance.net/TFalkowsky
Through a process of employing computer software, using photographs, and partly intuitive measures, Falkowsky sets out to find the essential colour of particular places. In attempt to capture the colour of a specific locale, a greater sense of the city as a whole is felt by its residents. What colour would your street, neighbourhood, or city be?
Investigating and celebrating characteristics and symbols that make up why Canada feels like Canada is important in celebrating our presence, our terrain, and what “home” means. Todd Falkowsky uses humour and cleverness to design what he envisions to be part of “The Canadian Home.”
Todd Falkowsky is working on many more incredible projects that can be viewed through the links below:
Researched and Written by Sara Nicole England, an undergraduate student at OCAD University in the Criticism and Curatorial Practice Program
