Design festival takes on climate consciousness

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This article was published 12/09/2024 (706 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

We’re under pressure.

Not just from the ticking clock of climate change, but from the need to rethink how we design, build and exist within our cities. That’s the message behind this year’s Winnipeg Design Festival (WDF), which runs throughout September, and it’s one that’s hard to ignore.

Inspired by the Queen and David Bowie anthem Under Pressure, the festival takes that urgent energy and channels it into a month-long exploration of climate-conscious design and urban planning.

Curated by Jennie O’Keefe and Andraea Sartison, co-owners of Fête Jockey Events, this year’s theme challenges participants and spectators alike to envision what Winnipeg might look like 150 years from now.

“We’re all under pressure,” Sartison says. “We’re under the gun right now to make major changes in how we design and build, not just for today, but for future generations. There’s pressure in design timelines, artistic timelines and — perhaps most critically — the Earth’s timeline.”

Sartison and O’Keefe bring a fresh perspective to the festival. Though neither is a traditional architect or urban planner, Sartison says they are both deeply immersed in design and art.

Sartison, a theatre artist, and O’Keefe, a visual artist, have long grappled with how to make their respective practices more sustainable.

“In our own work, we were noticing how much waste was being created — temporary installations, things that were only used once and then thrown away. We started thinking, ‘How do we make this more climate-conscious?’ That’s where the seed for this year’s theme was planted.”

Their approach to the festival is anything but conventional.

Instead of focusing only on the technical aspects of architecture, they’ve expanded to include a wider range of voices.

“We wanted to push the boundaries of who gets to be part of the conversation,” Sartison says. “It’s not just about the professionals; it’s about families, kids and everyday Winnipeggers. We all have a role to play in shaping our city’s future.”

For Sartison, the long-term vision — imagining Winnipeg 150 years from now — offers both a challenge and a glimmer of hope.

“When you think about that kind of timeline, it’s mentally hard to grasp,” she says. “But it also gives us hope. When we’re stuck in a place of climate crisis or climate anxiety, thinking long-term forces us to ask, ‘How are my choices today going to impact generations to come?’”

This year’s festival is about more than just talk, she says. It’s about action.

Attendees are invited to participate in the creation of a 3D map of their “dream city,” a hands-on project that encourages people to reimagine what Winnipeg could become if climate-conscious design were at its core.

A key feature of the festival is its focus on inclusivity. The festival, launched by Storefront Manitoba in 2011, aims to break down barriers between professionals and the public.

“At the core, the festival emerged from the Manitoba Association of Architects, so there’s always a focus on traditional design programming,” says Jaya Beange, executive director of Storefront Manitoba.

“But the festival has expanded to include graphic designers, fashion designers, culinary arts and more. We want the programming to hit on many different levels because people learn in different ways.”

Sartison is particularly excited about how the festival balances being educational while still engaging for a wide audience.

“That’s why Fête Jockey was chosen as curators,” she says. “We’ve always created events that are for the wide public, not just specialists. We have young families, and we know how important it is to make things accessible to everyone. Whether you’re five years old or 50, there’s something at this festival for you.”

One of the most intriguing events is SaturWAYS Scent Ways: Vapour Pressure, a guided sensory workshop led by Anna Sigrithur on Saturday at 1 p.m. As they walk through the Exchange District from the Cube stage, participants will learn to adapt their sense of smell to the local effects of climate change.

“It’s all about understanding how the climate impacts our surroundings in subtle ways, like through the smells we encounter. It’s something most of us don’t usually think about,” says Beange.

For those who prefer a more active approach, Coffee Outside with Bike Winnipeg at Bonnycastle Park every Friday morning invites participants to join other bike commuters for a quick coffee on their way to work. Beange says it’s a chance to connect with others embracing active transportation and sharing experiences while considering the role of sustainable urban mobility.

For those more interested in architecture, ArchitecTOUR offers the opportunity to tour some of Winnipeg’s most innovative buildings, showcasing sustainable designs that reflect the city’s future.

“We’ve got tours of some very sustainable projects throughout the month, which will be really interesting for anyone curious about how design can directly impact the environment,” Beange says.

“We’re hoping all of Winnipeg will come out and participate,” Sartison says. “Whether it’s by bike, boat, or on foot, we want people to feel like they’re part of this conversation about the future.”

All events are free. For more information and a full list of events, head to storefrontmb.ca.

thandi.vera@freepress.mb.ca

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