Design.Talks

04/18/2026

If you are free this weekend, d.talks has an URGENT need for help with our volunteer casino.
Design.Talks

Spots still open:

Chiprunner Sunday April 19th 9am-7:30pm

Count Room Monday April 20th 11pm-3:30am

What we offer:
- a fun chance to connect with others in our d.talks community
- a meal at the casino restaurant
- UBER transportation to and from the casino if you don’t have a vehicle.

Sign up below!

Location: PURE Casino, 1420 Meridian Rd NE, Calgary, AB T2A 2N9 Notice: Volunteers can only work ONE position during this two-day event. Volunteers are more than welcome to work more than one shift IN the SAME POSITION. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Than...

05/19/2025

What design in Calgary is hiding in plain sight?

Design Week Calgary () is a festival by designers, for designers—celebrating the talent shaping our city. It invites the public to explore how design influences daily life, drives innovation, and fuels Calgary’s growth.

Our 2025 theme, In Plain Sight, draws attention to the overlooked elements of our daily lives—the subtle, often invisible ways design shapes how we move, connect, and experience the world around us.

At the heart of this year’s brand concept: the humble traffic cone.

⚫️ Seen everywhere, yet rarely noticed.
⚫️ A symbol of both progress and obstruction.
⚫️ Resilient—upright despite disruption.
⚫️ Playful—repurposed as a hat, a megaphone, or a beacon of attention.

Reimagined for Design Week Calgary, the traffic cone becomes a metaphor for unseen design: familiar, functional, and quietly powerful. It’s time to see what’s been right in front of us all along.

Design Week Calgary is happening from August 7-9, 2025! For more updates, check out our website through the link in our bio.

What’s a piece of design in Calgary that you think goes unnoticed—but deserves some love? Drop it in the comments.

Branding by

04/21/2025

🧠 What happens when a UX designer’s mindset shapes your experience?

How does UX design shape our day-to-day lives? Can great design uplift us—and can bad design bring us down?

Join us for a thought-provoking panel exploring how a designer’s mindset (and their biases) can impact how we interact with the world around us. Hosted by d.talks, Calgary UX & J5 Design ().

✨ Bring your curiosity. Stay for the conversation.

 🎤 Speakers to be announced!

🗓️ When: Thursday, April 24, 2025
📍 Where: J5 Design, #1500 – 140 4 Ave SW, Calgary
🕔 Time: Doors at 5:00pm | Panel at 5:30pm | Ends at 7:30pm
🎟️ Register via link in bio


12/16/2024

Populus (), Stantec (), and S2 Architecture () unveil the BMO Centre at Stampede Park!

Set as Western Canada’s largest convention centre, this visionary project spans an impressive 1 million square feet and is designed to accommodate up to 33,000 guests. The centrepiece—a stunning copper-coloured canopy—pays homage to Calgary’s rugged landscape and the vibrant spirit of the Stampede Festival. This architectural marvel not only enhances Stampede Park’s skyline but also integrates seamlessly with the urban fabric, embodying Calgary’s rich heritage.

Inside, visitors are greeted by a grand central atrium featuring a monumental black staircase and Canada’s largest indoor fireplace, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows offering breathtaking views of Calgary’s dynamic skyline. The design details, such as leather-wrapped doors inspired by Alberta Boot’s craftsmanship, reflect a deep connection to local traditions and culture.
What design element excites you most about the BMO Centre? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️

🔗 Link in bio for more details.

Image source: Tom Harris ()

12/13/2024

🌸 Calgary Design Appreciation:  The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre  🌸

Nestled in Calgary’s Chinatown, the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre is a stunning fusion of traditional Chinese and modern Western architecture. Constructed in 1992, this multi-level complex is designed to mimic Bejing’s iconic Temple of Heaven, symbolizing cultural heritage and architectural excellence.

The centre’s most striking feature is its roof, adorned with vibrant blue tiles and intricate designs, the roof exemplifies traditional Chinese architectural elements. Crafted by expert artisans, the blue tiles were produced in China and installed using traditional Chinese layering techniques, creating an authentic look.

Inside, the centre features a large hall, gymnasium, classrooms, offices, a museum and more. The Dr. Henry Fok Cultural Hall mirrors the grandeur of the Hall of Prayers inside the Temple of Heaven, featuring a 70-foot high dome painted in rich teal blue, adorned with 561 dragons and 40 phoenixes. The intricate designs and vivid colours reflect traditional Chinese motifs, symbolizing prosperity and cultural richness. The hall’s red columns represent the four seasons with adjacent twelve posts symbolizing the twelve months of the year.

The Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre is a living homage to the architectural marvels of ancient China, bringing a piece of China to Calgary and celebrating the city’s rich multicultural history and identity.

What is your favourite infusion of cultural elements in the Chinese Cultural Centre? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️

🔗 Link in bio for more details.

Image source: Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre

12/09/2024

What makes a park or library such a key player in community life?

As our cities expand, we’re beginning to appreciate public spaces. Libraries, community centres, recreation centres, and parks are becoming even more crucial—they’re where we come together and genuinely connect.

Architecture firms like KPMB () have highlighted this, calling public spaces “the heartbeat of a community.” They’ve shown that these spaces, designed with people in mind, could be:

🌇 A community centre with a rooftop terrace perfect for yoga.
📚 An outdoor square where people love to curl up with a book.
🌳 A park where you can picnic, roller skate, or just hang out.
🎧 Distraction-free zones for neurodiverse folks.

Public community spaces are important, as they:

🌟 Let people connect and come together—whether it’s with friends, family, or new faces.
🤗 Make everyone feel like they’re part of something special.
🚻 Offer public washrooms for all genders.
🎨 Create multipurpose spaces for all kinds of activities and events.

The best-designed spaces make everyone feel welcome and included.

Have you ever been to a public space that left an impression on you? How was it—positive or negative? We’d love to hear about it in the comments.

🔗 in bio to read more.

Image source: Downsview Framework Plan by Henning Larsen (Urban Design); KPMB Architects (Architecture); SLA Architects (Landscape); Urban Strategies (Planning)

12/05/2024

Calgary Design Appreciation: Great Plains Recreation Facility

Designed by MJMA (.ca) and completed in 2016, the Great Plains Recreation Facility is a key part of Calgary’s recreation facility program, aimed to provide accessible recreation opportunities and accommodate various sports at different levels of play. Featuring two multi-purpose rinks, the Great Plains Recreation facility brings together hockey, sledge hockey, ringette, and figure skating enthusiasts from across the city. 🏒⛸️

As a civic hub on the east edge of the city, the facility serves as a social and architectural catalyst for the surrounding industrial area. The project rethinks the typical arena plan by creating a central social space at the heart of the facility, fostering meaningful social engagement.

Anticipating Calgary’s future needs, it allows for a potential quad pad complex, with two arrival forecourts and a centralized lobby around an elevated restaurant. Additional amenities include spectator seating for 600 visitors, various rooms for studios, classrooms, and meetings, food and beverage services, a pro shop, change rooms, officials rooms, dryland training space, and administration offices.

Have you visited the Great Plains Recreation Facility? What’s your favourite activity to enjoy there? Share with us below! ⬇️

🔗 in bio for more details.

Image source: MJMA Architecture & Design (.ca)

11/27/2024

“The connection between design and the public has always seemed too distant, but d.talks is working hard to change that. Through their public conversations, events, and initiatives, they’re working to bridge the gap between professionals and the community, making design accessible to everyone. That is no small feat!”

Charmaine Muzyka (.stott) is a volunteer with d.talks, having recently been one of the participants in the AI + Design: Friend or foe? debate. About a year ago, Charmaine was introduced to d.talks and instantly felt the urge to get involved. With a deep passion for design and architecture, she had been searching for a community of like-minded individuals, fellow creatives, and events that would inspire her. And she found exactly that!

“Volunteering with d.talks has given me the chance to help and contribute and connect with others to help to shape our city’s design dialogue. It’s more than just a platform for discussions, it’s a vibrant community where every voice matters and radical creativity is encouraged. I’m excited about everything that d.talks has in the works for the future!”

Volunteers like Charmaine are the lifeblood of d.talks, fueling our mission to make design accessible and bring the community into the conversation. Whether it’s creating programs, hosting events, or sparking discussions, they’re shaping a better future for Calgary. Want to be part of a vibrant community of like-minded individuals? Consider volunteering with us at d.talks! Head over to the link in our bio for all the info on how to get involved and join our Discord!

And we need your help to grow this community! With your donation, you’ll help us expand our programs, reach more voices, and make an even bigger impact. The best part? Alberta’s matching funds mean your donation today goes twice as far!

Join us in empowering more voices in Calgary’s design community. Let’s build something amazing together.

Donate through the 🔗 in our bio!
https://fnd.us/Friendsgiving_2024

11/22/2024

How can AI transform public art and encourage what makes us captivated by certain places… that notion of wanderlust? ✨

Digital art studio Iregular (.io) is revolutionizing public urban space with AI-integerated art installations. Iregular uses AI to design engaging public art that attracts people to specific locations, encouraging them to linger and interact with their surroundings.

Iregular Project Highlights:

OUR COMMON HOME
⭐ Uses advanced AI and computer vision to highlight how individual choices affect the planet, with four interactive monoliths in different cities and a fifth online artwork for a complete environmental awareness experience.

FACES⭐
FACES creates an interactive experience where AI tracks participants’ facial traits to form a constantly evolving 3D portrait, sparking a dialogue about identity and technology.

How do you think AI can enhance public art in your city? Share your thoughts below! ⬇️

🔗 Link in bio to learn more about these exciting installations.

Images by Iregular Studio
—
Le studio Iregular (.io) transforme l’espace urbain avec des installations artistiques intégrées à l’IA, créant des œuvres publiques qui attirent et engagent les gens.

Points forts des projets Iregular :

OUR COMMON HOME
⭐ Utilise l’IA et la vision par ordinateur pour montrer l’impact de nos choix individuels sur la planète, avec quatre monolithes interactifs dans différentes villes et une cinquième œuvre en ligne, offrant une expérience complète de sensibilisation environnementale.

FACES 
⭐ FACES
propose une expérience interactive où l’IA suit les traits faciaux des participants pour créer un portrait 3D en évolution constante, suscitant un dialogue sur l’identité et la technologie.Comment pensez-vous que l’IA peut améliorer l’art public dans votre ville ? Partagez vos réflexions ci-dessous! ⬇️

🔗 Lien dans la bio pour en savoir plus sur ces installations passionnantes.

Images par Iregular Studio

11/18/2024

🎟️ Last chance to grab your seats! 🎟️

Our event is happening TOMORROW, and we want YOU to be part of the conversation! There are still a few tickets left—don’t miss your chance to dive into the future of AI in design.

We’re kicking off an exciting debate—Design + AI: Friend or Foe?—with our friends at for on Tuesday, November 19.

Join us as our moderator, Jasmine Palardy (), leads the discussion with an incredible lineup of panelists:

🔺 Pro AI: Jinmo Rhee, PhD, Instructor at the University of Calgary ()
🔶 Pro AI: Silviia Al-Masani, Architect & Interior Designer
🔷 Pro human: Dennis Lenarduzzi (.dennis) of Berlin ()
🟣 Pro human: Sunita LeGallou (), SAIT ()

Where:
📍 Platform Calgary

Schedule:
🕔 5:00 PM - Doors open
🗣️ 5:30 PM - Debate starts
💬 7:00 PM - Debate ends / Networking begins
🕗 8:00 PM - Event ends

🔗 Don’t wait—snag your seats through the link in bio!

🎟️ bit.ly/dtalks-design-ai-debate

11/17/2024

11/16/2024

Our debate, AI + Design: Friend or Foe?, with for , is just three days away!

As we gear up, we thought we’d take a look at how AI has influenced the worlds of design and architecture. Ever wondered about AI’s impact on the creative process? Join us on a journey through some key milestones:

🖥️ 1960s-1980s: The 1960s saw the rise of Computer-Aided Design (CAD), letting designers work digitally. By the 1970s, expert systems like DENDRAL and MYCIN began assisting with complex decisions.

🏗️ 1980s-1990s: AI algorithms in the 1980s started generating varied design options. In the 1990s, AutoCAD improved efficiency with features that began to ‘think’ for designers.

📐 2000s: The 2000s introduced parametric design tools like Rhinoceros with Grasshopper, enabling dynamic and complex shape creation.

🤖 2010s: By the 2010s, AI analyzed big data for sustainable and efficient design choices, with Deep Learning even generating floor plans.

🏢 2020s: Today, AI is reshaping design by automating tasks, simulating advanced designs, and enhancing brainstorming, sustainability, and collaboration.

It’s impressive to see how AI is transforming creativity! Did you spot any milestones that were new to you? Share your thoughts in the comments ⬇️

📍 Where: Platform Calgary
🕔 When: Tuesday, November 19, 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

🔗 Link in bio to save your seat. See you there!

bit.ly/dtalks-design-ai-debate

Image sources: SphinxWorldBiz, xShaan Hurley, bimwise, Rhino3D, Jeremie Souteyrat and Parametric Architecture