CBC ON DESIGN Showcases Canada’s Brightest Design Innovators
All five episodes are now streaming on CBC Gem
What does it take to turn an idea into an object—something tangible, useful and even beautiful? The new CBC Arts Original series CBC ON DESIGN sets out to answer that question, following a handful of Canadian designers as they dream, prototype and build their way from concept to creation.
Streaming now on CBC Gem, the five-part series (directed by award-winning filmmaker Colin Waugh) offers a tightly edited, deeply human glimpse into the lives of designers who are shaping how we live, work and play. Across five 15-minute episodes, it explores the ingenuity and craft behind products that straddle the line between functional and artistic.
What emerges is less a how-to than a meditation on why we make things at all, and what it means to do so in Canada, where regional industries and cultural identity converge in unique ways. The series makes space for the intimate, often messy moments of design: from the hands mixing pigment into concrete to the awkward first prototype that only hints at the final form. These glimpses remind us that good design is rarely linear and often full of risk—and that’s what makes it worth watching.
CBC ON DESIGN kicks off with Concrete, featuring Montreal-based duo Matt and Shawna Heide of Concrete Cat. Renowned for their colourful and technically sophisticated concrete pieces, the couple has collaborated with everyone from Seth Rogen to Ace Hotel, proving that the world’s most manufactured material can also be its most expressive.
Another episode spotlights Rashelle Campbell, an Edmonton-based Nehiyaw Iskwew multidisciplinary designer. Her bold, bright, and nostalgic rugs blend personal history and playful aesthetics, redefining the possibilities of textile art.
In Edmonton, Brendan Gallagher and Nick Kazakoff, co-founders of OneTwoSix/Loop Phone Booths, demonstrate how thoughtful design can solve workplace challenges. Their sustainable, soundproof pods offer both privacy and style, marrying functionality with a strong commitment to local manufacturing.
Furniture designer and entrepreneur Geof Lilge appears in another episode, sharing his journey from founding brands like OnOurTable, Division 12, and Pure Design to creating bespoke wooden chairs and kitchenware that embody craft and elegance.
Toronto-based lighting and product design studio Anony, led by Christian Lo and her team, rounds out the series. Known for designs that consider the entire lifecycle of a product—from materials to manufacturing to end-of-life—Anony exemplifies a forward-thinking, responsible approach to design. “Being part of On Design allowed me to speak to the challenges and possibilities of Canadian design and manufacturing,” says Anony partner Christian Lo. “I hope the show encourages more people to engage with the community while offering insight into what it means to be both Canadian and a designer.”
With its mix of artistry, storytelling and national pride, CBC ON DESIGN is a celebration of the creativity shaping Canada’s design landscape—and an invitation to discover the innovators making functional art for the globe.