06

CURRENT ¢ DESIGN HISTORY

anonymity
& authenticity:

EVERYDAY CANADIAN DESIGN

Bonne Zabolotney

THE HISTORY OF design in Canada is a largely undocument-
ed and undiscussed topic in design studies. Not only do
Canadian designers and design academics often overlook
their own history in favour of European or American design
history, there is little to no study of Canadian design found
outside of Canada. While this is problematic in terms of
lacking information to construct a “canon” of Canadian
designers, it remains even more problematic in identifying
and placing importance on a century or more of design
that has been produced anonymously. This anonymous
design, found in magazines, toys, games, catalogues, and
other items used by Canadians everyday throughout the
20" century, profoundly intervened in the daily experience
of Canadians.