When: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:00pm
6:00pm – doors open with refreshments
6:30pm – panel discussion
7:30pm – continued conversation and reception
Where: Goethe-Institut Toronto, 100 University Ave, North Tower, 2nd Floor, Toronto M5J 1V6
Cost: Free with Registration at this link.
The Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC), in partnership with the Goethe-Institut Toronto, presents Beyond the Frankfurt Kitchen: A Conversation on the Impact of Design, a public panel exploring how one of the twentieth century's most influential design innovations continues to shape contemporary conversations around accessibility, sustainability, domestic life, and urban living.
Originally designed in 1926 by Austrian architect Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky as part of Frankfurt's pioneering social housing program, the Frankfurt Kitchen transformed the design of the home through its innovative approach to functionality and efficiency. Nearly a century later, its legacy continues to inspire discussion about the role of design in addressing today's social, environmental, and urban challenges.
Bringing together leading voices from architecture and other design disciplines, the panel will revisit the Frankfurt Kitchen through a contemporary lens, exploring how design continues to shape the places we live and the quality of everyday life.
Speakers:
Stefan Novakovic – Moderator
Stefan Novakovic is a Toronto-based writer and editor specializing in architecture and urbanism, and a co-founder of Expo Magazine. Throughout his career, he has sought to clearly situate design practice (and theory) within historical, political, cultural and ecological contexts. Stefan was previously a Senior Editor at Azure Magazine, and also served as Associate Editor at Canadian Architect, and Assistant Editor at UrbanToronto. He is the winner of numerous journalism awards, including multiple National Magazine Awards (B2B), a Digital Publishing Award and a Canadian Online Publishing Award.
Udo Schliemann
With 44 years of experience, Udo has dedicated his career to creating branding, signage and wayfinding programs that help people connect with places. After leading the design team at Entro Communications until 2025, Udo founded Udo Ink.
Originally from Germany, Udo was mentored by artist and designer Anton Stankowski, whose influence continues to shape his design and artistic practice. Udo has received numerous international design awards and is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, RGD, DIAC, and the Colour Research Society of Canada.
Ruth Spitzer
Since 1999, Ruth Spitzer has considered her activity as a designer in the context of social and artistic space. Initially working as a shoemaker for theatre and opera, since 1999 she has practiced interdisciplinary design based on critical design, nourished by the practical experiences developed in her practice and fed through collaborative formats into design culture.
Her public presentations and awards allow you to follow her career, notably through projects such as Radical Domesticity (2026), Farbenfroh (2022), and Wall Furniture DIY (2012).
Marco Chow
Marco Chow has developed his professional design experience in residential, mixed-use, retail, healthcare, urban planning, and sustainability projects in cities including Toronto, New York, Amsterdam, and Victoria. With a Masters in Architecture, he taps into his design and implementation experience to pursue interests in real estate development, finance, and social impact. As the Senior Manager of Design + Architecture at The Daniels Corporation, Marco leads the design process of multi-unit and low-rise residential developments to ensure design excellence, operational efficiency, and construction optimization. He oversees the Daniel’s Accessibility Designed Program to create accessible housing options and inclusive communities across the GTA, and co-chairs the Programming and Events Committee at the Accelerating Accessibility Coalition. He is also a Sessional Instructor at the University of Waterloo’s School of Architecture, teaching an elective course called “Real Estate Development and Finance” to undergraduate and graduate students.
This event is part of the Design Industry Advisory Committee's (DIAC) 25th anniversary celebration. Founded in 2001, DIAC is a not-for-profit design think tank dedicated to demonstrating the impact and value of interdisciplinary design.