Semaine Design de Montréal 2026

Serving as a strategic and creative partner, our team collaborated closely with Index-Design to create and roll out the branding, campaign, and digital platform for the first edition in April 2026.
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As this was the inaugural edition, Principal aimed to create a distinctive brand identity that stood out in a crowded event ecosystem. The platform balanced two key groups: industry professionals and the general public. Furthermore, it established a flexible, sustainable foundation designed to evolve alongside future editions.Aimed at a discerning yet curious audience, the project allowed room to take risks and propose a bold identity without sacrificing clarity or accessibility.
The resulting visual language is nuanced, sensitive, and elegant, though occasionally disruptive. Shapes inspired by seams and creases layer over images and typography like traces of the creative process, interrupting the reading flow to catch the eye and draw viewers into the details.
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This concept expands further in motion. Images overlap, transform, and reassemble to shift how content is perceived, at times bordering on abstraction. Movement becomes a core element of the graphic language rather than simple animation. The experience is reinforced by sound design built from raw audio and manipulated textures, adding a tactile layer to the identity.
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As the focal point of the event, the dynamic website offers an inviting platform where participants and exhibitors can explore the program, conferences, venues, and local recommendations.
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Finally, three Montreal-based architecture and design photographers helped craft a contemporary, cohesive visual identity deeply rooted in the local creative scene.

With over 70 activities, exhibitions, and installations featuring more than 130 designers, studios, collectives, and craftspeople, the first edition of Montréal Design Week drew strong public participation and elevated the profile of the local design scene, reinforcing Montréal's status as a UNESCO City of Design.

Building on this initial success, the event has firmly established itself as an annual fixture that will continue to boost the visibility of Montréal and Canadian design.