City of Gems

Events for graphic designers & creatives

This calendar lists in-person and online design and arts events for graphic designers, illustrators, and visual creatives. We built this to help strengthen our community and reduce gatekeeping and barriers to connection. All events are based in Toronto.

List your event for free →
✨Soon✨
= less than five days away
Toronto Design Community Event Calendar
Good Friends Market
Sat
Apr
19
✨Soon✨

Good Friends Market

with
Good Friends Market
Good Friends is a community focused initiative that was built to create opportunities for small and solo run shops to showcase their work and meet their customer base face to face.
Learn more ↗
Paperjam Zine Fair
Sat
Apr
19
✨Soon✨

Paperjam Zine Fair

with
Toronto Zine Library
Brought to you by the Toronto Zine Library, Paperjam is an annual volunteer-run zine fair featuring over 30 artists and vendors.
Learn more ↗
Intermediate Lettering Workshop: Watercolour
Wed
Apr
23
✨Soon✨

Intermediate Lettering Workshop: Watercolour

with
The Combine
Join us for an evening of lovely lettering and playing with colour with Sylvia Wong, also known as Via Calligraphy,
Learn more ↗
Collage Night
Wed
Apr
23
✨Soon✨

Collage Night

with
Issues Magazine Shop
Join Alanna Chelmick at Issues Magazine Shop for an evening of collage-making. No experience necessary. All supplies provided.
Learn more ↗
In Conversation with Craig McIntosh & Jaimes Zentil
Thu
Apr
24
✨Soon✨

In Conversation with Craig McIntosh & Jaimes Zentil

with
ADCC
Please join host Andrew Simon as he discovers the secret to their ultra-successive creative partnership and uncovers the childhood trauma that let to Craig’s love of Hawaiian pizza and Jaimes singing in an ad band.
Learn more ↗
SHIFT: DSGN Grad Show
Fri
Apr
25
✨Soon✨

SHIFT: DSGN Grad Show

with
York University
To SHIFT is to challenge the conventional, to divert focus from the mundane and embrace a more imaginative, bold, and playful approach to creativity. SHIFT THE PERSPECTIVE.
Learn more ↗
Craftic Meetup & Swap @ Mischief Makers
Fri
Apr
25
✨Soon✨

Craftic Meetup & Swap @ Mischief Makers

with
Craftic
Calling all crafters. :) Bring a work-in-progress or new project! All types of crafts & levels are welcome! Meet crafty friends!
Learn more ↗
Toronto Stationary Show
Sat
Apr
26
✨Soon✨

Toronto Stationary Show

with
Toronto Stationary Show
The Toronto Stationery Show unites the community of stationery enthusiasts in the city and around the world. We are artists & businesses who are passionate about snail mail and paper related goods.
Learn more ↗
Brush Calligraphy: Beginner
Sun
Apr
27
✨Soon✨

Brush Calligraphy: Beginner

with
EP Lettering
In this three-hour workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of modern brush pen calligraphy, including how to hold a brush pen, how to form basic strokes and how to connect these strokes to form lowercase letters and words.
Learn more ↗
Collage Party with Aaron Jones
Wed
Apr
30
✨Soon✨

Collage Party with Aaron Jones

with
Issues Magazine Shop
Pull up a seat at our art table. Sip on a glass on wine, while our Niki Saint tells you about the magic of collage—and how she weaves it into her practice. Get messy as you cut and paste your way to your own masterpiece.
Learn more ↗
YES! Year End Show
Thu
May
01
✨Soon✨

YES! Year End Show

with
George Brown College School of Design
YES! We’re creating future realities. Visit the Year End Show on May 1st and 2nd to check out how our students are shaping the future of design.
Learn more ↗
Photography Portfolio Review
Sun
May
04
✨Soon✨

Photography Portfolio Review

with
Issues Magazine Shop
This is an opportunity for intermediate and senior-level practitioners to show their work to a wide array of art buyers, creatives, and agents from the fine art, advertising and editorial sectors.
Learn more ↗
Handbuilding and Surface Design with Britt Wilson
Wed
May
07
✨Soon✨

Handbuilding and Surface Design with Britt Wilson

with
Parkdale Pottery
Join us for an immersive handbuilding experience led by the talented Britt Wilson! From mugs to bowls, dishes to vases, the possibilities are endless as you bring your imagination to life in clay.
Learn more ↗
Craft Club: Editing
Wed
May
07
✨Soon✨

Craft Club: Editing

with
ADCC
Craft Club is a new event series for the creative community focused on the craft behind our work.
Learn more ↗
GradEx 110
Wed
May
07
✨Soon✨

GradEx 110

with
OCAD University
OCAD University’s 110th Annual Graduate Exhibition is back! Celebrate graduating students, buy or commission original art, explore unique art and design at the OCAD U Alumni Marketplace, and join the opening night party.
Learn more ↗
What Makes Canada, Canada? Exploring Canadian Identity Through Design
Thu
May
08
✨Soon✨

What Makes Canada, Canada? Exploring Canadian Identity Through Design

with
Design Meets
Join us for a special screening of Design Canada, the acclaimed Canadian-made documentary exploring the history and impact of graphic design in shaping Canada’s visual identity.
Learn more ↗
Mother's Day Handbuilding Workshop with Britt Wilson
Sun
May
11
✨Soon✨

Mother's Day Handbuilding Workshop with Britt Wilson

with
Parkdale Pottery
Under the guidance of Britt Wilson, you'll learn the art of hand-building, from crafting pinch pots to shaping mugs, bowls, or dishes. Decorate your creations with vibrant underglazes, adding any design that speaks to you.
Learn more ↗
Letterpress Notecards
Sun
May
11
✨Soon✨

Letterpress Notecards

with
Flycatcher Press
Using metal type and ornaments from our collection and printing on our tabletop presses, you'll typeset and print a personalized set of notecards on cotton paper and go home with beautiful custom stationery. A
Learn more ↗
Collage Night
Thu
May
15
✨Soon✨

Collage Night

with
Issues Magazine Shop
Join Alanna Chelmick at Issues Magazine Shop for an evening of collage-making. No experience necessary. All supplies provided.
Learn more ↗
The Future of Design Teams
Thu
May
22
✨Soon✨

The Future of Design Teams

with
Design Meets
Join us for a focused discussion about how design teams are structured and embedded within organizations.
Learn more ↗
Brush Calligraphy: Intermediate
Sun
May
25
✨Soon✨

Brush Calligraphy: Intermediate

with
EP Lettering
In this three-hour workshop, students will practice uppercase letters and learn how to use these in combination with lowercase letters and words. They will also learn how to enhance their calligraphy by experimenting with style variations a
Learn more ↗
Letterpress Posters
Sun
May
25
✨Soon✨

Letterpress Posters

with
Flycatcher Press
In this day-long course you'll learn about the history of wood and metal typesetting in letterpress printing and how to design and print a successful letterpress poster.
Learn more ↗
Collage Night
Wed
May
28
✨Soon✨

Collage Night

with
Issues Magazine Shop
Join Alanna Chelmick at Issues Magazine Shop for an evening of collage-making. No experience necessary. All supplies provided.
Learn more ↗
Collage Night
Thu
Jun
12
✨Soon✨

Collage Night

with
Issues Magazine Shop
Join Alanna Chelmick at Issues Magazine Shop for an evening of collage-making. No experience necessary. All supplies provided.
Learn more ↗
Brush Calligraphy: Advanced
Sun
Jun
22
✨Soon✨

Brush Calligraphy: Advanced

with
EP Lettering
In this advanced-level, three-hour workshop, you'll learn how to create stunning calligraphy artwork from start to finish. This workshop will guide you through the essential steps of designing a polished, finished piece.
Learn more ↗
Collage Night
Wed
Jun
25
✨Soon✨

Collage Night

with
Issues Magazine Shop
Join Alanna Chelmick at Issues Magazine Shop for an evening of collage-making. No experience necessary. All supplies provided.
Learn more ↗

Past Events

'Cause maybe they'll happen again, y'know?
Paperjam Zine Fair
Good Friends Market
Collage Night
Centennial College Graphic Design Grad Show
Intermediate Relief Printing
Good Friends Market
Accountability Buddy Club
Screenprinting: Beyond the Basics - Three Session Course
Tax Workshop for Artists, Designers and Creatives with Kelly Ross
Collage Night
Daybreak Open House
The Joy of Handwriting
The Joy of Handwriting
Creative Cafe Toronto
Open Sketch Night @ The Drake Hotel
Craftic Meetup at Firkin on Danforth
Collage Party with Niki Saint
Intermediate Lettering Workshop: Watercolour
Screen Printing 101
Café Talks 02: The Future of the Design Practice
Collage Night
Craftic Meetup at Bobbette & Belle
Dog Draw VII: Spring Bark
South Asian Block Printing with The Kiti Party x HippieMarket
List your event for free →