Ruth Spitzer

Award winning designer and educator.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

About

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 been practicing interdisciplinary design based on critical design nourished by the practical experiences developed in her practice and feeds through collaborative formats into design culture. On stake interdisciplinary design very early on , she cofounded the conceptual design practice dorkenwald-spitzer in 2002 and co-designed projects: visual communication and product design such as “Wallfurniture” and “The Tallest Man”, or engagement in New Work New Culture. In 2012, she continued her practice focused on civic social design workshops and teaching design in the context of interior and interaction design. Her public presentations and awards allow you to follow her career, notably with projects such as “ home (2000), wallfurniture” (2004), the tallest man (2005), water walker (2008), farbenfroh (2022) or how to build a feminist city (2022).

Experience

  • Designer at Ruth Spitzer
    Jan 2000 - Present · 26 yrs 7 mos

    Ruth Spitzer, award winning designer and educator; is animating experimental, participatory and discursive design concepts.

  • Contract Lecturer at The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
    2010 - Present · 16 yrs 7 mos

    Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Interior Design

  • Sessional Instructor at Sheridan College
    Jun 2014 - May 2022 · 8 yrs

    conceptual process | interaction design

  • Co-Founder at dorkenwald und spitzer
    2002 - 2013 · 11 yrs

    in 2002, co-founded the canadian-based design partnership dorkenwald und spitzer with communication designer sarah dorkenwald. since then dorkenwald und spitzer have been collaborating successfully on a wide range of artistic and professional projects to explore the fluid borders between art and design. dorkenwald und spitzer have received several awards, gaining an international reputation.

  • Visiting Designer, Assistant Professor at Syracuse University
    Aug 2008 - Jun 2009 · 11 mos