As we move further into 2026, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means for CPD to grow — not simply in size, but in purpose, reach, and the kind of work we can take on together.
This month we completed our inaugural Circular Production Design-Build Workshop, one of the most ambitious projects CPD has undertaken since we were founded. Over four weekends, participants worked together to design, build, paint, graphic, dress, and photograph two standing sets while exploring circular production design through practical, hands-on work.
The workshop grew directly out of conversations about some of the sustainability challenges our industry is facing. In 2024, production designers identified a need for more standing sets, practical sustainability training, stronger material reuse infrastructure, and clearer circular design standards. We wanted to respond by creating something that allowed people to test those ideas in the realities of production rather than only discussing them in theory.
Participants worked in multidisciplinary teams using existing assets and reclaimed materials to create modular environments that could be transformed through changes in walls, finishes, graphics, and set dressing. They also developed sustainability plans, tracked budgets and timelines, and considered carbon impact throughout the process.
At the end of the workshop, we welcomed members of the local industry, partners, and supporters to tour the completed sets. It was a rewarding way to close the pilot and to see, in a very tangible way, how much more is possible when sustainability is considered early — from design and material choices through to what happens at wrap.
The two sets were designed to continue having a life beyond the workshop, and the lessons from the pilot will also continue through the work we do next. We want to better understand what worked, where the barriers remain, and how the knowledge gained through the project can help inform future training and more practical circular design standards.
Projects like this also make clear that, as the scope of CPD’s work grows, the organization itself has to grow with it. As our programs, sustainability work, training, advocacy, and national reach continue to expand, we want more people from across the production design community involved in shaping what comes next. One of our priorities for 2026 is to expand our board and create more opportunities for members to contribute through committees, working groups, and other areas of the organization. If you believe in the work we’re building and would like to be part of it, we hope you’ll consider getting involved.
The workshop has given us a strong foundation to build from, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this pilot possible. More than anything, it showed what can happen when our community comes together around a shared idea and gives it the time, care, and collaboration needed to make it real. I’m looking forward to carrying that same spirit into everything we take on next.
Rose Lagacé
President | Canadian Production Design Association
