Professor Di Cintio’s practice focuses on the social-political dimensions of design. Her research interests include design activism, the archive, materiality, cinema, and interiors.
She has received academic and creative fellowships from Massey College, University of Toronto, The MacDowell, NH, USA, Fundacao da Casa Mateus, Portugal, and The McLuhan Centre, University of Toronto.
Di Cintio’s dedication to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion has been recognized with teaching, service, and leadership awards from her university. Her contributions have also been acknowledged with a Silver Medal from the Universidad Iberoamericana Mexico and the Interior Design Educators Council IDEC for Community Service, USA, further highlighting her impressive achievements.
Di Cintio’s unique pedagogical approach intertwines design activism, service, and experiential learning, leaving a profound impact on the communities she engages with. Her working partnerships with First Nations communities in Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala, as well as her students’ designs, have not only supported Toronto foodbank users and Haitian earthquake survivors but also sparked inspiration for change.
She has exhibited her creative work locally and internationally. Selected exhibitions: The Drawing Centre, New York, USA; the Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, USA; Curtin University and Form Gallery, Perth, Australia; Mary E. Black Gallery, NS, Canada; and Allentown Art Museum, PA, USA.
Lorella Di Cintio, PhD
Undergraduate Program Director
ldicintio@torontomu.ca
Fun facts:
My undergraduate thesis project was entitled Re-Designing Life’s Final Chapter. I questioned the funeral practices and interiors of 20th-century funeral homes in Canada and challenged them to be more inclusive. I also redesigned and created a series of sustainable caskets. This project was my first career publication.
My father taught me to weld, and I took additional courses at Central Technical School, Toronto. (MIG, TIG and Stick Welding)
My mother and I made organic bio-plastic windows. She was an under-recognized leader in interiority and indoor air pollutants.
My parents informed my career path and helped me lead the change in interior pedagogical discourse.
I exhibited my grade school artwork at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE). The local newspaper misspelled my name, but technically, it was my first exhibition of creative work.