Bowtie takes top prize at Imagination Catalyst pitch competition

Umbra co-founder Paul Rowan and pitch competition winner Tanner Short
Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - 4:00am

The Umbra store on John St. was packed with some 90 spectators for the Imagination Catalyst’s fourth annual pitch competition on June 14. Tanner Wills Short, founder of Bowtie Interview Tool, took the top prize of $5,000, out-pitching four of his colleagues from OCAD U’s business incubator.

Bowtie is a puzzle-like toy that allows employers to determine the strengths of potential recruits during job interviews, rather than relying on common personality tests such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Bowtie can also be used as a team-building activity to improve workplace culture. 

Short, a 2016 graduate of OCAD University’s Industrial Design program, studied play theory to come up with his product.

Other Imagination Catalyst companies that took part:

  • Dice – Jinho Kim and Steve Kim
  • Lumos – Mulugeta Bisrat  and Alexandr Gerassimov
  • MeOrganics – Daneila Bratu and Nicol Rebello
  • Witnis – Anne Gorgy

The judges' panel comprised:

  • John Albright – Co-founder and managing partner, Relay Ventures
  • Dr. Sara Diamond – President and vice-chancellor, OCAD University
  • Allyson Hewitt – Senior fellow, Social Innovation, MaRS Discovery District
  • Paul Rowan – Co-founder and VP, Inspiration, Umbra
  • Daniel Sawaya – Founder and managing partner, AyaWas Investment Group

The Imagination Catalyst is based in a 3,000ft2 co-working space at 230 Richmond St. West. Currently, there are 77 jobs associated with the companies participating in OCAD U’s business incubator program, which has recently received renewed Campus Linked Accelerator funding from the Ontario Centres of Excellence. 

Regent Park Proud

Friday, June 17, 2016 - 2:00pm to Saturday, June 18, 2016 - 8:00pm

A relationship made in Toronto —
OCAD University Industrial Design, YSM, and
the Regent Park Women’s Sewing Collective.
Design as a strategy. Sewing as a skill.
Profits are made towards the Collective.

Venue & Address: 
Student Gallery 52 McCaul Street
Regent Park Proud poster with event info

Alumna launches funding campaign for reproductive health screening kit

Image of sample collection device
Wednesday, June 1, 2016 - 8:15pm

Jessica Ching (2009, Industrial Design) has launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to take her product, the Eve Kit, to market.

The Eve Kit is designed to be a convenient and accurate way for women to screen for common infections that can lead to cervical cancer (HPV), pelvic inflammatory disease, or infertility (Chlamydia and others).

The kit, ordered online, allows women to obtain a sample at home with a discreet collection device and place it in a pre-addressed box to be sent to the lab. Test results become available online in a secure patient information portal in a matter of days.

In a clinical study, over 4000 women were tested using the device. 81 per cent said they preferred it to a doctor-collected method.

Some women don’t have access to a physician or the time to make appointments for Pap tests and other routine reproductive health screening. Others are uncomfortable with the procedure. Ching hopes that the device will encourage more women to get tested and be aware of their reproductive health.

Ching has received a number of prizes for her innovative product in its early stages, including an award from the National Research Council of Canada’s Industrial Research Assistance Program and an OCE Market Readiness Grant.

 

 

Wearable art show attracts capacity crowd

Woman modelling a dress with LED lights
Wide shot of auditorium fashion show
Male model
Three models
Tuesday, April 26, 2016 - 4:00am

OCAD University’s auditorium was transformed into a quasi-catwalk on Friday April 22 for Not Just a Fashion Show. The event spotlighted 100 wearable works of art created by 23 students from 12 programs. Mirrored masks, sparkling crystals and LED-infused fabrics added a glow to the outfits, which ranged from whimsical to highly functional.

The high-energy student-led project was developed and curated by Ali Haider (Graphic Design) and Jasmine So (Industrial Design) with support from faculty members Tarah Burke and Dorie Millerson and funding from the Office of the President.

Student models wore the outfits by designers from across all three faculties:  

  • Aine O’Neill, Industrial Design
  • Amie Blechta, Drawing & Painting
  • Arpanaa Logedas, Illustration
  • Ava Cochrane, Photography
  • David Yun, Industrial Design
  • Elizabeth Aguilar, Drawing & Painting
  • Hatley Walker, MAAD
  • Hillary Dube, MAAD, Fibre
  • Ilan Max, Industrial Design
  • Iman Khan, Graphic Design
  • Julia Yeh, MAAD, Fibre
  • Kaitlin Smith, Graphic Design
  • Kevin Dela Cruz, Industrial Design
  • Kristi Chen, General Arts
  • Madeleine LeBlanc, MAAD
  • Miranda Victoria, MAAD
  • Mudassir Iqbal, Digital Futures
  • Rachel Clarke, Industrial Design
  • Suki Lai, MAAD, Jewellery
  • T’mikah Fridal, Advertising and Wearable Technology
  • Sheldon Storey, Sculpture/Installation
  • Ali Haider, Graphic Design
  • Jasmine So, Industrial Design
  • Yovska, MAAD, Fibre

2 Industrial Design Teams make it to jurying at IDeA Competition

Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 11:00am

The Council of Ontario Universities, in partnership with the Government of Ontario, is pleased to present the fourth annual Innovative Designs for Accessibility (IDeA) student competition. OCAD U had 3 teams enter the competition and two teams have made it to the jurying process:

Universal Lightbulb Socket - Philippe Page

Google Speech: Reducing Public Speaking Anxiety Through Virtual Reality -   Team: Kristen Thomson, Adam Badzynski, Eitan Markus

Winners of the competition will be announced Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at the OCE Discovery Conference ‘16.

How to make a viral video

Dave Keystone, an OCAD U Industrial Design program alumni, has a hit viral video! He’s created a YouTube channel, Canoodle Content, and a series of videos featuring kids offering dating advice.  His video about whether it’s better to call or text has almost 200,000 views and was covered by media all over the world.

“We created this series because we find that adults tend to over-complicate things​, while​ kids ​think in much simpler terms,” says Dave about the videos, directed by co-creator Nolan Sarner. “Kids give you the straight goods, whether you like it or not!”

“While creating the series, we spent a lot of time researching YouTube and ​what makes something go ​"viral​"​. ​ It is our belief that there needs to be an emotional tug - you have to make people feel something other than a quick laugh,” says Dave. “There are a lot of​ online​ videos involving kids, but most of them are aiming for ​just ​funny.​ We don’t prompt them and we don’t feed them lines. We simply put a question in front of them and wait for the magic to happen.”

“We uploaded it to YouTube and just used our personal social media channels to promote it, and it just hit!” 

Department: 
Embed Video: 

What artists and designers need to know about social media

Rachel Clarke, a fouth-year Industrial Design student at OCAD U, talks about what artists and designers need to know about social media.

Author: 
Rachel Clarke
Embed Video: 

Student design teams triumph at IDS 2016

Nature X Nature flooring installation
Friday, January 22, 2016 - 5:00am

Two interdisciplinary teams of Environmental and Industrial Design students took home the top prizes at the Kentwood Design Challenge held at Toronto’s Interior Design Show (IDS 2016).

Metropolitan Hardwood Floors invited students to create a design concept that uses their Kentwood line of hardwood flooring in unique and innovative ways.  

The first prize of $3000 was awarded to OCAD U’s Olayide Madamidola, Kyung Hyun Kim and Joon Leem for NATURE X NATURE.  

OCAD U students Hamid Shahi and Victor Mancini won the second prize of $2000 for DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE.

Finalists Topher Kong and Avis Ho also received a $1000 prize for SHAN SHUI.

The teams’ work is on display at the Kentwood booth at IDS 2016 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The show closes on Sunday, January 24.

IDS 2016 is the 18th edition of Canada’s interior design showcase, which brings together hundreds of exhibitors and some 50,000 visitors.

 

From Industrial Design to Oprah’s kitchen

Jake Rosenberg launched website The Coveteur six months after graduating from OCAD U. Five years later, the site has become one of the world’s top luxury, lifestyle destinations focusing on fashion, beauty and health. Jake is co-founder, creative director and photographer.

“I wanted to be a filmmaker and photographer, but during first year I was drawn to Industrial Design so I reapplied for that program,” says Jake. “What I took to heart was branding and creating experiences. I still apply industrial design principles for every client I work with.” He’s featured the world’s top style-makers including Oprah.

Here are the three biggest lessons Jake’s learned along the way:

 

You can’t do everything yourself

The Coveteur Website

You have to learn to work with an amazing team and with people who do certain things better than you. I met my Coveteur co-founder on a job the day before we started the site. You have to find people who share your vision and take a risk.

 

Set your goals really high

Jake Rosenberg in front of the Coveteur logo

We started the Coveteur with ambitious stories in order to set a precedent for quality right from the start. Before we launched the site we put together creative concepts and pitch decks and sent non-stop emails. A lot of people didn’t get back to us and, in some cases, it took people a couple years to get back to us. But, once we photographed one person, they told their friends and word of mouth helped us.

 

Have fun!

Jake Rosenberg and Oprah Winfrey looking at camera

If you’re not having fun, don’t do it.

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