Art prof works with Mount Sinai Hospital on groundbreaking surgical training
Professor Francis LeBouthillier creates medical simulation models for groundbreaking surgical training at Mount Sinai Hospital.
January 14, 2025
January 15, 2025
OCAD U community shines at DesignTO 2025
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OCAD University students, faculty, staff and alums are among the artists and innovators at this year’s DesignTO Festival.
DesignTO, Canada’s largest annual design festival, returns to Toronto from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2, 2025. The festival is commemorating its 15th anniversary, celebrating design as a way of creating a sustainable and just world.
This year’s festival features more than 100 exhibitions, installations, discussions and performances by designers and artists from all disciplines at venues throughout the city.
The OCAD U community is also behind some of the marketing materials for DesignTO. Students Aaryan Pashine and Amir Nevis, directed by alum Hwa-jin Jun of aftermodern.lab, created illustrations promoting the festival with careful consideration of previous designs.
The University is hosting three events that explore the critical role of art and design in sustainable urban planning, developing affordable housing and accessible prototyping.
Don’t miss the many exhibitions, talks and installations led by OCAD U community members during DesignTO.
Image: The image appearing at the top of this news story, LACE/LOCK is from Instructor Olivia Mae Sinclair’s solo exhibition, FORGIVENESS/RESENTMENT.
EVENTS AT OCAD UNIVERSITY
Everyone Is a Designer Workshop
205 Richmond St. W. | Jan. 28, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
This hands-on workshop, presented by Chair of the Industrial Design Program and Associate Professor Dr. Peter Coppin, Instructor Zainab Husain, alums David Barter and Tamara Crasto and others, aims to help members of the public learn low-fidelity prototyping skills for tinkering with physical materials and bringing their creative ideas to life. This workshop is led by designers experienced in working with persons with disabilities to design better and more accessible products, services, systems and spaces.
CommunityStreets: A Youth Lens on the Future of Urban Housing
49 McCaul St. | Feb. 1, 4 to 6 p.m.
This discussion panel, co-presented by OCAD U Associate Professor Cheryl Giraudy and Saskia van Kampen, Associate Professor at San Francisco State University, tackles the critical issue of housing and youth.
The panel is bringing together civic leaders, community activists, and design and economic thinkers to examine a youth lens on affordability, access, equity and the future of housing in urban Toronto.
Neighbours of the Lake: A Creative Discussion on the Port Lands
Waterfront Campus, 130 Queens Quay E. | Feb. 1, 4 to 6 p.m.
This panel discussion is a collaboration between OCAD U, WATERFRONToronto and Cultrans. The panel explores the transformative role of sustainable and creative approaches in urban design, focusing on how innovative and eco-conscious planning can reshape our cities. By integrating multiple perspectives, we can create a dynamic blueprint for carbon-neutral, creative and active urban spaces. Staff involved in organizing this event include Director, Learning Pathways, Sean Baker; Instructor and Manager, International Programs and Collaboration, Jennie Suddick and Program Development Specialist, Admissions and Recruitment, Meichen Waxer.
EXHIBITIONS
At the conjuring of roots, I wished to meet Me…
Sankofa Square, 1 Dundas St. E. | Jan. 1 to 31
An exhibition of photos by Toronto-based, Ghanaian-Nigerian photographer, visual artist and alum Delali Cofie on five digital screens at Sankofa Square (formerly Yonge-Dundas Square). Cofie is Inspired by traditional West African costuming practices and explores the physical manifestation of self through masquerade garments.
95 St. Clair Ave. W. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
This exhibition by alum Pixel Heller focuses on traditional masquerade by transforming costumes into sculptural forms. The costumes are not only garments but act as abstract body-like extensions, blurring the lines between wearable art and sculpture. These pieces evoke the fluidity of masquerade while shifting the focus toward symbolism of rituals, cultural memory and ancestral connections.
BLOOD, WATER & BATHURST STREET
Urbanspace Gallery, 401 Richmond St. W. | Jan. 13 to Feb. 15
Reception: Jan. 18, 3 to 6 p.m.
A participatory, textile-based mapping project by alum Naomi Daryn Boyd that explores the histories, communities, and peoples that have shaped these lands. Experimenting with a wide variety of textile handicraft techniques and processes, primarily in wool and found natural materials, “BW&B” is a site for ongoing material experiments and dialogue, growing with each new addition from the public.
Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. | Jan. 23 to Feb. 27
Meet the artist 1: Jan. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Meet the artist 2: Feb. 2, 1 to 3 p.m.
This installation at Evergreen Brick Works, created by alum Jennifer Coghill, invites viewers to reconsider their relationship with material goods. It questions the cycle of consumption and imagines a world where style is measured not by newness or trendiness but by sustainability and creativity.
Collision Gallery, 30 Wellington St. W. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 15
Reception: Feb. 15, 4 to 6 p.m.
A group exhibition featuring nine emerging artists and designers from the annual DesignTO Youth program. Through diverse mediums, materials, and forms, the showcased works present reflections on themes of family, identity, femininity, cross-generational traditions and the “self”. Featured artists include OCAD U student Vishwa Patel and alum Steffi Ng.
Youngplace, 180 Shaw St. | Jan. 23 to Feb. 2
Reception: Jan. 23 | 6 to 9 p.m.
In the Dying.series’ latest exhibition, the group has gathered pieces from diverse artists and designers to curate an experience that prompts dialogue and reflection about end-of-life in individuals who often see death as a taboo topic. This exhibition embraces the capacity of art to foster emotional engagement and openness to put death front and centre. The collective is led by Professor Dr. Kate Sellen, and features collaborations from alums Ræ Azzopardi, Ehiko Odeh, Sara Rashighi, Maryam Mallakin, Luz Paczka Giorgi, Krittika Sharma and others.
She Said Gallery, 384 Roncesvalles Ave. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
Reception: Jan. 31, 7 to 9 p.m.
This exhibition reflects the idea of holding onto memories that no longer serve us. The tension between letting go and using pain as purpose shapes these works. She Said Gallery utilizes Aspen Cleaners, a laundromat repurposed as an art space; textile artist and OCAD U Instructor Olivia Mae Sinclair uses transitional spaces to represent the emotional liminality between forgiveness and resentment.
95 St. Clair Ave. W. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
Homing is an ongoing performance, relational and research piece exploring ways of making place and home in my city of Toronto. Originally presented at OCAD U’s GradEx 109, this iteration of ‘Homing’ changes the perception of urban pigeons from birds to avoid at all costs to birds that can and should be celebrated for their own special place in city life and culture. This project is presented by alum Maddy Young and others.
Material Practice at Harbourfront Centre
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. | Jan. 24 to Mar. 30
A series of exhibitions at the Harbourfront Centre exploring intersections between making, material and culture. The series includes Objects for Adaptation and Resilience, curated by alum Kate Tessier. This collaborative installation presents a new collective body of work responding to the ideas of adaptation and resilience.
New Narratives in Design: Salvage, Reuse, and Toronto’s Evolving Aesthetic
Underscore Projects, 1468 Dundas St. W., second and third floors | Jan. 25 to Feb. 2
Reception: Jan. 25, 6 to 9 p.m.
Tour: Jan. 26, 10 to 11 a.m.
This exhibition invites visitors to explore a new vision for Toronto – a city whose architecture and design can honour its past while building a more sustainable future. Created by a collective of architects, designers and makers, including Associate Professor Ranee Lee via DESIGNwith, the showcase asks one critical question: What is Toronto’s new building and design aesthetic when seen through the lens of material salvage, reuse and the circular economy? The exhibition fosters a full understanding of what salvage and reuse make possible, building on the foundation of creativity, responsibility and respect for the resources we already have.
The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. | Jan. 17 to Apr. 29
Tour: Jan. 27, 7 to 8 p.m.
Talk: Jan. 29, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Reception: Jan. 30, 6 to 8 p.m.
A series of five exhibitions responding to patterns in art and design. Includes work by alums Georgina Lee Walker, Phuong Nguyen and Jennifer Coghill, as well as Instructor Erin Finley.
Recent Works – Dennis Lin Studio
47 Milky Way | Jan. 25 to Feb. 1
Reception: Jan. 25, 6 to 11 p.m.
This exhibition is artist and alum Dennis Lin’s invitation to tour his Toronto workspace, showcasing a range of projects that collectively reflect his cohesive artistic practice. Born from personal loss and a devastating house fire, Lin’s recent work preserves fragments of a past that feels increasingly fragile. Grappling with alienation and the urgency of cultural preservation, Lin has collected and nurtured materials rich in personal and cultural nostalgia.
Gallery 235, Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W. | Jan. 25 to Mar. 30
This group exhibition features the work of seven local and international artists and designers, exploring endangered creative practices and materials as vital expressions of storytelling and identity. Includes a variety of work by alums Judy Anderson, Delali Cofie and Roda Medhat.
Mararamiro, 2090 Dundas St. W. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
This new series of ceramic ribbon sculptures by alum Filipa Pimentel explores fluidity, movement and the delicate balance between form and function. The series offers a fresh, contemporary interpretation of organic form.
Umbra Concept Store, 165 John St. | Jan. 21 to Feb. 21
An exhibition highlighting the dynamic interactions between a material’s physical properties and the results of creative techniques applied to it. This exhibition includes nine local and international designers exploring how materials can respond to different processes, leading to unexpected outcomes and applications. Among the designers are alums Khadija Aziz and Guillaume Roy.
All Ours Studio & Art Vessel, 62 Geary Ave. | Jan. 22 to Feb. 1
This group exhibition, curated by alum Nathan Heuvingh, explores the dynamic interplay between colour, geometric forms and abstraction within spatial environments. Featuring work from Darren Booth, Pooja Pawaskar, Christopher Reid Flock and alum Roda Medhat, the exhibition presents four contemporary artists and designers who utilize vibrant hues, intricate patterns and structured forms to transform space and challenge perceptions.
To Hold: A Group Exhibition Curated by Yabu Pushelberg
Yabu Pushelberg Toronto Studio, 55 Booth Ave. | Jan. 23 to 30
Curated by Yabu Pushelberg, this exhibition brings together a group of Canadian artists and designers to explore how the act of holding can transform the essence of an object. The artists include alums Georgia Dickie and Dennis Lin. The works on view examine how this simple gesture can redefine, subvert and inspire entirely new narratives.
DUER Toronto Flagship Store, 44 Ossington Ave. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
Reception: Jan. 29, 7 to 9 p.m.
This exhibition by Instructor Ruth Wickremesooriya is an extended meditation on waiting without giving in to despair. If you look for signs of new life in the depths of winter, you won’t find many. But the wonder of trees is that they aren’t actually dead – just waiting for the right conditions and resources to bloom again.
WINDOW INSTALLATIONS
Secret Planet Print Shop, 918 Danforth Ave. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
This window display, created by a group of artists, including alum Jackie Lee, uses stacked screen-printed boxes in a humorous manner to draw attention to the multinational mega-corporations crushing small businesses. With a nod to Andy Warhol’s iconic Brillo boxes, this installation is a friendly and urgent reminder to support local business, even if it costs a few more cents than Amazon.
Swipe Design books + objects, 401 Richmond St. W. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
A design project by LAMAS Architecture, including alum Sergej Mileski, which uses image processing artificial intelligence as a generator for architectural form and ornament. The project takes existing Toronto façades and uses their visual signatures or patterns as the material for the generation of hybrid facades. The primary objective is to gain insights into the transformative impact of recent AI advancements on architectural design and the implications for production.
STACKT Market, Unit 2-101, 28 Bathurst St. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
Reception: Jan. 25, 6 to 10 p.m.
A large-scale paper tapestry by alum Steph Cloutier that explores the impermanence of life through water. The hand-stitched
paper tiles reveal a map of Lake Ontario’s evolution and resilience; it offers a moment of reflection about our shared experience of transition and renewal.
Stantec Window Gallery, 401 Wellington St. W. | Dec. 21, 2024, to Mar. 20
A mixed-media art piece by Ernesto Cabral de Luna that explores the delicate interplay between memory, material degradation, and artistic resurrection. Cabral de Luna is an alum and recipient of the 2025 DesignTO Exhibition Stantec Window Gallery Career Launcher. This large-scale installation of a family photograph transferred onto corroded copper showcases the visual distortion of memories through the physical wear of materiality. The work invites viewers to reflect on the fragility of personal history, degradation of the image, the beauty of material transformation, and how time alters both physical and emotional landscapes.
Melba Studios, 1580 Queen St. E. | Jan. 24 to Feb. 2
When things fall apart is a mixed media installation that examines material fragility and resilience. Alum Mary Calarco creates fibre art pieces from repurposed cotton that have been dyed from the sumac, goldenrod and marigold in her garden. The naturally dyed fabrics boldly sit in the sunlight, daring Mother Nature to alter their current state. These works are displayed with modern ceramic forms thrown by Marc LaFoy, accented with understated florals from Kim Stevens.
WORKSHOPS
Connect & Collaborate: A Design Salon
Éstheteak, 411 Richmond St. E., Room 203 | Jan. 25 to 31
Session 1: Jan. 25, 3 to 5 p.m.
Session 2: Jan. 31, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
This gathering, hosted by alums Elizabeth Lane and Milena Tasic, focuses on getting to know others in the Toronto design scene, fostering creativity and sparking innovation. This workshop encourages designers to think outside the box and collaborate with others from different disciplines.
Everyone Is a Designer Workshop
OCAD University, 205 Richmond St. W. | Jan. 28, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
This hands-on workshop, presented by Associate Professor Peter Coppin, Faculty of Design Instructor Zainab Husain, alums David Barter and Tamara Crasto and others, aims to help members of the public learn low-fidelity prototyping skills for tinkering with physical materials and bringing their creative ideas to life. This workshop is led by designers experienced in working with persons with disabilities to design better and more accessible products, services, systems and spaces. Participants will learn to work with simple and accessible electronics and low-fidelity materials while prototyping to build their own inventions.
Serious Game Design Workshop – registration is full
Centre for Social Innovation Annex, 720 Bathurst St. | Jan. 26, 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.
This sold-out, hands-on workshop, led by Instructor Christine McGlade, is designed for aspiring game designers, educators, activists, and anyone interested in using games as a tool for social change.
PANEL TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS
CommunityStreets: A Youth Lens on the Future of Urban Housing
OCAD University, 49 McCaul St. | Feb. 1, 4 to 6 p.m.
This discussion panel, co-presented by Associate Professor Cheryl Giraudy and Saskia van Kampen, Associate Professor at San Francisco State University, tackles the critical issue of housing and youth.
The panel brings together civic leaders, community activists, and design and economic thinkers at OCAD U to explore a youth lens on affordability, access, equity and the future of housing in urban Toronto.
Ace Hotel Toronto (Interspace), 51 Camden St. | Jan. 31, 2 to 6 p.m.
The half-day event brings together 10 multidisciplinary experts to explore innovative responses to the climate crisis from a perspective of abundance. Speakers include interdisciplinary artist and alum Deepikah RB, as well as other experts on topics such as regenerative design, urban infrastructure, carbon positive initiatives and more.
Neighbours of the Lake: A Creative Discussion on the Port Lands
OCAD U Waterfront Campus, 130 Queens Quay E. | Feb. 1, 4 to 6 p.m.
This panel discussion is a collaboration between OCAD U, WATERFRONToronto and Cultrans. The panel explores the transformative role of sustainable and creative approaches in urban design, focusing on how innovative and eco-conscious planning can reshape our cities. By integrating multiple perspectives, we can create a dynamic blueprint for carbon-neutral, creative and active urban spaces. Staff involved in organizing this event include Director, Learning Pathways, Sean Baker; Instructor and Manager, International Programs and Collaboration, Jennie Suddick and Program Development Specialist, Admissions and Recruitment, Meichen Waxer.
Online, Feb. 1, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
The Drift is a method for connecting a regenerative design network beyond the physical spaces of DesignTO, hosting a mindful session that draws on diverse ways of knowing and doing. This online session invites practitioners to share provocations that stimulate new translations and relationships, contributing to the richness of how we understand being and designing regenerative worlds, including the languages, processes, and ethics that should be considered when working regeneratively. The Drift features provocations by a variety of design leaders, including Associate Professor Ranee Lee via DESIGNwith.
Vondom Canada, 1184 Castlefield Ave. | Jan. 30, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
An evening of discussion featuring the Toronto chapter of the Industrial Designers Society of America (Sayeh Dastgheib-Beheshti and alum Harpreet Singh) and three design experts, including Laura Karik, Elton Leung and alum Steve Copeland.
TOUR
2 St. Clair Avenue W. | Feb. 2, 2 to 3 p.m.
Join alum and multidisciplinary artist Pixel Heller on a walking tour where you will take a closer look at three temporary artworks in the Yonge/St. Clair neighbourhood that explore ideas of self-image and identity, perception and reflection and absence and presence. With first-hand insight from the artists and designers behind the projects, delve deeper into the site-specific installations, their stories and how they came to be.