Designing dignity into everyday life. This case study of an affordable housing project shows how thoughtful choices deliver measurable impacts of design on comfort, health, and quality of life — a clear example of DIAC’s Design Impacts Framework.
Entro – Hospital Wayfinding for Senior’s Medical Center
Vandal Goods
Dialog – Urban Thermal Comfort Guidelines
Case Study: Biometric Reading Undergarment by Skiin
As wearable health technology continues to expand, the need for products that combine clinical-grade functionality with everyday comfort grows stronger — especially for older adults. Skiin, a wellness brand, took on this challenge by creating a biometric reading undergarment designed to track vital health metrics like ECG and blood pressure in real-time.
Display Attic – Melanie Lyne TIFF 2024 Case Study
The installation of this project was led by Lana DeCosimo, CEO of Display Attic, who brings over 25 years of expertise in retail design. Her team specializes in creating innovative window displays, visual merchandising, and event setups that not only elevate brand presence but also drive sales growth.
Capella Design – Selora Grab Bar Frame
Capella Design is a Vancouver-based company specializing in stylish, assistive home products that blend modern aesthetics with functional design to enhance home mobility. Their offerings, such as the Lotic Shower Seat and Corbel Adjustable Side Table, are crafted from sustainable materials in North America, aiming to provide elegant and practical solutions for individuals seeking accessible living spaces.
Zoll – Life Vest by Vandal Goods
S-Bench – Prairie Garden
The S-Bench and Prairie Garden project reimagines a public seating area designed specifically to enhance accessibility, promote social engagement, and integrate ecological sustainability. The project aims to provide a multifunctional space where older adults and other members of the community can gather, rest, and interact with nature while promoting well-being and enhancing the urban landscape.
Annual Update 2024
Design Charrette – Reimagining the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT)
What if, instead of spending hundreds of millions to tear down the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) infrastructure, we transformed it into a vibrant and iconic community space that fosters local arts and culture, promotes sustainable mobility, provides healthy recreational options and supports inclusive local economies?
Presentation at IDS Toronto
We live and breathe design, and instinctively know its value. In a resource focused economy like Canada’s, how do we make sure that the sector gets the recognition and support it needs? How can we better represent design in Ontario? Hear from DIAC’s Strategic Director and a panel of experts about the work done so far, plans for the future, and how a bold new graphic identity has been developed to help the mission.
Call for Submission of Interest – DIAC Rebrand (Call is now closed)
The Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC) is seeking to rebrand the current wordmark of DIAC. DIAC is calling for interested design companies or individuals in Ontario, with a strong knowledge of branding and visual identity design, to design the new visual identity/wordmark for DIAC and develop basic visual identity guidelines/standards.
DIAC is partnering with Seneca Polytechnic
DIAC is partnering with Seneca Polytechnic “Design for Social Change” course in the Graphic Design program to develop strategies and recommendations to engage stakeholders, especially policymakers and businesses while showcasing the vital role of the Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC) in promoting the value of design.
DIAC Annual Update 2023
The Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC), in its 22nd year, continued to seek to bring an integrated design perspective to industry and public sector initiatives to improve economic, social, and environmental outcomes. The Committee works to enable other industries to utilize the problem-solving skills of our local design workforce to improve business results.
Design Impacts with DIAC
Thursday, Jan. 18, 2-3pm, ARIDO + IDC Stage, Interior Design Show, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building. For more information and the link to register for the show: Agenda – Thursday, Jan 18 | IDS Toronto – Interior Design Show
The Power of Design: How Innovation and Strategic Design Translate to Market Success
Design is more than simply aesthetics; it is how users interact with products and services to develop an experience that helps them connect and build a relationship with the company. In this panel, learn how great design builds great businesses and what it takes to do so. Join DIAC’s design panel at the City’s Small Business Forum, October 30th, MTCC South Building, noon to 1 p.m.
