NorthSur-NorteSouth

JULY 2014 - AUGUST 2015   |   BUENOS AIRES & TORONTO   |   OPEN IMPACT LAB

NorthSur-NorteSouth is an online photographic collaboration project where youth in Canada and Argentina work together through the Internet to co-create photos exploring connections between social realities blurring geographic and cultural borders. Among the legacies of this initiative are: an exhibit in Toronto and one in Buenos Aires, the continued collaboration between matched artists after the exhibits concluded; an online  platform that was developed for the exchange and will now be used for OCAD U’s international arts collaboration projects.

Design to Feed the World

JUNE 2015   |   MILAN   |   OPEN IMPACT LAB 

Students, researchers, faculty and internal student organisations participated in the "Design to Feed the World" exhibition, through an installation highlighting the work of various individuals and groups across disciplines across OCAD University working to increase awareness of the concept of food and its relationship to people. Through an interdisciplinary selection of works, three modular tower installations showcase projects that reflected the value of food, our cultural context, and understanding of its place in our lives.

Photo Credit: Juan Camacho

Digifest 2015 – The Best of the Best, Graduate Student Showcase

MAY 2015   |   TORONTO   | OPEN IMPACT LAB 

Graduate students were invited to apply to Digifest’s Best of the Best Graduate Student Showcase, to exhibit their thesis work in digital media and innovation. A selected group of interdisciplinary, OCAD University graduates had the opportunity to participate in the exhibition bringing their projects beyond the university boundaries to industry partners, peers, colleagues, and the public at Toronto's premiere digital festival.

Photo Credit: Digifest

Latin American Speaker Series: Jota Castro /Minerva Cuevas/ Alejandro Cartagena

APRIL 2 - JUNE 30, 2015  |   TORONTO   | OPEN IMPACT LAB 

The speakers were chosen for being inspiring “artivists” from around the world. Castro works for the United Nations and the European Community, Cuevas and Cartagena act locally in rural Mexico. The lecture and exhibits took place at OCAD U and in our partner organization LACAP (Latin American Canadian Artists Projects). The goal of this series of talks was to show students how artists can use their art to advocate for causes they believe in and raise awareness triggering change. We partnered with LACAP to bring a global viewpoint and in particular a Latin American perspective.

The Grind

LAUNCH 2015   |   OCAD UNIVERSITY CAMPUS   |   OPEN IMPACT LAB 

OCAD U's first student-run undergraduate incubator for creative entrepreneurs and businesses, empowers students with accessible practical knowledge and resources by building an open door community. The Open Impact Lab has provided ongoing support to The Grind by contributing mentorship, collaboration space, training avenues, and social networking opportunities to further creative, passion-driven, undergraduate student entrepreneurs.

Photo Credit: The Grind

grOCAD 

LAUNCH 2015   | OCAD UNIVERSITY CAMPUS   | OPEN IMPACT LAB 

grOCAD’s aim is to increase healthy food accessibility, encourage discourse about how plants improve quality of life and heighten awareness of urban agricultural practices. grOCAD is supported by the Open Impact Lab through the establishment of meeting space, mentorship, and international opportunities for exhibition to showcase the team’s work of integrating plant life and “greening” OCAD University’s campus through diverse and innovative methods.

Photo Credit: grOCAD

Student-Alumni Steering Group (SASG)

LAUNCH 2015   |   OCAD UNIVERSITY   | OPEN IMPACT LAB

The Student-Alumni Steering Group lives within the Impact Collective and was envisioned to be a “by students, for all students" governance model to ensure that all programs and services under the Open Impact Lab are student-focused. Much of the activity both on-campus and off-campus, is developed based on the outcomes of SASG consultations and workshops and is focused on the building of social innovation initiatives for students of the OCAD University community.

Photo Credit: Asma Khanani Caporaletti.

StudentMoveTO

LAUNCH JANUARY 2015   |   TORONTO   | OPEN IMPACT LAB 

This initiative is being jointly spearheaded by OCAD U, University of Toronto, Ryerson University and York University for students and by students. The initiative observes how students travel in Toronto and GTA to get to their  universities, the project addresses transportation challenges and evaluates possible solutions.

Mixed Steps Dance Club

LAUNCH OCTOBER 2014   |   OCAD UNIVERSITY CAMPUS   |   OPEN IMPACT LAB 

OCAD University’s first dance "club" brings all students, faculty and staff together to collaboratively learn a new skill and have fun doing it! The Open Impact Lab provides ongoing support to OCAD University’s Mixed Steps Dance Club through dedicated, on-campus, daily programming space, equipment funding and mentorship in an effort to encourage strong, social student-life infrastructure. 

Photo Credit: Mixed Steps Dance Club