The Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario

03/14/2026

Design talks are typically so full of past successes, stories of the Big Wins, of makin’ it. A designer has done cool stuff, and they go on the lecture circuit to talk about it.
And when you are listening to those stories from the other side, it’s easy to think that you are the only designer that doesn’t crush it all day, every day.
There is lots to be learnt from success.
But there are painful, valuable lessons to be learnt from failures - from f*ckups.
We all make them, and it’s how we learn from them that really matters.

At this exclusive, ACIDO members only event - Come behind the scenes, and hear from successful designers, who share about their most colossal f*ckups, and what they learnt from them. Get your ticket at the link in bio.

02/21/2026

Do you attend events and feel like you chat with the same people every time? Here’s your chance to expand your network and meet more designers:
At this event, you will quickly meet as many other Industrial Designers and people in our industry as possible. Think of this event like corporate speed meeting but with designers!

How will this work?

Attendees will be divided into pairs to chat for 5 minutes. When the 5 minutes is up, participants move on to the next person with whom they chat for 5 mins and so on.

Nervous about meeting new people?

If the prospect of meeting a room full of new people makes you a tad anxious, no worries. We’ll provide some icebreaker questions to help the conversations flow.

The specifics:

When: Thursday March 12, 2026 @ 6:30 - 9 pm

6:30-7pm - Arrive

7pm - Speed Meeting rounds begin

Where: The Rhino Bar & Grill @ 1249 Queen St W, Toronto

Who: This event is open to members and non-members. Bring a friend.

ACIDO members - free and get 1 drink ticket

Non-members - $10

01/11/2026

Join us on February 26, 2026 at the Palmerston Theatre for a screening of Objectified, followed by conversation and happy hour at the nearby Pauper’s Pub.

Objectified is a feature-length documentary, Produced and Directed by Gary Hustwit, about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?

Special thanks to our Sponsor for this event -

You must register to secure your spot. All are welcome - members and non-members alike.
Members, please log-in for your free ticket. The option for a free ticket will only allow registration when you are logged in as a member.
Non-members tickets are $10 each.

Agenda:
Doors Open at 6pm.
Movie will start by 7pm.
8:30pm - we will move to Pauper’s Pub for happy hour and continued conversation. Any food and drinks at the happy hour are at the expense of each individual attendee.

10/25/2025

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting (the “Meeting”) of the Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario (ACIDO) will be held on Thursday, November 27th, 2025, at 7 pm EST, via Zoom Meeting and in person for the following purposes: 1. To receive the annual report
and the financial statements of the Association, 2. To elect Directors, and 3. To transact other such business as may properly come before the Meeting.
Chartered Industrial Designer (CID) Members in good standing as of the commencement of the Meeting will be entitled to vote at the Meeting. CID Members who do not intend to attend the Meeting in person are urged to execute and return the accompanying Proxy via email to [email protected] prior to the Meeting.

DATE & TIME: Thursday, November 27th, 2025, Zoom meeting begins at 7pm
LOCATION: Zoom and CORTEX WEST at 1398 Queen St. West, Toronto (entrance off alley)

10/08/2025

We invite you to participate in an important survey about the impact of U.S. tariffs on the Canadian design community.

As part of ACIDO's ongoing advocacy, we are gathering insights to better understand how tariffs are affecting Canadian designers, manufacturers, consultancies, small studios, and independent creative brands.

Many of our designers and Canadian companies will face challenges in competing in the U.S. market, where tariffs often price them out or limit their ability to grow.

This survey aims to capture the real-world consequences these barriers are having on creative businesses and jobs across Canada.

Your input will help us develop a plan to advocate for a marketplace where Canadian designers can thrive and share their work with the world. We believe that protecting our creative industries is critical to ensuring Canada remains a leader in innovation and cultural exchange.

Link in Bio to take survey.
Survey is open until October 20th.

10/22/2024

This Thursday!

UPCOMING EVENT - THURSDAY, OCT. 24th, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Join us at Custom Prototypes in Etobicoke for a FREE tour and networking social. We will livestream on Instagram .info for anyone interested in attending remotely. Please see full details and RSVP here: https://beeid.org/f846d5559a4a

10/14/2024

Association partners DesignTO has an event coming up that our members and wider design community may be interested in.

Exciting news! Our friends at EQ3 King Street are hosting a special event on October 16th, from 6–9 PM, to celebrate their newly reimagined showroom featuring the state-of-the-art Palliser Studio.

Join them for an evening filled with live music, refreshments, and a chance to win a Palliser My Comfort swivel chair. Guests will also receive a complimentary EQ3 tote bag with a gift inside (while quantities last).

RSVP today to be part of this fun evening! https://buff.ly/3No6EOL

EQ3 King St- Modern Furniture
222 King Street East
Toronto, ON
Wed, Oct 16, 2024 6-9PM

10/10/2024

UPCOMING EVENT - THURSDAY, OCT. 24th, 6:30 to 8:30 pm

Join us at Custom Prototypes in Etobicoke for a FREE tour and networking social. We will livestream on Instagram .info for anyone interested in attending remotely. Please see full details and RSVP here: https://beeid.org/f846d5559a4a

09/26/2024

🚨 Call for Submissions! 🚨
All designers and students, don’t miss your chance to showcase your work at the DesignTO Prototype Exhibition as part of the DesignTO Festival 2025! If you have a forward-thinking design prototype, we want to see it. This is your opportunity to gain exposure in front of thousands of design lovers and industry professionals. 💡✨

📢 In partnership with Umbra, we’re also introducing a new 0.6mm recycled uncoated leather material – thin, flexible, and perfect for creative exploration. How will you transform it?

📅 Deadline: Friday, September 27, 2024 (Submissions sent by Monday will still be accepted).
🔗 For more information, or to submit, visit: https://designto.org/prototype-call/

Thanks to DesignTO for sharing this opportunity with us to pass along to our members and the wider design community.



Image: 2019 prototype exhibition, 'Work/Life' at the Umbra Store, Toronto. Part of the 2019 DesignTO Festival. Courtesy of DesignTO

06/23/2024

Celebrate World Industrial Design Day with Us!

Join us for a special celebration of World Industrial Design Day at Cortex West on Thursday, June 27th, from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Come mingle and share stories in the beautiful new studio as we embrace this year’s inspiring theme: Let’s Get Emotional!

World Industrial Design Day (WIDD), observed annually on June 29, honours the power of design in enhancing economic, social, cultural, and environmental development worldwide. Established in 2008, WIDD represents the first international day of observance created uniquely to highlight the merits of the industrial design profession and its impact on quality of life.

As an open-source programme, WIDD engages the global design community under the banner of a different theme each year, encouraging the development of design-led events, activities, workshops, competitions and exhibits. This year, we celebrate the emotional connections that designers create through their work. In a world where every design, big or small, can evoke feelings, we recognize how designers’ emotional connections to their surroundings and to the communities they serve lead to better products, services, and experiences.

Event Details:
Date: Thursday, June 27th
Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Cortex West @ 1398 Queen St. West in Toronto (entrance off alley)
Cost: Free for all Industrial Designers and ID enthusiasts
RSVP: Please RSVP via this link https://beeid.org/836d4ab1e080

Interested in joining ACIDO? There will be opportunities to ask questions to the ACIDO Board of Directors! Let’s get emotional together and celebrate the incredible impact of industrial design!

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow designers. We look forward to seeing you there!

06/06/2024

Special thanks to all our judges of this year's ACIDO Rocket event at the University of Toronto's Brennan Hall on Saturday, May 25th, 2024!

Thank you Dylan Horvath from Cortex Design, Nick Gillissie from Modus ID, Randy Yang from Inertia, Cynthia Damar-Schobb from Artellix, Jonathan Loudon from Swave Studios, Elli Chemel from Dalstrong, Jacob Edding from Tensen Design, Sam Parker from Copernicus Educational Products, Jimmy Rogers, President of ACIDO and from 39 Design and Engineering, Miles Keller from Dystil Design, Mark Jones Treasurer and Director of Finance at ACIDO, Jenny Suh from Umbra, Alex Arevalo from Onshape PTC, David Green from Canadian Tire, Eugenie de Loynes Cortex Design, Garry Campbell from Nova Product Development and David Quan from David Quan Design Consultancy

Thanks for evaluating all the projects and selecting the winners of Rocket 2024!

There were so many great projects from all 4 degree-granting schools this year.

Check out all the winners and finalists at https://acido.info/acido-rocket-2024/

05/29/2024

WINNER: The Disruptor's Award presented by Design 1st
Madeleine Eisert, Carleton University
Project: gobi
.eisert Design 1st

About gobi:
The first all-in-one management device for Type 1 Diabetes

Check out all the projects at https://acido.info/acido-rocket-2024/