Learn about the ventures students have been developing in the Creating a Design Startup Fall 2025 course taught by Ryan Smith.
Creating a Design Startup equips designers with the tools and methods to create and test their own startups. Through rapid, iterative prototyping and human-centred design, students learn to transform product and service concepts into viable business opportunities.
This showcase features product discovery work by third- and fourth-year Interaction Design students presenting 8-minute pitches that highlight their design process and business vision.
This year’s startup concepts span a variety of innovative designs, including:
- Health & Wellness: Smoking cessation, mindfulness, food allergies, PMS management, pet health
- Education & Learning: Language learning, AI prompt learning, study-space finding
- Lifestyle & Productivity: Battery management, personal safety, footwear shopping, mobile workspace
- Personal Finance: Budgeting, subscription management, banking for international students
Event Schedule:
3.00 – 3.20 PM: Welcome + Land Acknowledgement
3.20 – 4.50 PM: 9x Pitch Presentations
4.50 – 5.00 PM: Short Break
5.00 – 6.20 PM: 9x Pitch Presentations
6.20 – 6.45 PM: Networking