Design Day

Video still of 2019 Design Day. — Centre for Entrepreneurship and Engineering Design

Design Day

About Design Day

Design Day is a free, public event bringing together industry professionals, students, clients and professors. It takes place twice a year, in fall and in winter.

All students, undergraduate and graduate, at the Faculty of Engineering are invited to participate and showcase their design projects, whether physical prototypes, design plans, software apps or websites. Entries can originate from course work, research or a personal project from individual students or from teams. Prizes are awarded to winners in each category.

Person presenting project to 4 individuals

Our last event

Our fall Design Day was held on November 28, 2024.

See winning Design Day teams

How to get involved

All students are invited to participate in Design Day. Network, see other projects and interact with the community at large.

If you’re enrolled in a course that requires you to participate in Design Day, you’ll be automatically registered.
If not, register to present a project in the open category. Open category applications will re-open in the Winter 2025 term.

Past student solutions — designed with purpose

Our students design solutions for clients with specific purposes or needs, with projects in categories such as accessibility and sustainability.

Inuuqatigiit green spaces

Client: Inuuqatigiit Centre for Children, Youth and Families

Problem: The client needed a greenhouse or a grow wall that could be used in different locations to promote sustainable practices and benefits for the community. Either structure had to able to be dismantled and transported to accommodate its rented location.

Team solution: The Vertigro Hydroponic, a soil-free system to grow and harvest fresh produce year-round. Learn more about the Vertigo Hydroponic.

Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) for construction

Client: EllisDon

Problem: The main challenges for VR/AR adoption in construction are hardware requirements, ease of use and software costs. Construction teams must put together increasingly complex buildings, where the need for better design visualization has never been greater.

Team solution: Axolotl AR, an app that can visualize BIMs (building information models) using VR and AR technology on mobile devices. Learn more about Axolotl AR.

Accessibility: Power grabber handle

Client: Tetra Society

Problem: The Tetra Society was looking for a system to replace the hand strength and grip requirements of a standard pick-up stick with a powered mechanical hand that could hold an object for recovery from the stick.

Team solution: Team Power Grabber-EH designed a lightweight electronic grabber that requires little effort and no gripping to control due to its E-Z press buttons. Learn more about the Power Grabber-EH.

Accessibility: Accessible test results

Client: Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)

Problem: Rapid home tests, such as for COVID or pregnancy, are easy to find in most pharmacies. However, they rely on sight and colour to convey the results.

Team solution: ReadMe! is a web application designed to assist visually impaired individuals in reading medical tests. Learn more about the Read me! app.

ReadMe! application — ReadMe! web application

Inclusive biking

Client: PHSS — Medical & Complex Care in Community

Problem: Biking is a leisure activity enjoyed by many, but it can present challenges for people living with disabilities and accessibility requirements.

Team solution: EquiBike provides an affordable solution for wheelchair users to enjoy cycling on a standard bike. Learn more about the EquiBike.

Jason’s moving app

Client: Jason’s Moving Company

Problem: Moving is a complicated process requiring a lot of organization and time. It’s also often a costly, stressful experience.

Team solution: Move It is an app designed to simplify moving. It offers instant, accurate cost estimates for furniture that needs to be moved, allowing users to better organize their move and calculate moving costs. Learn more about the Move It app.

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Student demonstrating how to use the prototype - Credit: uOttawa

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Partners

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Resolute Forest Products

Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network

Year 3000 Group