Cooler Solutions is a Design Innovation Company.
Critical Making With Matt Ratto
28 July 2010
On July 15, Cooler participated in a Critical Making workshop led by Matt Ratto, Assistant Professor and Director of the Critical Making Lab at the Faculty of Information at UofT. Critical Making is learning by blending theory with the physical act of making and experimenting. By engaging physically with technology, people are able to gain a more thorough understanding of how information integrates with the material world.
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Future Lab Sparks The One-Million-Dollar Swap
22 June 2010
Friday June 11 marked the end of the Net Change; a week-long conference exploring the intersection between social technology and social change. Jointly hosted by MaRS and the Social Innovation Generation group (SiG), Net Change drew over 2,000 attendees and the participation of over 35 collaborators.
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Discussion on Business Design: Cooler talks with David Dunne from UofT’s Rotman School of Management
19 May 2010
David Dunne, a professor and the Co-Director of the Rotman Teaching Effectiveness Centre, visited the Cooler office yesterday with his colleagues from the MBA school to engage in a conversation about Business Design. From both a business and design perspective, we shared experiences and ideas on the role of Integrative Thinking as a viable business model.
The Rotman School of Management has come to be known for Integrative Thinking and Business Design. The dean of Rotman, Roger Martin, spearheaded the design debate with his book, The Design of Business, which argues that many companies (and business schools) today are generally rigid and ill equipped for change. As a result, they lack true innovation. David posed a few open-ended questions to further this thought: Is Integrative Thinking just another fad or is it a true game changer? And can business professionals also be designers?
More about this topic: Business Design at Rotman, Roger Martin
Image: From the Rotman Life Photo Gallery
Rocket 2010: Industrial Design Graduation Show and Competition
10 May 2010
This weekend the Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario (ACIDO) will be hosting the 9th annual Rocket show and competition. The event showcases thesis projects by graduating Carleton, Humber, and OCAD industrial design students.
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Cooler's Dignity toilet and Biosync thermostat presented at MaRS
22 April 2010
Lisa Torjman, an associate at SiG@MaRS, presented Cooler’s Dignity Toilet and Biosync Thermostat last month at the National Conference on Business and Technology. The presentation focused on the intersection of social entrepreneurship and technology and informed business students on how technology can be applied to address social issues. The Dignity Toilet and Biosync Thermostat were used as examples of socially driven product solutions.
Click here to download the presentation
MaRS is an innovation hub that helps foster and promotes Canadian innovation.
Social Innovation Generation (SiG@MaRS) is a program that provides social innovators and entrepreneur’s access to resources that help them realize a combined economic profit with social purpose.
Cooler welcomes Manish Chauhan!
13 April 2010
Manish Chauhan, from the Institute without Boundaries, will be interning at Cooler for the next two weeks. With a background in graphic design, Manish is interested in applying his design skills and methodologies to solve complex problems. Welcome to the team!
Extensive field research with grillers led to a new, user-focused barbeque for Canadian Tire.
07 April 2010
The new Cooler-designed Coleman EvenHeat barbeque addresses key needs of everyday grillers. Designers and researchers conducted in-field user observation to uncover key insights. These insights were then translated into valuable design features. The new Coleman EvenHeat barbeque improves on three main areas: cooking performance, durability and maintenance.
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Cooler presents at the DX this month
08 March 2010
On March 24, 2010, the Design Exchange will be hosting a Design & Business forum about the importance of design in our lives. Cooler Solutions will be leading a breakout session that tackles one of Toronto's greatest challenges: How to improve the customer experience on the TTC.
For more event details, click here.
Cooler collaborates with MBA students
01 March 2010
Cooler Solutions worked with York University Schullich MBA students to develop a business case for the Biosync Thermostat, which informs homeowners of their energy consumption. This experience gives students and professionals the opportunity to experience a highly valuable and integrative approach to problem solving.
Cooler’s Biophilic compost featured in Korean Monthly DESIGN Magazine
01 March 2010
The biophilic compost was featured in a Korean magazine - Korean Monthly DESIGN: between Art & Business. The biophillic compost is a healthy workplace composting system that helps purify office air. Biophillia is based on biologist Edward O. Wilson’s study of the instinctive bond between humans and living systems.
View the post on design.co.kr here.
Ray chair wins 2009 Chicago Athenaeum Good Design Award
01 March 2010
The Ray chair is a conference-seating chair that reacts and self-adjusts to a users ideal sitting position. The design combines the comfort of reclining with a simple yet classic look and feel.
Read more about the Good Design Award here
Highlights from the Canadian Socially Responsible Design Show 2009
04 January 2010
Cooler Solutions wins Silver for the Ray Chair at NeoCon 2009
02 September 2009
Click to download PDF
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Cooler Solutions coordinates the Canadian Socially Responsible Design Exhibition at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
02 September 2009