Introduction

When we began the process of producing this addition to the Shift series, we asked that our contributors write about a design issue they were passionate about. In most cases, these topics reflected the research conducted by students in their thesis year. For OCAD students, the thesis project is often a last chance to extensively explore a topic in undergraduate academia. It is interesting to note that the chosen topics gave us insight into the particular areas young designers are choosing to focus their efforts. For us this was almost as interesting as the essays themselves. Based on the following essays, it is clear that design students continue to stretch the constraints of their fields—often choosing to work at the intersection of disciplines

From Kenya to Nunavut, refugee camps to Facebook, stained glass to data visualization, the selection of topics covered in the book is eclectic. The writers come from all corners of the design faculty: Industrial, Environmental, Graphic and Advertising. Their varied approaches provide interesting design solutions and ask pertinent questions.

The mission of the OCAD Student Press is simple: get good ideas out of OCAD. We hope this collection does just that.

Published Spring of 2008.