Design Groups Toronto

Markham Design Curious: Unraveling User Experience Together

Join us for an afternoon of real talk about user experience design. Whether you're new to UX, transitioning into the field, or just curious about what it actually involves, this is a comfortable space to explore together. We'll dig into what makes good design work, look at some real examples, and talk through the kinds of problems UX designers actually solve day to day. No fancy jargon required—just genuine interest in making things better for the people who use them. This meetup is for anyone in or around Markham who wants to understand UX better, swap ideas, and connect with other people thinking about these things. You'll get a chance to ask questions, hear from folks with different levels of experience, and maybe discover something that sparks your curiosity. Bring your perspective, your skepticism, your enthusiasm—whatever you've got. We're keeping it casual and inclusive because the best conversations happen when everyone feels welcome to jump in. If this sounds like your kind of thing, please hit RSVP so we know how many people to expect. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

Service Design Connect

**Welcome to Service Design Drinks** Connect with like-minded service designers, share ideas, grow together, and make friends Join us at the Duke of York for a fun night of design conversation and light activities **Format: Casual meet & greet** **What to Expect** ✅ Fun Icebreakers – Thoughtfully designed to help you connect effortlessl ✅ Exciting conversations – Enjoy connecting with creative professionals in the cit ✅ A Relaxed, Welcoming Atmosphere – Come as you are, leave with new friend 📢 RSVP here so we can plan accordingly. It reflects the actual signup

Vaughan Design Curious: Unlocking UX Fundamentals Together

Join us for Design Curious: Unlocking UX Fundamentals Together, a casual in-person meetup for anyone interested in learning about UX design. Whether you're completely new to the field, thinking about making a career change, or just curious about how good design works, this is the right place for you. We'll explore the core principles that make user experience work, talk through real examples, and get a sense of what UX designers actually do day-to-day. No design experience needed—we're all here to learn together. This is a laid-back gathering where you can ask questions, share what you're curious about, and connect with other people in the Vaughan area who are interested in design. We'll keep things practical and accessible, focusing on ideas you can actually understand and apply. Bring your questions, your perspective, and an open mind. Coffee and conversation included. If this sounds like something you'd want to be part of, please RSVP so we know how many folks to expect. We're looking forward to seeing you there.

Mississauga Design Curious: Untangling User Experience Together

Join us for an afternoon of learning and conversation about user experience design. Whether you're new to UX, considering a career shift, or just curious about how design shapes the products and services we use every day, this is a great chance to explore these ideas together in a relaxed, welcoming environment. We'll dig into some of the core concepts that make UX tick, ask questions without judgment, and share what we're learning along the way. This is a hands-on, discussion-based meetup where everyone's perspective matters. We're not here to lecture—we're here to untangle UX together, figure out what's confusing, and help each other build a better understanding of this field. Bring your curiosity and maybe a question or two you've been wondering about. No experience necessary. If this sounds like something you'd like to be part of, please go ahead and RSVP so we know how many people to expect. Hope to see you there!

Toronto Design Curious: Unlocking UX Secrets Together

Join us for an evening of conversation and connection with fellow designers and UX enthusiasts in Toronto. Whether you're just starting to explore the field, making a career transition, or looking to deepen your skills, this is a casual space to learn from each other and tackle the questions that come up in real work. We'll chat about the stuff that actually matters—the decisions, the challenges, the things they don't always teach you in courses—and hopefully you'll leave with a few new insights and some friendly faces to stay in touch with. This meetup is for anyone curious about UX, regardless of where you are in your journey. Seasoned professionals, career-changers, students, or just people who want to understand design thinking better are all welcome. We keep things relaxed and conversational, so there's no pressure to have all the answers or be an expert. Just bring genuine curiosity and a willingness to share what you know. If this sounds like your kind of evening, we'd love to have you. Head over and RSVP so we know how many of us to expect. Hope to see you there.

Creative Code Toronto meetup at InterAccess

Join us for a Toronto meetup of creative coders! This will be a venue to get to know each other and see what's going on in the community. We'll have a space downtown and some food available. We're partnering with [InterAccess](https://interaccess.org), a gallery, educational facility, production studio, festival, and registered charity dedicated to new media and emerging practices in art and technology! * If you've got a project you've worked on in the past that you're proud of, we'd love to see it and for you to walk us through what went into it. * If you're currently working on something or investigating some new ideas and feel like sharing, this would be a great time discuss your process so far! * If you haven't done anything yet but are interested in creative coding, we'd love to see what works have inspired you. Sign up here if you're interested in speaking! [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsbtdvTGMNT75lqq4lnxydY4TczStAOZE1Ap8mQJKeM](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsbtdvTGMNT75lqq4lnxydY4TczStAOZE1Ap8mQJKeM) **What is creative code?** *Creative coding* refers to anything with an artistic component that uses code as a medium. We welcome artists who use code (for visuals, audio, poetry, or whatever else), designers, animators, toolmakers, researchers, or just enjoyers and people looking to learn more! **Location:** InterAccess, at 32 Lisgar St. **Join our discord** if you want to talk to everyone before/after the event, or have any suggestions for things you'd like to see or do! [https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ](https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ)

TOPHATs Immortal Images, Immersive Music, and Microbrews

Join Lawrence, your top hatted host, for an evening of nearly 100 iconic portraits by the legendary photographer, Richard Avedon. Followed by a visit to Friar's Music Immersive Experience of Toronto’s vibrant music scene. The we will hop over to 3 Brasseurs for our social and perhaps a giant pretzel. At 6 pm SHARP, we will meet at The Image Centre where we have a guided tour by one of the gallery's curators. 33 Gould St, Toronto, ON M5B 1W1 Richard Avedon Immortal: Portraits of Aging, 1951–2004. For nearly half a century, celebrated American photographer Richard Avedon confronted one of portraiture’s enduring taboos: aging. https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/richard-avedon-immortal/ After the tour, we will take in some of the works in the smaller galleries. Molly Steels: I Am/Was/Always https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/molly-steels-iamwasalways/ Tanya Marcuse: Portent https://theimagecentre.ca/exhibition/tanya-marcuse-portent/ Then we will walk over to Friars Music Museum of their Immersive exhibit of Downtown Toronto's Music scene. Located on the second floor of the Shoppers Drug Mart. 279 Yonge St Floor2, Toronto, ON M5B 1N8 https://downtownyonge.com/arts-culture/friars-music-museum/ Our last stop and social is at 3 Brasseurs on Yonge Street. I am looking forward to enjoying your company as we share one of their giant pretzels and a micro brew. https://www.3brasseurs.ca/en/menus 275 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5B 1N8

Speaker: Edward Eastman

Legacy Code Doesn't Have to Suck

Say "legacy software" in a room full of developers and watch the faces drop. We tend to picture old, fragile code that nobody understands, nobody wants to touch, and everybody hopes to avoid. And to be fair, that's often exactly what it is But here's the thing: legacy software is software that survived. It makes money, it has real users, and it's been doing its job for years. That's more than most shiny new projects can say In this talk we'll look at how to approach a legacy project without dread, how to find the quick wins that build momentum, and how to gradually turn a codebase people avoid into one they actually want to work on. Being stuck with ugly, boring code isn't a law of nature. It's a choice, and we have the power to make a different one If you've ever inherited a project and wondered what you did to deserve it, this one's for you. Presented by: Ihor Herasymenko and Ivan Guravel **About the venue** Free Times Cafe has bistro-style seating and a full food and drink menu. Please consider helping to support the venue by planning to have supper during the talk

Lingerie/Fashion Implied/Fine Art - with Watermelon

Art Hub of The Great Lakes Show Opening Reception

Immerse yourself in Twist Gallery's newest exhibition, the Art Hub of The Great Lakes, showcasing the vibrant exploration of colour, texture, and material through the expressive language of mixed media. Each painting unfolds in layers, bringing together unexpected elements, marks, and surfaces to create works that are both tactile and deeply personal. The collection invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and discover the stories and emotions held within each piece. Event Link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/art-hub-of-the-great-lakes-show-opening-reception-tickets-2001399982223?aff=oddtdtcreator

MUG Toronto NOV 2026 - Voyage AI with MongoDB

# **REGISTER OVER IN LUMA: [https://luma.com/sn68vy7c ](https://luma.com/sn68vy7c)** # **Follow our new Calendar in Luma: [https://luma.com/mug-toronto](https://luma.com/mug-toronto)** \*\*\*\*\* # **Join us for a MongoDB User Group in Toronto 🚀** ​Come connect with fellow developers, tech enthusiasts, and the curious-minded for an evening exploring the best practices and real-world use cases powering modern apps with MongoDB. Whether you're building your first project or scaling to millions of users, you'll walk away with practical insights, fresh ideas, and a great group of people to swap notes with. ​Grab a drink, meet the local MongoDB community, and see what's possible when you build with the right database. See you there! # ​**Agenda** ​**17.30:** Arrival & Networking **18.00:** Welcome **18.10: Voyage AI with MongoDB Skill Badge** **19.00:** Pizza & Networking **19.30:** Event Close # ​Session Details ## ​**Voyage AI with MongoDB Skill Badge** ​In this session, you’ll learn what vector embeddings are, how they’re created, and why they’re essential for powering modern AI applications and semantic search. ​At the end of the workshop, you will also be able to check your learning and earn a [skill badge](https://mdb.link/skills?utm_source=luma) to share with your network! Speaker: Leonardo Gomes, Developer, Pelmorex Leo is a Full Stack Developer and passionate about Node.js, Cloud, and MongoDB.