Design Groups Toronto

Designing Better Ideas: From Divergence to artful convergence.

A hands-on workshop on turning insights into ideas that actually hold. Most ideas aren’t bad. They’re just… premature. ​We’re trained to move fast, jump to solutions, and make things look good quickly. ​But good design doesn’t come from speed. It comes from **seeing differently.** ​This session is about breaking that habit. ​This hands-on workshop explores how ideas actually emerge i.e through tension, constraints, and collaboration and not just creativity. ​ **👉 To secure your spot, please register via [Luma](https://luma.com/caozni5i): https://luma.com/caozni5i** (*Meetup RSVPs don’t guarantee a seat*) # ​**What we’ll do:** ​**Start with people (but not in a fluffy way)** ​Map real experiences ​Surface assumptions ​Interrogate what we think we know ​ ​**Push beyond obvious ideas** ​Generate more (and worse) ideas — on purpose ​Break out of default thinking patterns ​ ​**Make it real** ​Work with constraints ​Shape direction ​Turn messy thinking into something tangible ​ ## ​**What you’ll take away** * ​Why most teams default to shallow thinking * ​How to actually *practice* divergent thinking (not just talk about it) * ​What it means to move from insight → concept * ​How constraints make ideas stronger, not weaker ​**Who this is for** * ​Professionals who want to relax, nerd out, and build fun things * ​Designers who are tired of surface-level workshops * ​People who jump to solutions (you know who you are) * ​Anyone curious about how ideas *actually* come together ​ ​**About Service Design Drinks (SDD)** ​SDD is a community of practice for people interested in service design. ​We host casual, hands-on sessions to learn, share, and grow together - no fluff, just thoughtful work and conversation. ​ ​**Agenda** ​5:30 pm \| Arrival \+ settle in ​6:00 pm \| Workshop session ​7:30 pm \| Stay back and connect

TerribleHack

Most hackathons are about coming up with innovative new ideas and making plausible startup prototypes. This one is different. This one is about making terrible hacks! **Take some time to make your bad ideas a reality.** This year, **InterAccess** will be hosting TerribleHack! It will be on **Sunday April 26** from 11am to 6pm. InterAccess is a gallery and studio that also graciously hosts Creative Code Toronto events. Check out their gallery while you're at the event! For more info, see https://terriblehack.website/

Introduction to Systemic Design

**Learn to see the system, not just the problem** ​Complex challenges rarely live in one place; they span teams, touchpoints, and invisible connections. ​This session is a hands-on introduction to systemic design: an approach that combines systems thinking and design to help us better understand and work within complexity. In this interactive, learning-by-doing session, you’ll explore how systems thinking and design come together to tackle complex organizational challenges. Instead of jumping straight to solutions, we’ll step back to see the bigger picture - uncovering relationships, identifying patterns, and finding leverage points where thoughtful design can create meaningful impact. ​You’ll work through a practical case, collaborate with others, and leave with new ways of thinking about problems that don’t have simple answers. **👉 To secure your spot, please register via [Luma](https://luma.com/lqfccdiw):** https://luma.com/lqfccdiw (*Meetup RSVPs don’t guarantee a seat*) ​**What you’ll learn** * ​Core principles of systemic design (interconnectedness, leverage points, human-centered thinking) * ​How to map systems and uncover underlying dynamics * ​How to identify patterns and opportunities for intervention * ​How to move from complexity → clarity → action ​**Who this is for** * ​Designers who are tired of surface-level problem solving * ​People who jump to solutions (you know who you are) * ​Anyone curious about how ideas *actually* come together * ​Professionals who want to nerd out, experiment, and learn by doing ​ ​**Format** ​This is a **hands-on workshop**, not a lecture. Come ready to participate, think visually, and collaborate with others. We’ll have pizza and pop — come hungry :) ​ **Agenda** ​5:30 – 6:00 pm \| Arrival \+ settle in ​6:00 – 7:30 pm \| Workshop session ​7:30 pm onwards \| Stay back and connect **Location** ​Career Centre Lounge (Room 287), Rotman School of Management ​105 St. George Street, Toronto ​**In collaboration with Rotman’s Business Design Initiative (BDI)** ​Led by [Emma Aiken-Klar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-jo-aiken-klar-phd/?utm_source=luma), with Service Design Drinks Toronto ([Shivika Sood](https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivika-sood/?utm_source=luma)), this session explores systemic design in a hands-on, practical way. [Service Design Drinks Toronto ](https://linkedin.com/company/sddtoronto?utm_source=luma)is a community of practice - a space to learn, experiment, and connect through service design in an open, accessible way.

Conor Hoekstra - Parrot : Array GPU Programming

**Abstract:** This talk introduces a new high-level CUDA C++ library that brings functional, array-style programming to GPUs - without compromising performance. With a fluent API that slashes boilerplate and minimizes kernel launches, it enables you to write expressive, high-performance GPU code with up to 10× less code. This talk explores how functional patterns can unlock both clarity and speed in GPU development. **Speaker: Conor Hoekstra** Research Scientist at NVIDIA working on array programming models and languages. Creator of the [Parrot](https://nvlabs.github.io/parrot/) library (a high-level, array-based library with implicit GPU fusion). Extremely passionate about programming languages, algorithms, and beautiful code. Founder and organizer of the [Programming Languages Virtual Meetup](https://www.meetup.com/Programming-Languages-Toronto-Meetup/). Host of four podcasts and an avid conference speaker.

SIGNATURE SERIES w/ ALI & DARIA

Passion for Fashion -1960's

## Time & Location Apr 30, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Revprint Studio 205 , 146 Thirtieth St, Etobicoke, ON M8W 3C4, Canada you can purchase tickets here or on our website at www.wtpg.ngo ## About the event ### **Passion for Fashion 1960's edition Lighting Workshop** **Date:** Thursday, May 30th 2026 **Time:** 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM **Instructor:** *Phil Sutherland* – Elinchrom Ambassador & Executive Director, West Toronto Photography Group Model Anjali- gallery of images from previous workshop -This workshop features wardrobe selected by Adrianna Fulop and is a great selection of 1960's fashion    **Lighting Equipment:** Provided by **Elinchrom** **Location:** Revprint Studio 205 - 146 Thirtierth street unit 205 **Workshop Size:** Limited to **6 participants** #### **Workshop Overview** Join us for a fun and informative **Passion for Fashion photography lighting and shooting workshop** designed to help you build skills and portfolio images and technical skills in the art of Fashion lighting. Whether you’re new to studio photography or looking to refine your lighting technique, this hands-on session will guide you through essential tools, setups, and creative lighting approaches. This **three-hour, small-group workshop** ensures plenty of individual attention, shooting time, and opportunities to ask questions.   #### **What You’ll Learn** 1. **Studio Gear** A detailed overview of lighting equipment, modifiers, and how we will use them for each lighting set up we build as a group .. 2. **Studio Design & Setup**Understand how to plan and use studio space efficiently for portrait sessions. 3. **Modifiers & Light Quality** Explore how different modifiers affect your images as we utilize the Rotolaux modifiers from Elinchrom in studio. 4. **Building a Lighting Setup** As a group we will step-by-step construct professional portrait lighting setups using Elinchrom lights and modifiers. 5. **Hands-On Shooting Practice** Photograph our model Lilli in **multiple lighting setups that create strong and elegant lighting** —each participant will have one-on-one shooting time and instructor feedback. You will get some stunning images for your portfolio from the small group 3 hour portrait perfection lighting workshop #### **Who Should Attend** This workshop is ideal for photographers of all skill levels who want to: * Learn or refresh the fundamentals of portrait and studio lighting or pick up a few new tricks * Get hands-on experience with professional lighting equipment from Elinchrom * Practice creating and refining lighting setups that you can use to WOW clients * Build confidence shooting portraits in a studio environment while updating your portfolio #### **What to Bring** * A **DSLR or mirrorless camera** with a working hot-shoe * **Fresh batteries** and **formatted memory cards** * Your **favourite lens** (anything between 10mm–200mm works great) * Curiosity, creativity, and your passion for photography! #### **What’s Included** * Professional instruction and lighting gear provided by **Elinchrom** * Access to a variety of light modifiers: reflectors, umbrellas, softboxes, grids, snoots, and beauty dishes * A safe, supportive, and professional environment to learn and network * Dedicated time with the model for individual shooting opportunities \*\*Time is money, and we value yours.\*\*That’s why we keep our workshops efficient, informative, and fun—so you leave inspired, informed, and ready to light your next portrait session like a pro.

Fashion Implied/Lingerie/Fine Art w/ Daria ( #2)

Passion for Fashion 1960's

## Time & Location Apr 30, 2026, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Revprint Studio 205 , 146 Thirtieth St, Etobicoke, ON M8W 3C4, Canada ## About the event ### **Passion for Fashion 1960's edition Lighting Workshop** **Date:** Thursday, May 30th 2026 **Time:** 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM **Instructor:** *Phil Sutherland* – Elinchrom Ambassador & Executive Director, West Toronto Photography Group Model Anjali- gallery of images from previous workshop -This workshop features wardrobe selected by Adrianna Fulop and is a great selection of 1960's fashion    **Lighting Equipment:** Provided by **Elinchrom** **Location:** Revprint Studio 205 - 146 Thirtierth street unit 205 **Workshop Size:** Limited to **6 participants** #### **Workshop Overview** Join us for a fun and informative **Passion for Fashion photography lighting and shooting workshop** designed to help you build skills and portfolio images and technical skills in the art of Fashion lighting. Whether you’re new to studio photography or looking to refine your lighting technique, this hands-on session will guide you through essential tools, setups, and creative lighting approaches. This **three-hour, small-group workshop** ensures plenty of individual attention, shooting time, and opportunities to ask questions.   #### **What You’ll Learn** 1. **Studio Gear** A detailed overview of lighting equipment, modifiers, and how we will use them for each lighting set up we build as a group .. 2. **Studio Design & Setup**Understand how to plan and use studio space efficiently for portrait sessions. 3. **Modifiers & Light Quality** Explore how different modifiers affect your images as we utilize the Rotolaux modifiers from Elinchrom in studio. 4. **Building a Lighting Setup** As a group we will step-by-step construct professional portrait lighting setups using Elinchrom lights and modifiers. 5. **Hands-On Shooting Practice** Photograph our model Lilli in **multiple lighting setups that create strong and elegant lighting** —each participant will have one-on-one shooting time and instructor feedback. You will get some stunning images for your portfolio from the small group 3 hour portrait perfection lighting workshop #### **Who Should Attend** This workshop is ideal for photographers of all skill levels who want to: * Learn or refresh the fundamentals of portrait and studio lighting or pick up a few new tricks * Get hands-on experience with professional lighting equipment from Elinchrom * Practice creating and refining lighting setups that you can use to WOW clients * Build confidence shooting portraits in a studio environment while updating your portfolio #### **What to Bring** * A **DSLR or mirrorless camera** with a working hot-shoe * **Fresh batteries** and **formatted memory cards** * Your **favourite lens** (anything between 10mm–200mm works great) * Curiosity, creativity, and your passion for photography! #### **What’s Included** * Professional instruction and lighting gear provided by **Elinchrom** * Access to a variety of light modifiers: reflectors, umbrellas, softboxes, grids, snoots, and beauty dishes * A safe, supportive, and professional environment to learn and network * Dedicated time with the model for individual shooting opportunities \*\*Time is money, and we value yours.\*\*That’s why we keep our workshops efficient, informative, and fun—so you leave inspired, informed, and ready to light your next portrait session like a pro.

Fashion Implied/Lingerie/Fine Art w/ Daria

PORTFOLIO BUILDER w/ WILLA

REST is for Agents: Rediscovering Spring HATEOAS

The playbook for AI agent integration is becoming predictable: build an MCP server, expose your APIs as tools, and define the rules in prompts. That approach works, but it often pushes workflow and guardrails into client-side logic, where they are harder to enforce and easier to bypass. This talk presents a different approach. HATEOAS (Hypermedia As The Engine Of Application State)—a largely overlooked part of REST—allows an API to describe allowed actions and constraints at runtime. That makes it a natural fit for agents, which need clear, machine-readable guidance about what they can safely do next. We’ll show this in action with MoneyMate, an AI agent that performs sensitive operations such as money transfers. Using the Spring HATEOAS project, the agent is guided entirely by the API rather than by hardcoded tools or fragile prompt logic. AI hype aside, this is ultimately a talk about architectural validation. For years, HATEOAS was the hill REST purists loved to die on—complete with finger-wagging about “doing REST correctly”—while everyone else quietly shipped simple JSON and moved on. It turns out the purists weren’t wrong—just 20 years early. Come see why that extra structure finally pays off when your client is an LLM. **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. **Speaker Bio** Adib Saikali is a distinguished engineer at Tanzu by Broadcom, focused on helping Tanzu’s largest customers design and build cloud native applications and platforms using Spring and Kubernetes. Adib is the author of Securing Cloud Applications a book that teaches application developers the fundamental security technologies and protocols required to secure cloud native applications. Over the past 25 years Adib has worked at startups and global enterprises on numerous software systems in a variety of roles, from software developer, architect, agile coach, and CTO. He has developed a 360-degree view of what it takes to build software systems efficiently, and economically.

Artists Mixer @ Orkid Gallery

**Creative networking night for artists & designers** Welcome to a creative community for artists, designers, photographers, performers, and makers in Toronto. Join us for a special evening of creativity, connection, and community at Orkid Gallery Collection. This free event is designed for artists, designers, photographers, illustrators, performers, and creative minds in Toronto. Come meet fellow creatives, share ideas, discover opportunities, and explore a welcoming artistic space. Whether you are emerging or established, this is a place to connect and grow your network. ✨ Meet new collaborators ✨ Discover future exhibition & teaching opportunities ✨ Explore Orkid Gallery as a creative hub ✨ Enjoy a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere No formal presentations — just real conversations. 🔹 Free event — Registration required 🔹 Limited capacity 🔹 Light refreshments provided We can’t wait to meet Toronto’s creative community. Location : Unit 306 (3th Floor)- 250 Sheppard Ave east. North York. Toronto. ON Postal Code : M2N 6M9 Phone : (647)819-5754