The Interactive Design Exchange (IDX) opened in 2019 as part of the new School of Design facility within the Daniels City of the Arts development. This 103,000 sq. ft. expansion of George Brown College’s Waterfront Campus established a hub for design, innovation and technical skills training within the heart of downtown Toronto’s newest neighbourhood. Approximately 1,800 students use this facility each year. With the ongoing expansion of the east waterfront, the School of Design is destined to become an iconic landmark entrenched in Toronto’s landscape for generations to come.
The facility boasts, among other things, an auditorium, virtual reality and augmented reality design labs, student galleries and a ground-level store showcasing student work. The Interactive Design Exchange houses purpose-built labs for collaborative research and applied learning.
Types of Labs
Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality
This lab supports projects involving VR, AR, motion capture, and visual effects to support the design and development of interactive digital media content and new, emerging interfaces.
Digital Media & Gaming Incubator
The Digital Incubator supports and encourages industry-mentored start-ups to create new products and services that are driven by design thinking and digital innovation.
Future Ways of Living
The Future Ways of Living Lab focuses on sector-specific industry research using digital technology and information technology trends.
Usability Testing
This lab is used to test device interfaces: to develop new design standards in alignment with user preferences, identify errors in design, and improve product design, services and systems. The Usability Testing Lab includes an integrated behavioural observation suite with eye-tracking systems and audio-video recording capability to capture, record and analyze user behaviour.
Ideation Centre
The Ideation Centre provides designated spaces for charrettes, facilitating systems thinking and design workshops that engage multi-disciplinary teams.
Digital Sandbox
This space is reserved for research projects for teams that require temporary work spaces.
Project Rooms
Project rooms are assigned to ongoing research projects with large teams requiring dedicated space.
Maker Space
This workspace allows for the construction of physical prototypes and displays for immersive environments and interactive products. This lab includes work benches, tools, and ventilated spaces for painting.
