Kickoff 2026 I Prototyping

Design is an iterative process, and every prototype brings the team closer to the final installation. This week the team continues testing, refining designs and collaborating to bring the installation one step closer to reality.

(Photos Taken By Andy Nguyen and Allie Male)

As the project has entered the construction phase, the team reaches an exciting milestone by completing the 1:6 physical scale prototype and begins preparing for the next phase of development. The team's focus had now shifted toward fabrication, testing and refining the technical details of the node connections.

Completed 1:6 Scale Model of the Kickoff Instillation

In collaboration with the shop supervisors, the team troubleshoots, refining fabrication methods, testing connection details and preparing components using the CNC machine. At the same time, Project Leads Saad Malik and Jose-Miguel Calle manage material orders and project timelines, gaining valuable project management experience required for a large-scale installation.

Students use CNC machine to begin prototyping node connections

 

Collaboration remains the heart of this project. Students have begun working alongside members of TMU's Engineering Department to develop and integrate the LED lighting system into the structure, ensuring the structure maintains the original design concept.

With each prototype and design review, students gain hands-on experience in fabrication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and iterative problem-solving. Each iteration provides new insight, allowing students to evaluate, improve and finalize the node and edge details before beginning fabrication of the full scale structure.

Students Gain Hands on Experience with New Tools Under the Guidance of Shop Supervisors

With the node and edge details finalized and fabrication underway, the team is ready to begin constructing the full-scale structure. Every prototype, meeting, and design revision has laid the foundation for the exciting work that is still to come.

Kickoff 2026 I Design Development

Every successful installation begins with a single idea. For this project, that journey started with project leads Saad Malik and Jose-Miguel Calle, who began developing the initial sketches and concepts that would lay the foundation for the installation.

During the early planning stages, Saad and Jose explored different approaches for the node connections that would become the framework of this structure. They also investigated ways to integrate LED lighting into the design, ensuring that the installation would be both visually interesting and interactive. Through sketching, brainstorming, and testing ideas, the project began to take shape.

Initial Sketches From Saad's Sketchbook 

The first design for the installation aimed to mimic a kaleidoscope incorporating an open design that allows visitors to enter. The structure would use coloured translucent acrylic to reflect light.

Initial Design Concept with an Entrance 

Initial Design Concept with Kaleidoscope

The final design mimics the original geometry of the classical soccer ball using the truncated icosahedron. It will feature Alucobond reflective panels that act as a kaleidoscope that reflects like a gem within the structure.

Final Render of the Kickoff Instillation

Animation Showing Colour Changing Concept

As the school year came to an end in April, a team of students from first and second year came in to help turn this idea into reality.  Students worked together to develop the first physical model of the installation, working closely with the shop supervisors and each other to learn new skills. Using the shop's machinery and fabrication tools, students laser-cut and hand assembled the first physical model of the installation. These hands-on experiences allowed students to see how their designs would function in a three-dimensional space.

(Photos Taken By Andy Nguyen and Jorge Cruz Toro)

Students working together to construct the first model

The design continued to evolve as students refined details, tested new ideas, and improved upon earlier iterations. Through ongoing feedback and experimentation, the installation became more detailed and comprehensive with each revision.

Collaboration played a key role throughout the process. First- and second-year students worked side by side, sharing knowledge and learning new skills from one another. Together, they explored fabrication techniques, problem-solved design challenges, and gained valuable experience in both digital and physical creation.

With the groundwork established, the project entered its construction phase. Students began developing a more advanced physical model while simultaneously creating a detailed Rhino model to support the design process. These digital and physical prototypes will help guide the next stages of development as the installation continues to grow from concept to reality.

As the project moves forward, students remain committed to innovation, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. What began as a series of sketches has already transformed into a promising installation, and the team is excited to continue bringing their vision to life.

NOVA | Schematic Design: Prototypes

Moving forward, the team is currently in the development stage. They have begun creating more intricate scaled models. Through this process, they have created 3 models to understand the structural composition. Furthermore, these models are used to reify the abstract scheme that was reached in the first phase of the design.

Stemming from this exercise, the group ascertained that 2 of the iteration models were not feasible because they were not structurally sound even in scaled form. Specifically, the models suffered from splaying.

Models at the scale of 1:6

While exploring structure, students also experimented with textiles, achieving a bowing patterning to the canopy. 

Camp Winston Playground Project - Design Modifications

The students welcomed the chance for improvement after the initial presentation of the schematics to the Camp Winston members. Through a collaborative effort, they implemented design modifications that not only addressed the panel's suggestions but also elevated the overall quality and functionality of the project. The playground brings hierarchy and progression through the sequential introduction of  towers that helps the children in directing the interactions and connections. 

Camp Winston Playground Project - Schematic Proposal

Students from Toronto Metropolitan University were tasked by Camp Winston, a specialized camp catering to children with complex neurobiological abilities, to design a new playground to replace the camp's outdated play structure.
Working in smaller groups, the students started the initial design phase with the aim of presenting compelling proposals to the camp staff. Providing the support for a child's evolution in a fundamental stage of their human development was taken into consideration while designing, and a space that is both a comfortable meeting spot fostering social skills, and an organized interactable environment to help develop essential motor skills.

Blob Chair - Collaborative Exercise Schematics + Proposal

A team of students across different years came together during the four-day Collaborative Exercise event, proposing a meeting space. To address the need for a new lounge area, the team suggested adding spaces between the entrance atrium and faculty offices. These areas will include three sets of hardwood furniture, promoting flexible and creative use.

2023 Winter Stations - Early Stage Prototyping Version 2

Based on the Version 1 Prototype from last week, the 2023 Winter Stations design team was able to reshape the aggregated parts and components, in order to create a canoe-like shape which is continuous from top to bottom. 

The Intention:

The project emulates the form of a canoe through a series of aggregated parts and components. Aggregations are connected structurally in a way which depicts ripples in the water. 

Expressing Radiance:

The design intends to express radiance in its form and spatial interaction. Each canoe aggregation will be arranged in a radial formation, creating a dynamic series of shells which protects visitors from the harsh winter. 

Version #2: 

After some revision, the canoe aggregates were resized and reshaped in order to ensure that the 'ripple' connections may be utilized from top to bottom of the structure. This prototype explored the option of varying the interlocking circles' size to create a canoe-like shape.