George Brown College
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

This Sustainable Fashion Production graduate certificate program prepares graduates to apply sustainability to the pre-production and manufacturing process for apparel. Pre-production analysis, selection of appropriate techniques and technology, flow and efficiency, human resource ethics, environmental concerns, and quality and costing are assessed and applied for the sustainable production of small batch apparel products. While the context of this program is apparel, the processes, management tools and knowledge could be applied to product development in other fields.

Each September, a small group of students begin a nine-month program in Interdisciplinary Design Strategy at the Institute without Boundaries where they work as a team to research, design and realize a real-world project. This program delves into the methods and practices of design research, strategy, sustainability and social innovation. It is a unique educational experience offered by George Brown College in partnership with leading designers and industry.

Transform the world. Our aim is to produce a new breed of designer who can articulate possibilities for a sustainable future – one who is, in the words of Buckminster Fuller, a "synthesis of artist, inventor, mechanic, objective economist and evolutionary strategist."

Cross boundaries. This program accepts strong candidates representing different fields – for example, a geographer, an economist, an artist, an architect, a journalist and others – all of whom see the potential for design to change the world.

Broaden horizons. Projects at the Institute without Boundaries often involve international travel to collaborate with communities around the world. Some examples of the places we’ve been include Matapalo (Costa Rica), Lota (Chile), Milan (Italy), Dublin (Ireland), New York City and Chicago.

Deal with reality. The first project of the Institute, created by the 2003 and 2004 classes, was Massive Change: The Future of Global Design, which resulted in a book and travelling exhibition. The World House Project, a three-year initiative, looked at housing systems that are globally responsible and locally appropriate. Students and faculty developed housing models for Canada and Costa Rica that are sustainable, intelligent, universal and affordable.

In September 2009, the Institute embarked on a new project: City Systems. The objective was to explore, dissect and re-imagine the complexities of urban life. Over the course of four years, the Institute partnered with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation on a community rejuvenation proposal for Flemingdon Park; the municipality of Lota (Chile) and its citizens on a project about proactive local action following the earthquake in 2010; the City of Markham on a “change lab” for community building and innovation; and Dublin City Council on “Our Dublin,” a civic engagement program to create transparency and clearer communication between city government and the public.

In 2013, the Institute expanded on City Systems with a new five-year initiative: Regional Ecologies, looking at urbanization as a regional phenomenon. In year one, the Institute focused on the three Gateway Cities of Toronto, New York and Chicago. In year two, the IwB began the next chapter of Regional Ecologies, Divided Places, examining regions characterized by sharp differences in wealth, infrastructure and density where virtual and physical segmentation creates stark social, economic and political inequalities. In year three, the IwB explored ‘Interstitial Zones.’ In 2016-17, the Institute continued its research on Regional Ecologies, focusing on 'symbiotic regions' with the challenge to demonstrate how cities can cooperate at a regional scale to better deliver services, attract investment and create more resilient social and physical infrastructure for living regionally. The partner was Waterfront Toronto.

In 2017-18, the IwB worked with Toronto Global, Neptis Foundation, and the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity to rethink the Toronto Region as a unified economic region and catalyst for attracting investment.