3132 research outputs found
Sort by
Plans to Practice- The Gap Between SME Sustainability Aspirations and Implementation
Full text linkThis research investigates the gap between sustainability ambitions and practical implementation among Canadian Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Through literature review, interviews, and data analysis, the study identifies three critical implementation thresholds for SME’s: stuck in ambiguity, buried in complexity, and struggling to start. The findings reveal that purpose serves as a foundational element rather than one of four equal pillars in the quadruple bottom line framework. SMEs demonstrate strong purpose-driven values aligned with sustainability principles, but face systemic barriers including emotional factors, resource constraints, and fragmented support systems. The paper reconceptualizes sustainability as an ongoing process of building organizational capacity while resilience represents the mobilization of that capacity during disruptions. This leads to a recommendation of ten practical interventions addressing barriers within and outside of SMEs control. This research provides actionable pathways for SMEs to strengthen their sustainability implementation and enhance overall resilience
Nest, Rest, Shadows: Tracing the Echoes of Motherhood
Full text linkNest, Rest, Shadows explores the surreal and embodied dimensions of motherhood and caregiving, translating its unseen experiences into material form through participatory engagement. Exhibited at OCAD University Grad Gallery, Toronto, the project examines caregiving as an imprint—a gesture that lingers beyond the moment of touch, existing between presence and absence, resilience and exhaustion. The work engages with rest as a radical act, challenging the relentless demands of caregiving and reframing maternal experiences as an assertion of agency rather than passive nurturing. Clay, with its capacity to hold traces of touch, serves as both a vessel of memory and an ephemeral archive of care. The recurring motif of the clenched fist embodies both protection and defiance, blurring distinctions between intimacy and isolation, tenderness and endurance. Through audience participation, the work creates a shifting landscape of gestures, each imprint contributing to a shared dialogue on care, loss, and resilience. Nest, Rest, Shadows asserts that caregiving is not only an act of service but a force that transforms space, memory, and identity, imprinting itself on both the body and collective consciousness.
Keywords: caregiving, maternal, participatory, rest, memory, resilience, performanc
In Black & White & Red/بالأبيض وأسود وأحمر
Full text linkFrom 1982 onwards, Palestinian photographic and film archives have been repeatedly targeted and emptied by the Israeli government, resulting in a significant loss of Palestinian visual culture. The Israeli government continues to hold and censor this material by preventing scholars, Palestinian scholars especially, from accessing the images; citing 'safety and security concerns'. Established research asserts this was done as an act of 'memoricide', commonly defined as the colonial overwriting of history. In this case it would be erasing Palestinian presence to fortify Israeli claims of indigeneity. This paper poses an alternative interpretation: that this censorship is an attempt to weaken or prevent future Palestinian resistance, as well as global Anti-Zionist resistance movements. Ergo, that memory and the archives (both those of the state and the mundane) have acted, and continue to act, as a cornerstone of Arab resistance against the influences of racism, colonialism, imperialism, and Zionism. Drawing on both archival and contemporary Palestinian photography, this research aims to track the qualities of resistance embedded within the images which have persisted. Complementing this will be a case study of South African struggle documentary photography, and Indigenous archival reclamations to observe the decolonial methodologies within photographic practices; through examination and comparison to Palestinian resistance photography, similarities and differences in tactics of resistance will be identified, allowing for specific location of these images' significance within shared memory. Despite all this, it may appear insignificant whether the archives were looted to support a narrative or to prevent resistance. Regardless of the reason, they were, and are, taken. This research asserts that it allows for more focused resistance and a clearer understanding of what may be enfeebling the current resistance.
Keywords: Palestine, Israel, Archive, Photography, Fil
Participatory toward Anticipatory (PtA)
Full text linkThis study aims to instigate a paradigm shift in how we think about technological futures. At present, technologies are often treated as sources of potential harm to be managed by governments and subject experts. But this study takes a different view. Technological choices are social choices, and part of broader sociopolitical and sociocultural phenomena. As such, decisions about technology should be made by society as a whole before these technologies become widely adopted. To explore this, the study uses “Technology Assessment” (TA) as a foundational concept through which collective action on technological choices can take place.
Focusing on the Canadian context, the research traces the landscape of TA from past to present. It identifies the Science Council of Canada (SCC) as the key institution in the past and highlights Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Foresight as today’s main TA-like activities. Through this exploration, the study examines both the challenges and opportunities for establishing a participatory TA mechanism in Canada. Key challenges include the fragmentation of TA functions under the Governor in Council, the historic push to empower the private sector, Canada’s reliance on the U.S., and the dominance of evidence-based policymaking.
At the same time, the study also finds promising ground from which participatory TA can begin to take root. These include Canada’s demonstrated readiness from both past and present, its strengthening ties with Europe and its policy models, and a broader shift from evidence-based to mission-driven policymaking. Recognizing these opportunities and the timeliness of the moment, the study proposes a policy deliberation process called Participatory toward Anticipatory (PtA), designed to support public involvement in technological development and policymaking. Finally, the paper concludes with insights from prototype testing of the PtA process, demonstrating how it can enable meaningful public participation in shaping technological futures
Elysium
Full text linkA duality-driven research-creation project, Elysium reinterprets Toronto’s rental housing crisis through the parodical-critical framework of Linda Hutcheon’s recontextualization of Mikhail Bakhtin’s concept of Double-Voiced Discourse. Drawing from James C. Scott’s theory of Everyday Resistance, I argue parody is an effective tactic of everyday resistance, challenging the systemic erasure of tenant experiences in the rental housing search.
In twofold forms of cute-countercultural design and autoethnographic-satire, Elysium operates within dissonance, absurdity, and the prevalent Gen Z phenomenon of “trinket culture,” an aesthetic of affective nostalgia, as a visual strategy for social engagement.
Elysian Friends, a series of fictitious mascots, function as representational communicative agents, utilized across lowbrow mediums as an entry-point to encourage solidarity among women aged 18-28. Elysium proposes an alternative method to how tenants engage with housing culture, whilst establishing a critical commentary on the exclusion of women-identified media in housing and design research
Perception, Poetry, and Purpose: An Autoethnography of a Chronically Ill and Neurodivergent Public Servant
Full text linkThis study offers an autoethnographic exploration of what I've experienced while navigating the public service in Canada as a chronically ill, neurodivergent person who worked at the intersection of accessibility, disability rights and service design. The layered complexities over my 15-year public service career allow me to draw on personal narratives, thematic analysis and systemic design to interrogate the emotional, structural and historical barriers faced by persons with disabilities. I explore key experiences - including systemic discrimination, advocacy and burnout, and moments of resilience, as this research seeks to uncover how policy and practice shape identity and agency.
I am seeking to answer the question about how my lived experiences as a chronically ill, neurodivergent public servant has illuminated the systemic failures of trauma-informed care within public service institutions. I unpack my lived experiences and what they reveal about the interplay between trauma, chronic illness, and the capacity for systemic change in the public service. I’m seeking to unlock my experiences in accessibility as a neurodivergent individual with a 15+ year career within the Canadian Federal Government.
I incorporate elements of poetry, prose, metaphor and visuals to provide an evocative lens to examine these dynamics, positioning this study as a call to action for a more equitable public service. I lean into formative life events that shaped my worldview and the dissonance between policies, practices and lived realities. This study offers a critique on the tokenism and optics-driven culture in modern public service, highlighting the emotional labour often carried by people with disabilities. The performative aspects can allow us to uncover opportunities for genuine change. In modern public service, superficial actions and activism are designed to project an image of support without any tangible or meaningful change. This often leads to the perpetuation of systemic equities. These types of tokenistic behaviours aim to use feel good illusions of progress which mask the pervasive challenges faced by people with disabilities.
Throughout my career I have observed many performative practices, often identifying these and challenging their superficial nature geared towards compliance. Even those projects that started with the goal of developing authentic, equity or inclusion driven reforms to address real needs would find themselves being shrivelled down, de-scoped, de-prioritized, and shaped into fuzzy narratives of change and progress. Moving beyond these performative gestures might seem impossible. It requires a commitment to substantive policy changes, deeper accountability, and more voices invited in that are valued, listened to and actioned upon through reciprocal involvement of disabled lives in the decision-making process. By confronting and dismantling performative activism, we may pave the way for a more equitable public service that truly embodies the principles of inclusivity and accessibility
Shako Mako: Voices of Identity Exploring Storytelling in Multidisciplinary Design
Full text linkThis thesis explores the intricate relationship between Iraqi culture and language, specifically focusing on the unique phrases and dialects that embody the essence of Iraqi identity. By examining the ways in which visual storytelling can bridge linguistic and cultural gaps, this research investigates how graphic design, illustration, animation and the design implementations into generic everyday products can be strategically integrated to create an immersive and emotionally engaging experience that authentically represents the rich diversity and cultural nuances of Iraqi dialects through visual storytelling. What design methods can be employed to visually and conceptually highlight the unique linguistic, historical, and cultural contexts embedded in these dialects, ensuring their portrayal resonates with both Iraqi audiences and global viewers? Furthermore, how can this approach contribute to the preservation and celebration of these dialects, particularly among Iraqi diaspora communities in Western societies? In what ways might such creative interventions affirm cultural identity, foster a stronger sense of belonging, and revive a connection to Iraqi heritage within these communities, while also promoting a deeper understanding and appreciation of Iraq’s linguistic and cultural diversity on a global scale?
The project examines the dialects of Iraq’s three largest cities, Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra, spanning the country from south to north. These dialects are explored through famous song lyrics, which are visually translated into illustrations and applied to everyday merchandise. This enables users to share Iraqi culture with the world by carrying, wearing, or using these products.
My research project is based on autoethnography and my own experiences as an Iraqi citizen living in the diaspora. As an Iraqi who has never lived in Iraq, autoethnography offers a valuable approach by merging my personal perspective with the cultural influences of the countries I’ve lived in. Iraqi songs play a vital role in the nation’s heritage, and their distinct dialects and rhythms are admired in neighboring countries such as Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Syria for their poetic beauty and lyrical richness.
My thesis project presents Iraqi dialects through song lyrics, illustrated with portrait characteristics inspired by traditional Iraqi art. The selected songs range from classic historical pieces to mainstream hits. This work aims to keep Iraqi traditions and dialects vibrant in both the present and future, serving as a source of cultural pride and reshaping how Iraq is perceived globally, particularly within the diaspora and Western society. By celebrating cultural identity, the project addresses both the misrepresentation and lack of representation in Western media, offering Iraqis abroad a meaningful way to reconnect with their roots and foster a sense of pride and belonging
Manufacturing Perception: An Exploration of the Global Landscape of Political Influence Operations on Social Media
Full text linkSocial media is an entity that has permeated the lives of almost every individual in the modern world. Over the last decade, the number of active social media users globally has more than doubled from 2 billion to 5 billion active users. This is only expected to grow as the internet becomes increasingly accessible worldwide. While much research has been done to uncover the negative effects of social media on mental health, addiction, and misinformation, little can be done to fully address the concerns brought about by various social media platforms, as they have become too complex and expansive to control.
What has become increasingly apparent in recent years is that what people see on social media can shape user perceptions. From online discourse in comments sections, to the widespread popularity of social media influencer marketing, to social phenomena like cancel culture, people are fed a constant stream of content that both consciously and unconsciously reshape how opinions are formed. This influx of information, when paired with social media’s engagement-focused algorithms, creates the perfect breeding ground for the rapid spread of disinformation, and the agendas that they bolster.
This research project explores the systemic issues surrounding influence operations carried out on social media platforms. Through the use of a synthesis map, it will present the various stakeholders involved in the process, from top to bottom, and uncover different patterns in influence operation tactics around the world. Furthermore, the project will illustrate the dynamics that have led to inefficacies in today’s solutions. By introducing users to the different players within the system, their agendas, and the pinch points they cause, readers will be able to better understand the power imbalances and tensions that have led to systemic fragmentation. The aim of this systemic exploration is to provide awareness for users by shedding light on the social media ecosystem as it relates to influence and perception, and to aid individuals in making informed decisions as they traverse the internet
Unadopt Me: critical queer adoptee consciousness and alternative family models
Full text linkMy thesis explores my transracial transnational Chinese adoptee experiences through a queer critical adoption lens with a multimedia exhibition. By contextualizing adoptee experiences in relation to and in dispute with dominant adoption narratives and practices that perpetuate white saviorism, I challenge the promotion of adoption as a feel-good individual humanitarian act for overseas systemic problems. To activate and recontextualize marginalized adoptee voices and perspectives, including the trauma and oppression adoptees experience, my exhibition explores personal and collective critical adoptee counter narratives through art objects and performance including a tattoo body archive, wearable memory garment, and sensory dream installation. With interdisciplinary artistic methods and blended theoretical frameworks, I critique dominant adoption narratives to propose and explore alternative queer models of family, kinship, and belonging
Caribou-being beyond the Boreal
Full text link- Abstract -
Through ways of forming and reforming via unstitching and restitching, Caribou-being beyond the Boreal imagines new futures born from Denesųłiné love and ways of knowing. This work tells a story of Caribou reciprocity, inter-connectedness, and transformation. Stitchwork as a methodology, informed and strengthened by story work, opens a possibility of the Dene and Caribou interspecies-ness that has inspired this research creation. Woven together are Denesųłiné oral histories and family stories that investigate what it means to be a Caribou-person. Caribou-being beyond the Boreal considers inter-species-ness and inter-related-ness through material investigation, ancestry, and land-based knowledges. Through methods of rerouting, reconstructing, and reconsidering, this research continues to wrestle with ideas of resistance informed by Albert Marshall’s concept of “two-eyed seeing” and the binocularity it describes. Bound through love and memory, and explored through garment construction, this research creation speaks to the embodiment of Indigenous dress as living vessel. Caribou-being beyond the Boreal reflects Denesųłiné futurisms as a strategy that centres my body as a time machine that carries ancestral knowledges. These material explorations focus the intricacies and complexities of love to land, and the shared ingenuity found in both Denesųłiné and Caribou survival. Through an investigation of self, and the identity of my community as ‘The Caribou People’, I was led to research this question, ‘What if I am Caribou?’
Keywords: decolonial love, re-construction, re-stitching, garment construction, beadwork, stitchwork, inter-species beingness, Denesųłiné, Caribou-being, Two-Eyed Seein