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February 12, 2025
# Cafe Talks: Designing the Future, the Future of Design
#### Cafe Talks: Designing the Future, the Future of Design
Designing the Future: Decolonization, Disruption, and the Art of Creating Your Own Seat at the Table
The inaugural DesignMeets Café Talk wasn’t just a conversation; it was a call to action. On a brisk January evening, as Toronto’s streets turned to ice, design minds gathered in the warm embrace of [**Ethica Coffee Roasters**](https://ethicaroasters.com/) for a discussion that was anything but lukewarm. The topic? The future of design education, the dismantling of outdated silos, and the necessity of decolonization. Leading the charge was [**Dr. Lesley-Ann Noel**](https://www.ocadu.ca/academics/explore-faculty/lnoel), the newly minted Dean of Design at [**OCAD University**](https://www.ocadu.ca/), with systems thinker and design strategist [**Michael Dila**](https://www.michaeldila.com/) steering the conversation.
## Other Recent News
[### Partial x OCAD University Artist Showcase Fall 2026 Call for Artists
Partial and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce the return of our partnership which provides an exceptional career opportunity for OCAD U student artists and recent alumni. Selected artists will be given complimentary 2 year Pro Accounts ($240 value) on Partial and permanent inclusion as featured artists within the OCAD University Artist Showcase on Partial to display their works, and administrate artwork sales and rentals.
December 13, 2026
](/news/partial-x-ocad-university-artist-showcase-fall-2026-call-artists)
[### 2027 Sankofa Square Black History Month Digital Exhibition Call for Artists
Sankofa Square and the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers are excited to announce the return of the annual Black History Month Digital Exhibition Career Launcher providing an exhibition opportunity for artists from the OCAD U community to exhibit their work on the square’s digital screens. Selected artists will receive a fee of $500 for their artworks to be displayed across five (5) digital screens for the duration of Black History Month in February 2027.
December 6, 2026
](/news/2027-sankofa-square-black-history-month-digital-exhibition-call-artists)
[### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus
The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals.
November 6, 2026
](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus)
Related Stories
## Related Stories
[### Steps Forward Celebrates Student Creativity and OCAD U's 150-Year Legacy
A new series of student-created murals transforms the iconic Yellow Staircase in celebration of the university's 150th anniversary.
September 18, 2026
](/news/steps-forward-celebrates-student-creativity-and-ocad-us-150-year-legacy)
[### Faculty of Design Used Book Sale
Faculty of Design’s Used Book Sale offered students affordable access to donated art and design books. Date/Time: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 10am – 6pm Location: 100 McCaul St. - OCAD University, Lobby, Ground Floor
September 2, 2026
](/news/faculty-design-used-book-sale)
[### Assistant Professor Parantap Bhatt Incorporates AI in his Teaching Methods
With more students experimenting with AI tools and integrating AI into their workflows, OCAD U faculty members are incorporating these tools into studio and classroom settings.
April 14, 2026
](/news/assistant-professor-parantap-bhatt-incorporates-ai-his-teaching-methods)