## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/) 2. Markdownify 3. Node 4. [OCAD U professor joins Chefs Canada ](/markdownify/node/870) September 14, 2023 # OCAD U professor joins Chefs Canada ![](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/assets/media/Alexander%20Manu%20composite%20with%20AI%20image.png.webp?itok=FMQyFnoJ) ***Cover image: Alexander Manu headshot beside an AI generated image he created.*** OCAD University is excited to announce that Professor [Alexander Manu](https://alexandermanu.com/about) has been appointed Resident Conceptual Designer with Chefs Canada. Manu will be a part of [Team Canada](https://www.chefscanada.com/bocusedor?fbclid=IwAR3LFpJwefSgPE_CAb0L7UlobtPB3XZKUaKa4KRSrCBVK87X-coEwAJ_wb8) at the Bocuse d’Or, the biennial world chef championship akin to the Olympics in the food world, preparing for the 2025 finals. Team Canada has been sending its national culinary athletes to the competition since its inception in 1987. He will be part of a team of renowned chefs, led by Chef Keith Pears alongside Team Manager John Placko. In his role, Manu will work with Team Canada on plating and platter concepts as well as dishes using generative AI. “This is very exciting and a real opportunity for a breakthrough,” says Manu. “The work done so far with Keith Pears and John Placko already shows the game changing potential of generative AI applied to conceptualizing a food experience.” “The breakthrough I am referring to is on multiple levels: one is the potential of generating truly new and original food and plating concepts inspired by our theme ‘The Biophilic Table: A Culinary Journey Through Nature’,” he expresses. “Other breakthroughs involve the speed with which we can now work in visualizing our menus.” The Resident Conceptual Designer role is a first of its kind for Team Canada. Manu says: “Teams work with designers and design schools, but mostly for the design of the presentation platter and not for conceptualizing possible garnishes or plating arrangements.” Manu, who already generates hundreds of AI images each week as part of his work and research, notes that he has been working with Pears and Placko to get ready for the competition. The Bocuse d’Or is a multiyear series of events, with the continental semifinals coming up in 2024 where Team Canada will compete against other North American and South American teams. If the Canadian team qualifies—as they typically do—they will compete amongst 24 countries at the finals in Lyon, France, in January 2025. ## 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 [### 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)