Hands-on Design x Technology workshops for Innovators and Entrepreneurs

At the Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (COIE), Destech Studios are designed to bridge a critical gap in early-stage entrepreneurship: the ability to think, design, and visualize ideas before pitching them.

Each studio focuses on a specific stage of the innovation journey, from product creation, to branding, to future thinking—using design frameworks and cutting-edge AI tools.Participants don’t just learn—they make. Every session results in concrete outputs that can be used for portfolios, pitches, or further development

What makes Destech Studios truly special

Student Experience

Mel Hannah’s Experience at Desctech Studio

Destech Studio Series:

We host a series of standalone studios. You can join any of the upcoming studios.

Destech Studio: Prompt, Products, Pretzel

Learn AI Workflows for Product Design

This hands-on studio introduces participants to AI-powered product design workflows, focusing on how ideas can quickly be translated into tangible product concepts. Through guided exercises in problem framing, rapid ideation, and visual prototyping, students learn how to move from abstract thinking to concrete design outcomes. Using tools like Krea AI, Weavy AI, and Canva AI, participants explore how generative systems can support product creation, mockups, and early-stage visualization. By the end of the session, each participant walks away with a clearly defined product concept supported by visual representations and an understanding of how AI can accelerate the design process from idea to prototype.

Destech Studio 02: Once Upon a Brand

Turn Your Product into a Visual Story with AI

This studio focuses on transforming product ideas into compelling brand narratives using visual storytelling and AI-assisted design tools. Participants learn how to build cohesive brand systems that include visual identity, tone of voice, audience personas, and marketing-ready assets. Through structured exercises in brand archetypes, storytelling frameworks, and emotional positioning, students develop a deeper understanding of how brands communicate meaning beyond the product itself. Using tools such as Krea AI, Weavy AI, Canva AI, and FigMake, participants create a complete brand experience, including a product page presented in a scrollytelling format. The outcome is a fully developed brand identity that brings clarity, personality, and market readiness to their product.

Destech Studio 03: Things from the Future

Speculative Design for Climate Futures

We partnered with Toronto Climate Week 2026 for a Special Studio this Summer

This speculative design studio invites participants to imagine and design for possible futures using design fiction and futures thinking methodologies. Grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the workshop encourages students to explore how societal, environmental, and technological shifts could shape everyday life. Through frameworks such as the Cone of Possibility and Dator’s Four Futures, participants collaboratively build future worlds and design artifacts that belong within them. Rather than solving present-day problems, the focus is on exploring what could exist, what might change, and what may disappear. Using tools like Krea AI, participants visualize these speculative objects and environments, resulting in thought-provoking designs that challenge assumptions about the future and expand creative thinking.

The Creative Technologist behind the Studio:

Sunidhi Naik is a Creative Technologist and Experience Designer working at the intersection of spatial design, immersive media, and generative AI. At COIE she her focus lies on Design and Technology oriented innovation initiatives that bridge emerging tools with real-world applications. An MIT Reality Hack winner for Best Use of Lambda AI and an IEEE-published researcher in Mixed and Augmented Reality, she brings a strong research-meets-practice approach to her work. Trained as an architect and practicing as a technologist, Sunidhi builds forward-looking products and experiences, from mixed reality retail environments to AI-powered design workflows that connect emerging technology with human experience.

Learn more about Sunidhi : https://www.sunidhinaik.com

FAQs

Who can join?

The Destech Studio Series is open to all students. You do not need to be from a design, business, or technology background to participate. We especially encourage students from diverse disciplines and experience levels to join—some of the most interesting ideas come from unexpected perspective

What will I need to bring?

Just bring your laptop, charger, and curiosity. Any additional materials, software, or setup requirements will be shared before the session if needed.

Where can I register?

You can either register through the buttons above on this page. Also note that all our events including the ones above can be found on our Luma calendar for registration : https://luma.com/coie-centennial-2526

Do I need to be tech savvy or a designer to join these?

Our studios are designed to be beginner-friendly and accessible. As long as you know how to use an any normal computer you are good to join! We will teach you the rest.

How can I reach you, for advice or questions about a product idea or design?

You can reach out to the COIE team directly through email entrepreneurship@centennialcollege.ca or connect with us during studio sessions.

Which AI tools are used in the Studio?

Depending on the session, participants may explore tools such as Weavy AI, Krea AI, Figma AI, Adobe Firefly, and other emerging AI tools for ideation, prototyping, design workflows, and storytelling. No prior experience is required—we’ll guide you through the tools during the workshop