Jay Sobel firmly believes that good products arise from pursuing the systematic process of industrial design with passion, knowledge, experience, and an inquiring mind!

Jay graduated from the University of Toronto in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology. In 1988, Jay graduated a second time from the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Carleton University with a Bachelor of Industrial Design degree "With Distinction". Active in student politics and athletics, Jay was a founding member of the Varsity Field Lacrosse Teams at both of these institutions. Jay's major research paper during his fourth year of studies at the U of T was concerned with the Biomechanics of Bone as a Plastic Material. His Major Design Studio Project during graduating year at the School of Industrial Design involved research into the play experiences of children with musculoskeletal and neurological disabilities. Jay's designs for these children were concerned with modular systems of play equipment for the accessible playground. Ironically, these designs were conceived, prototyped and tested while Jay was in a cast from ankle to knee recovering from a third degree ligament tear suffered while playing Center Midfield for the Carleton Lacrosse Ravens! Fittingly then, the majority of the products that Jay has designed throughout his career demonstrate his strong understanding of human anatomy and vertebrate mechanics; and sensitivity toward physiological responses and human interaction at the man-machine interface.

Jay has enjoyed a diverse and fulfilling career in product research and development for over 25 years. He has been fortunate to be able to participate in the development of exciting projects while collaborating with other creative individuals, technical experts, and world class organizations including the Royal Ontario Museum, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canadian Armed Forces. These efforts have resulted in the production of meaningful environments and the manufacture of a bevy of compelling products that have helped peoples across the globe live more safely (personal protective equipment for First Responders, Police Officers and the Armed Forces); communicate with each other more efficiently (telecommunications network infrastructure equipment deployed in the Central Office, Customer Premises and Outside Plant); play more effectively (sports equipment and playground equipment for disabled children), and enjoy an improved quality of life (hospital environments, outdoor environments and consumer and industrial products).

Jay has worked on behalf of Teknion Furniture Systems Ltd.; Keith Muller Ltd. Industrial Designers; Parkin Architects Ltd.; the world renown Design Interpretive Studio at Bell-Northern Research Ltd./later Nortel Networks Corp.; the Engineering Design Department at Newbridge Networks Corp./later Alcatel Canada Inc.; Med-Eng Systems Inc.; Design 1st Inc., Spark Innovations Inc., and numerous clients in private enterprises.

Jay is especially proud of acquiring intellectual property and/or design awards for products developed in every market segment that he has designed for. Jay currently has 45 domestic and/or international utility and design patent filings for product designs in the telecommunications, defense, medical, consumer product and sports equipment industries. Eighteen patents have been granted to date. He is directly responsible for the first three Chinese and Japanese Utility Patents ever granted to Alcatel. Jay was the first and one of only two employees at Newbridge to ever receive the Business Planning Management Award for Industrial Design Excellence. Amongst 22 design awards, he shares an Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) GOLD Industrial Design Excellence Award and two IDSA SILVER Industrial Design Excellence Awards for telecommunications product designs. A recently designed Pet Feeding Device has won 14 industry awards. Examples of some of these interesting products are demonstrated in the portfolio below.

Jay is currently the Manager of Industrial Design & Graphic Design at The MIBRO Group; where he enjoys the creative company of a staff of four designers adding conspicuous end-user value to products and packaging designed to be retailed in the hardware and home improvement industries.

In his leisure time, you will still find Jay playing and coaching provincial competitive level lacrosse in the Ontario Lacrosse Association as he has for the past 40 and 30 years respectively; handling his Canadian Champion Brittany Spaniel Ataboy Bedazzle 'N Bemuse ("Our Boy Baylee") who is also a Best Puppy In Specialty Show Winner in the Conformation Show Ring; doing charitable work on behalf of the Determined To Reduce Violence Everywhere (DOVE) Campaign, the Canadian Center for Abuse Awareness, Lacrosse Day In Canada and the Spirit of the Stick organization; snapping photographs; and putting pencil to paper as President of Nascent Product Design Incorporated. So, if you have a design challenge that requires resolution; or if you simply want to talk lacrosse, brag about your dog, discuss the Purina Animal Hall of Fame, or even learn how to hand strip and show groom a life saving Miniature Schnauzer, then please feel free to shout him up!