Most of you know me as an industrial designer, a graduate of the first year of Carleton University’s BID program, and as President of Ove Industrial Design Ltd., a Toronto-based industrial design consultancy. I’ve been associated with Ove for more than three decades as both a hands-on designer and design manager with a passionate interest in user-centred design. Contributing to the commercialization of hundreds of products in that time has given me the opportunity to develop and refine Ove’s “See Through - Break Through - Follow Through” design methodology that allows clients and designers to work together to identify the objective needs of consumers, offer innovative design solutions and provide the complete, detailed specifications that manufacturers need. Ove continues to work with clients ranging from sole entrepreneurs and startups to multinationals occupying international positions in the fields of biotechnology, business systems, scientific instrumentation and consumer products.

These images - except the motorcycle - are of some of the projects Ove has undertaken. Each represents a team effort, and none would have occurred without the talented, ACIDO-Certified designers who have worked with me over the years. The first seven are featured in case studies on Ove's web site at www.oveid.com. The two collages are of old (and really old) stuff I've worked on in years past. The motorcycle is a favourite toy, a beautiful artifact and a reminder that industries live and die depending on the competitive advantage design provides.

My concern for the health of our manufacturing sector has led me to be very active in the design community, speaking often on the value of design as a strategic business tool for the advancement of Ontario’s and Canada’s economies. I’ve been an ardent promoter of design-centred policy initiatives at all levels of government, both in my capacity as a Past-President of ACIDO and as the current Chair of the Design Industry Advisory Committee (DIAC, www.diac.on.ca, a not-for-profit, cross-disciplinary design research organization). I am also presently ACIDO’s Director of Standards.

Finally, as you might have guessed, I’m passionate about motorcycles and am pleasantly surprised by how many other industrial designers and clients share this passion. I contribute design-related commentary and experiential stories to Cycle Canada magazine (www.cyclecanadaweb.com) on a fairly regular basis. If you share any of these passions feel free to call or write and introduce yourself. Let’s talk.