top of page
A man and woman sitting at a table.

OCAD U CO
Design Critique

What if your company's core products and services were irresistible to users and built to scale?

Our Design Critique program offers organizations the opportunity to gain an outside expert perspective on the usability, user flow, accessibility, and strategic infrastructure of a product or platform.

​

The Design Critique uses design thinking principles and best practices to evaluate your product's viability, desirability, marketability, and manufacturability from a customer-centric perspective. Our design experts will develop a 360° analysis that helps you eliminate friction, validate your AI and market expansion strategies, and better position your company for scalable growth.

​

The program is funded by NRC-IRAP and primarily offered to their portfolio companies across Canada.

The Design Critique includes:

​

  • A guided, 30-hour strategic evaluation led by an independent senior design expert.

  •  A report outlining best practices, improvement areas, and a prioritized roadmap for quick wins and long-term investments.

  • Visual mock-ups and high-fidelity examples showing how recommendations can be applied directly to your existing product or design system.

  • A common language and external reference to align your product, engineering, and leadership teams.

A group of people sitting around a table in an office.

Depending on your needs and goals, you can now apply for one of two tailored streams:

​Stream 1: Tactical Product Optimization

 

​Ideal for firms with an existing product or high-fidelity prototype that need tactical, expert feedback to eliminate user friction. 

 

We focus on:

  • User Experience (UX) & Interface (UI)

  • Physical Products & Prototypes (Hardware)

  • Service Design

  • Human-Centred AI Opportunities

​Stream 2: Scaling Company Design Operations & Systems [New]

​

Ideal for high-growth firms and program alumni looking to scale their internal operations​

​​

We focus on:

  • Roadmap Prioritization & Customer Research Operations

  • Value Proposition Design Operations 

  • Inclusive Market Expansion 

  • Human-Centred AI Opportunities

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

 

Estimated Cohort Dates: 

June 2026, September 2026 & January 2027 Cohorts

​

Review Deadline for June 2026 Cohort: Monday, Jun 1, 2026

Who should apply?

Are you struggling to reduce user friction or to validate product-market fit before investing heavily in development?

Are you planning to integrate AI, but need to ensure it solves a genuine human problem?

Would you like access to skilled designers who have worked with Philips, Deloitte, Sapient, Nike, RBC, and others?

INVESTMENT
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

The Design Critique offers approximately 30 hours of work from an expert consultant. The expectation is that companies invest 6-8 hours throughout the process.

 

For IRAP clients, participation in this Design Critique is funded by IRAP.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must meet the following criteria to be considered for this service:

  • Minimum of one full-time employee receiving a T4,

  • Less than 500 employees,

  • The firm is operating in Canada and has a CRA Business Number,

  • The firm has demonstrated a desire to grow and generate profits,

  • The firm meets IRAP program eligibility criteria.​

Interested?

We are currently accepting rolling applications for our upcoming cohorts, but have limited capacity. 

​

All interested companies must submit an application in order to be considered for participation.

Still have questions? Contact us.

For IRAP clients, participation in this Design Critique is funded by IRAP

bottom of page