Designing for 2030: Creating Products, Spaces, and Tech for Canada's Aging Population
Overview
By 2030, 1 in 4 Canadians will be over 65 years old, establishing Canada as one of the ‘super-aged’ countries in the world. This demographic shift demands a fundamental redesign of our products, physical spaces, and technologies to enable older adults to age in place safely and independently.
For this future, what design strategies are necessary for the aging population? How might we rethink design across disciplines to serve older adults adequately?
This event, organized as part of the DesignTO Festival 2027, brings together multidisciplinary designers, healthcare practitioners, caregivers, and innovators to explore cross-sector design strategies for aging in place.
Why Attend?
Gain real-world data and case studies on aging-in-place trends across North America.
Hear directly from designers, caregivers, and care providers improving outcomes for older adults.
Participate in a design session to identify and reframe design challenges for older adults.
Connect with peers across design, health-tech, accessibility, urban planning, and industrial design.
Who Should Attend?
Product & UX Designers building accessible digital tools or hardware.
Architects & Spatial Designers focused on age-friendly housing and environments.
Health-Tech Founders & Innovators developing solutions for eldercare.
Caregivers, Clinicians, & Researchers shaping the future of healthy aging.
Agenda
2:00 PM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
2:05 PM | Keynote: Aging in Place in North America
Insights, research, and future trends presented by Maryanne D’Arpino.
2:25 PM | Multidisciplinary Panel & Q&A
Real-world perspectives on design, caregiving, and technology.
3:10 PM | Interactive Design Session
Collaborative exercise collecting and mapping key design challenges for older adults.
3:30 PM | Wrap-up & Networking
Speakers & Panelists
Keynote Speaker
Maryanne D’Arpino is Chief Nursing Executive and Vice President of Quality and Professional Practice at Spectrum Health Care. Dedicated to health care quality, safety, and patient outcomes, her leadership experience spans provincial and national organizations including Health Quality Ontario, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, Canadian Patient Safety Institute, and Healthcare Excellence Canada. Maryanne holds an MScN from York University and a BScN from Ryerson/Metropolitan University and is a certified Healthcare executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Panelists
Ranee Lee – Associate Professor, OCAD University
Jen Recknagel – Director, NORC Innovation Centre
Akolade Omotosho – Product Designer, Meta
Hesam Rostami – Owner/Principal, Rostami Atash Inc.
Susan Palijan – Caregiver & Researcher
Ian Goldman – Caregiver & Member, CABHI Lived Experience Council
Organizers
This event is co-hosted by Pillsette Technologies and the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI).
Pillsette Technologies develops solutions to support adults and caregivers managing complex medication regimens to improve medication adherence and enable successful aging in place.
CABHI supports research and innovation that improve the aging experience and brain health. Through funding, mentorship and connections, CABHI helps researchers and innovators develop, test and bring solutions into practice to benefit older persons and their care partners.
This event is not hosted or sponsored by the Toronto Public Library.
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