Our aim is to produce designers who, in the words of Buckminster Fuller, are ‘a synthesis of artist, inventor, mechanic, objective economist, and evolutionary strategist.’ To do so, we need to eliminate boundaries between designers and other professionals, and between designers and the local and global constituents they serve. We aim to create:

Each year, the Institute selects 10-20 candidates from an international pool of applicants who work together for ten months to research, design and realize a public and intellectual project. Candidates have undergraduate degrees, diplomas or prior professional experience and are drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds.

STUDENTS
We are looking for passionate people from different backgrounds and educational disciplines. If selected, students will join a working studio with real clients with real problems. They will not just talk about ideas but will undertake work to bring ideas to life. Given the nature of the World House Project, we are particularly interested in architects, landscape architects, engineers (civil, structural, mechanical), interior and industrial designers, new media experts, sociologists, social historians, scientists, psychologists, and environmental designers.

SCHOOLS & INSTITUTIONS
We are always looking for collaborations with other educational institutions worldwide who have an interest in our projects and share our vision. The opportunity to run parallel studios and special design charrettes in collaboration with the Institute will enrich the learning experience for all and increase the potential for innovation.

SPONSORS
We are also looking for public and private sector sponsors who are interested in supporting our efforts and benefiting from the research we've undertaken

To find out more, please email sponsorships@worldhouse.ca

The Institute without Boundaries engages in a spectrum of creative practices from a variety of disciplines. Students are challenged by world thinkers, mentored by leading practitioners and academics, and work with local and international contacts. Our students learn by doing – researching and developing original ideas and solving complex, real world design problems in a realistic community context – with the full support, mentorship and resources of the Institute.

Students practice a design process based on research, concept development and interaction with prototypes, effective communication and presentation. They will learn about creative methodologies, integrated design process, innovation best practices, and collaborative learning skills.

In the process, students will also gain knowledge of

How to ask questions
How to listen
How to frame and carry out inquiry and research
How to write
How to interpret information and develop critical insights
How to present
How to make mistakes
How to bravely walk away from good ideas
How to design effective communication
How to use design software
How to facilitate creative change
How to develop and manage projects
How to lead and allow others to lead
How to enjoy the fruits of one’s labour

The Institute without Boundaries joins programs in Graphic Design, Advanced Digital Design, Game Design, Design Management and Art and Design Foundation at the School of Design at George Brown College. Building on a heritage of leadership in graphic design education, The School of Design has developed a well-defined vision for future growth as a hub for interdisciplinary and digital design education in Canada.

The School of Design has pioneered an educational approach based on design thinking, practice and culture, and fulfills this vision by developing research publications, exhibitions and revolutionary practice laboratories where students work on real life projects for non-profit and community groups. It is a member of ICSID (the International Council of the Societies of Industrial Design) and ICOGRADA (The International Council of Graphic Design Associations). In addition, the School provides the Secretariat for ACID (the Association of Canadian Industrial Designers) and CSEA (the Canadian Society for Education in Art).

Q. What does the program cost?
A. Tuition for Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents is approx. $12,000 (CAD) while tuition for International Students is approx. $19,500 (CAD). There is no application fee.

Q. What other costs are involved aside from tuition?
A. In addition to tuition fees, students pay ancillary fees of approximately $1,000 CAD). Some travel may be required, which will be at the students’ expense. All students are responsible for their own living accommodations and expenses while attending the program. It is also recommended that students bring their own laptop (both mac and PC are acceptable).

Q. Is financial aid available?
A. Canadian students can apply for a ScotiaLine® personal line of credit* that allows graduate students to borrow up to $12,000 per year. While in school, students are required to make interest-only monthly payments. Details are available at: www.scotiabank.com, any Scotiabank branch or by calling 1-800-972-6842. Unfortunately, this is not available to International Applicants at this time.

Q. When does the program start?
A. The 2008-2009 academic year begins in September, following Labour Day (September 1).

Q. How do I apply?
A. The Official Application Package is available in .PDF format here
Students are expected to have a minimum of an undergraduate degree, college diploma or equivalent experience. Applicants must submit a complete application form, applicant profile, letter of intent, résumé, professional references, and academic transcripts. International students will be required to submit English Proficiency Test Scores.

Q. What is the application deadline?
A. The deadline for submissions has been extended to April 30, 2008. Special exemptions may be permitted for late applicants. Please contact info@worldhouse.ca for more information.

Q. Where do I send my application?
A. Institute without Boundaries,
207 Adelaide Street East, Suite 209
Toronto, Ontario M5A 1M8
CANADA

Q. What happens once I've applied?
A. Candidates for admission will be contacted for an interview with the program admissions committee. Alternative arrangements will be considered for out-of-Toronto applicants.

Q. What do I receive at the end of the program?
A. Students will receive a certificate from George Brown College.

Q. I am an international student. Will I need a study permit?
A. To study in Canada, you will need a visitor visa and/or Study Permit. For official information about the application policy and procedures, contact a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) office in Canada, the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate nearest you, or see the CIC website at www.cic.gc.ca. To contact George Brown's International Centre, please call 416.415.5000 x.2115 or 1-800-265-2002 (Canada and the US) or email internationalcentre@georgebrown.ca

Q. How many hours a week can I expect to devote to this program?
A. Students can expect to work 40+ hours per week in this intensive ten-month program. Working part-time is not recommended, as it will be difficult for students to balance a part-time job and full-time study.

Q. What media will I be working in?
A. Students will engage in the fullest range of creative practices, from research and writing, to photography, filmmaking, design in myriad media, production and project management. The work of the Institute may result in publications, video productions, web sites, exhibitions, and prototypes. It is recommended that students bring a digital camera for some of the work.

The Institute without Boundaries was founded in 2003 by George Brown College and Bruce Mau Design. In the inaugural project, Massive Change, six students worked in the Bruce Mau Design studio researching, writing, designing an exhibition, a website, a radio show and a book, that explored and sparked a discourse on the future of global design.

In 2004, eight new students carried the exhibition project to fruition. Massive Change premiered at the Vancouver Art Gallery in October 2004. The same year, Phaidon published the Massive Change book and the student-designed Massive Change product line was launched by Umbra. The exhibition moved to the Art Gallery of Ontario in the spring 2005 and will travel to Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art in 2006.

The second project at the Institute without Boundaries aims to produce a house that can be built locally and a building process that can be adapted to meet local housing challenges worldwide. The goal of the project is to generate a housing system that achieves a balance between extremes of urban sprawl and urban slums and enables people to build sustaining, universal, and healthy human dwellings and communities. To do so, the Institute has launched an interdisciplinary project that involves students, teachers, and industry and community experts, starting locally and seeking collaboration with other schools and institutions around the world to work on this challenge.

For more information on the World House Project, visit www.worldhouse.ca

To apply to this program, prospective applicants require a post-secondary diploma or degree granted by a recognized institution of higher learning. Under special circumstances, equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree or diploma.

Applicants must submit a complete application form, resume, profile, letter of intent, and academic transcripts. International students are required to submit English proficiency test scores. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Download our 2008-2008 brochure here.

Download our Application Package here.
(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view both)

If you have any questions, please contact recruitment@worldhouse.ca

ADDRESS
The Institute without Boundaries is located at
207 Adelaide Street East, Suite 209
Toronto, Ontario M5A 1M8 Canada
T: +1 416 943 0303
F: +1 647 439 4959

DIRECTIONS
The IwB studio is located on the southeast corner of Jarvis St. on Adelaide St.
(view the Google map here)

THE WORLD HOUSE PROJECT
For details on the World House Project and our current news and events, please go to www.worldhouse.ca

PARTNERS & AFFILIATES
For schools of design and other academic institutions who are interested in becoming a partner or affiliate of the Institute without Boundaries please visit www.worldhouse.ca/partners