The team from Empreinte Québécoise, an action-research project in the furniture manufacturing industry, led by researchers at INÉDI, the collegial centre for the transfer of technologies in industrial design at Cégep de Terrebonne, will participate in the 2016 edition of the Canadian Furniture Show, which will be held from May 28th to May 30th, 2016, at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

Represented, notably, by its two founding members, internationally renowned Quebec fashion designer and multi-disciplinary designer, Jean-Claude Poitras, and Véronique Paradis, researcher in strategic design at INÉDI, Empreinte Québécoise will take advantage of this prestigious showcase to exhibit the 7 first creations resulting from the innovative approach put forth to participating furniture manufacturers, as well as unveil its new visual identity.

A cocktail reception will be held Saturday, May 28, at 5PM, at Booth 5447 in Hall 5, during which the avant-garde products of several of the companies having accepted the challenge set forth by Empreinte Québécoise, will be presented for the first time: Vanico-Maronyx, Ateliers St-Jean, Limuro, Centre de l’Escalier, Mobican and BSG.

It is worth noting that Empreinte Québécoise offers participants a completely unique experience: it accompanies them in a collaborative process of design and innovation, with the aim of developing new products bearing a strong Quebec identity and signature style. Inspired by precise criteria and guidelines over a period of 18 months, this approach aims to support manufacturers in the development of new expertise, in terms of both product design and strategy. This process includes co-design workshops, training with innovation experts, individual coaching and a space where participants can exchange ideas and experiment, thereby favouring learning through the transfer of knowledge.

About Empreinte Québécoise

Empreinte Québécoise is an initiative of researchers at INÉDI, in collaboration with the ACCORD Furniture Design niche of excellence. It benefits from the aid and financial support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and of the Government of Quebec.