Humans have an innate desire to connect with one another.
To belong.

CONNECT & COLLABORATE &

CONNECT & COLLABORATE &

Connect & Collaborate is a community event designed to be good for people, good for innovation, and ultimately, good for business.

In our post-pandemic world, we are feeling the need for more connection. For community. And community can be a spark for innovation.

It all starts here: Humans have an innate desire to connect with one another. To belong. Community makes us happy.

So, we wondered: If we were to create a safe, inclusive, authentic community atmosphere, could that inspire more innovation?

Why “innovation”? What’s in it for you / your business: The thinking here is that happy people lead to lead to positive mindsets, which leads to being more open to new ideas, which leads to more innovation in a personal or business context, which then leads to growth (and other business-y things like increased customer value, profitability, brand reputation, social responsibility, and competitive advantage).

You with us so far? K, great! Read on for HOW we were able to actually create an event like this and not only make it work, but be beloved and award-winning.

2 hours is all it takes.

We have designed an award-winning community event in 3 stages:

Stage 1: Facilitated connection

As participants enter the event, they each receive a set of cards. Each card features a question, such as "What did you eat for breakfast today?" The questions range from light and fun to more thoughtful and deep. These cards are intended to facilitate connection,  break the ice, and help build initial trust. This stage is all about mingling, mixing, and enjoying lots of laughter.


Stage 2: Focused group discussion

A focus topic is selected in advance, and all participants are brought together to engage in respectful dialogue. The hosts will expertly guide the discussion, ensuring all voices are heard. 


Stage 3: Facilitated collaboration

Now that a foundation of trust and connection has been created, this is the participant's chance to dive deeper with those with whom they resonated with. The cards from the first stage re-appear, this time as a medium for contact information exchange between participants. 

Meet your hosts

Hi! We are Elizabeth and Milena, and we have been hosting friends and strangers alike for many years - informally in our living rooms, and formally throughout our professional careers as designers, facilitators, and storytellers. We have a passion for community building and the right set of skills to bring an event like this to life.

  • Elizabeth Lane is a Toronto-based designer, technology ethicist, strategic futurist, and storyteller. She is currently envisioning and building meaningful digital products that transcend the status quo at Metalab, a design and product company, and previously was at Deloitte Digital solving complex problems for startups to enterprises. She is the creator of “Future Stories of Community,” an exhibit that explores the possible futures of communities driven by digital technology, and imagines how we might co-create healthy communities now and in the future.

  • Milena Tasic is a human-centred design practitioner, facilitator, and team lead. She helps organizations tap into the power of empathy and creative problem solving to drive value from a people, planet, and profit perspective. Previously an Innovation Manager at Accenture Canada, she now leads an award-winning design team within the Canadian Federal Government and teaches Systems Thinking and Strategy at IDEO U.

FAQs

Is this a social?

This event isn't just about mingling; it's about getting to know your peers on a deeper level, sparking collaborations, and fostering a sense of belonging and community. We help you skip the small talk and create a safe space. All you have to do is show up and be yourself.

So, its a networking event?

Kind of? But not really…
Networking DOES end up happening, but in the least sucky, stiff, formal way possible. If it helps, you can think of it as a very inclusive, authentic & soul-filling networking event. One of the reasons we designed this event is because we understand that it can be hard to expand your network, especially if you’re not someone who relies on extraversion. This way, we try to make connecting and collaborating with others super fun and easy.

Awards

2024 DesignTO Festival - Favourite Event
Connect & Collaborate: A Design Salon was held on January 27, 2024 in partnership with Staples Studio Corktown.

We want to work with you & your community.

Do you want to infuse more inspiration into your community? Do you want a better way to connect with others? Do you have a space where we could host a group of people?