Made by Waterloo: Piece of Mind
Waterloo alum reimagines a simple pastime to bring dignity, connection and joy to older adults
At the University of Waterloo, Olivia Vento (BSc ’25) spent her undergraduate years studying psychology and working in the Children’s Communication Lab under the supervision of Dr. Daniela O’Neill, where she saw firsthand how board games can foster playful learning and social connection for children. Curiosity followed, and she began to wonder what types of activities could foster similar opportunities for older adults, a large yet often overlooked population.
That question became the foundation for Piece of Mind, her puzzle venture designed to bring people together, one piece a time.
The puzzle market, she discovered, had left many older adults with an impossible choice. Standard 1,000-piece puzzles were often too demanding and overwhelming, particularly for those living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, arthritis or vision loss. The “easier” alternatives were designed for children and often featured cartoon characters or juvenile themes that felt out of place in the hands of adults. Vento realized that there was a need for activities that are accessible, dignified and age appropriate.
During her final term, Vento pitched Piece of Mind at United College’s GreenHouse Social Impact Showcase to validate her vision for accessible puzzles. She received $3,000, helping kickstart the design and planning process that would bring her idea to life.
Accessible by design, for peace of mind
“Before developing the first prototype, it was important to understand the audience, the problem and the barriers people face,” Vento says. “I wanted something that could support a sense of accomplishment and independence – something that might spark a happy memory or a conversation between loved ones, without feeling clinical or childish.”
Vento set out to design puzzles that better support older adults and individuals navigating illnesses, injury or changes in memory, vision or dexterity. She brought in local artist and fellow Waterloo alum Cailyn Perry (BSc ’24, MSc ’26), known online as @CailynCreative, to illustrate the first puzzle’s artwork. After polling her community on Instagram and at a GreenHouse demo day, one design stood out: Cats Having Breakfast became the first release.
“Nothing about the artwork was an accident,” Vento adds. “A lot of thought went into the colour contrast, the size and shape of each piece, and making sure each piece felt unique and interesting, without the whole image becoming chaotic.”
After several iterations — shaped by feedback from users, caregivers and professionals in the field — the final puzzle and box incorporate features that are easy to overlook until you need them.
The complete puzzle fits inside the box, allowing users to work in small spaces and pause and return at any time, while a removable sorting tray keeps pieces organized. A seven-by-ten grid inside the lid labels each piece with a letter and number, offering an optional guide for users . Tactile details like the soft-touch finish with glossy accents further enhance accessibility by creating a multi-sensory experience.
There’s intentionally no clinical language or diagnostic labelling anywhere on the box. From the outside, it just looks like a beautiful puzzle — the thoughtfulness is in the details. As Vento sees it, accessible design tends to be better design, for everyone.
Less than a year after her initial pitch, Vento launched her first presale on April 30, with orders expected to arrive in August 2026. Earlier that month, a second $3,000 award from the Social Impact Showcase helped cover initial production costs. Puzzle orders are available now on the Piece of Mind website.
From idea to impact
While building Piece of Mind, Vento returned to the Children’s Communication Lab as outreach manager, supporting community initiatives focused on inclusive play and communication across Waterloo Region. She also rejoined GreenHouse as an alum in the Social Innovators in Training Program, where she later received the Inclusive Designer award for her community impact.
She is now developing new designs with local artists and beginning a research collaboration with Dr. Myra Fernandes and her Memory, Language, and Aging Lab, exploring how these puzzles may support memory and social interactions. She is also actively pursuing partnerships with hospitals, long-term care homes, libraries and senior centres, hoping to get accessible puzzles into the hands of the people and organizations that need them most.
Vento never set out to become an entrepreneur, but her drive to create meaningful solutions earned her the City of Kitchener Youth Action Council’s Entrepreneurship Award in May 2026.
“I was an undergraduate student with an idea, and then people started introducing me as the founder of Piece of Mind,” Vento explains. “There were moments where I thought, ‘How did I get myself into this?’ My advice to anyone in that position is to give yourself a little grace — you’re creating something brand new that you have no reason to be good at yet. It’s a learning process.”
Vento’s journey reflects Waterloo’s focus on innovation with impact, where ideas sparked through research and community engagement can grow into real-world solutions. With support from programs like GreenHouse, students are empowered to turn curiosity into social action, building ventures like Piece of Mind that foster connection, creativity and care.
