SYDE congratulates IDEAs Clinic on its tenth anniversary

The Department of Systems Design Engineering (SYDE) proudly celebrates ten years of innovation and collaboration for the Pearl Sullivan Engineering IDEAs Clinic.

The IDEAs Clinic, located in Engineering 7, was created to enrich Waterloo Engineering’s curricular experience with hands-on, real-world design challenges. Over the past decade, the clinic has grown into a thriving hub where students gain practical experience tackling open-ended engineering problems, reinforcing the critical role of design education for engineers of all disciplines.

Since its founding in 1964 as the Department of Design by Professor George Soulis, SYDE has been dedicated to bridging systems thinking with design practice. The department continues to support experiential learning opportunities, such as the IDEAs Clinic, that empower students to build meaningful, real-world solutions.

“Design education is fundamental to developing engineers who can think critically to solve complex problems,” said Dr. Chris Rennick, the educational developer for the IDEAS Clinic. “We share SYDE’s strong emphasis on design thinking and hands-on learning experiences to make a lasting impact on Waterloo Engineering students.”

The Clinic’s spirit of design innovation is shared with many SYDE-led initiatives. In 2016, SYDE faculty launched their own Design Dayz in the IDEAs Clinic space. In this annual kickoff event where incoming first-year engineering students replace their first day of classes with hands-on design activities. This year’s committee, led by Dr. Rob Hunter, is planning for a big systems board game, a cellphone drop and a software design activity, along with design-focused ice breakers on September 3, 2025.

SYDE and IDEAs Clinic also share a core value for integrating industry engagement into the student experience. A long-standing partnership with Brock Solutions, a company founded by SYDE alum Vivienne Ojala (SYDE ‘84), exemplifies this commitment. The Brock Solutions Industrial Automation Hub was instrumental in the growth of IDEAs Clinic. The Ojala family also supports SYDE’s Communications Professional-in-Residence, Dr. Andrew Atkinson, since 2023.

“SYDE’s many design faculty are excited by the IDEAs Clinic,” said Dr. Kate Sellen, the George Soulis Chair in Systems Design Engineering. “We look forward to many more years of innovation in design education for all engineering students.”