The City of Toronto sought to develop a collaborative governance framework for parks. Through stakeholder engagement and new processes, a framework was created with guiding principles and intended outcomes. The report on this framework has been used by city staff. Aging populations are driving interest in more accessible automotive interiors. Research identified insights around improving ingress/egress, seat comfort, and accessibility. Concepts addressing these were tested with customers. Transport Canada sought to remove barriers to innovation in regulations. Workshops identified challenges and practices for testing to make regulations more responsive and transparent.

1. Portfolio 2022

2. Toronto Parks Forestry & Recreation - Collaborative Governance
Collaborative governance refers to ways a
government authority can best work with non-
government partners, whose mandates align
with government, to program, operate and
maintain public spaces. The city of Toronto
sought a framework for determining
collaborative governance models for Toronto
parks.
Our process helped build the capacity of the City
team to use new lab processes and engage with
stakeholders in more productive ways. Together
we designed and developed a new framework
with the local ecosystem of stakeholders. This
also helped build understanding and deepen
relationships with stakeholders, preparing an
intuitive pathway to adoption.
We produced a report with the framework,
including guiding principles with intended
outcomes and details on how the framework will
be used as well as how it adapt it moving
forward. The report has been requested by and
used by staff within the division and beyond,
who are working on relevant engagements with
nonprofits.

3. Aging & Auto Interiors
Our client was is interested in developing
automotive interiors and solutions for the rapidly
growing aging population in North America. We
explored the following questions: How might we
improve ingress & egress? How might we
enhance the seat to improve overall comfort and
wellness? How can designing for accessibility
improve the overall user experience?
Secondary research established the current
context and helped set our design principles.
Primary ethnographic research of in-depth
interviews and activities used a virtual discovery
model to gain customer insights while
accommodating to the pandemic. Four key
insights emerged. These steered our initial
concept design phase. The resulting concepts
were then tested with the same participants
through a second stage of interviews and
activities. The team prioritized concepts for
aging populations keeping a focus on
adaptations that have universal appeal and fold
into a mainstream driving experience.

4. Transport Canada - Regulatory Innovation Review
Transport Canada's Office of Regulatory
Innovation sought to remove barriers to
innovation and investment, and increase the
agility of TC’s regulatory framework through the
development of new regulatory policy tools. This
project sought to create a high-level regulatory
policy framework which will reflect advanced
modern business practices.
Through research, a series of interviews and
workshops we identified and prioritized barriers
and innovative regulatory practices for different
departments to test. Transport Canada will
share the findings with other government staff
(municipal, provincial, federal) so that regulatory
efforts can be made more effective, responsive
to change and innovation, adaptive to competing
priorities and transparent and accountable to
internal and external stakeholders

5. Aging & Auto Interiors
The City of Toronto's Economic Development
and Culture Division (EDC) sought to create an
economic development strategy to increase the
attractiveness of The Toronto Region as a global
hub for an Automated Transit Cluster.
Through a series of stakeholder interviews and
extensive research, we developed a plan that
indicates the ingredients required to strengthen
the Toronto Region’s global competitiveness in
this sector, with recommendations for the City to
to leverage existing assets.
This project delivered a multi-year strategy that
considered the City’s location in the broader
region, recommending approaches to encourage
existing and new companies to flourish within
the Automated Transit ecosystem
Federal Provincial
Municipal
Government & Organizations
R&D
Regional
Hardware
Software
Transit
Component
Vehicle
Transit Agencies
Academic
Institutions
Robotaxi
Private
Companies
Testing
Non Profit
Programs / Initiatives
Planning
Toronto Region Asset Map
Automated transit ecosystem stakeholders, key assets and companies. It includes related programs, organizations, associations, research and academic institutes.
Consulting
Criteria:
Is this entity located in the Toronto region?
Is the activity of this entity in the Toronto region related to autonomous transit
technology? If not, is the entity headquartered in the Toronto region and
involved in autonomous transit technology elsewhere?
Does this entity?
s presence/activity in the Toronto region make the region a more
attractive destination for autonomous transit-related companies?
Does this entity?
s presence/activity distinguish the region or is it a characteristic
of most urban centres?
March 2020
Innovation, Science and Economic
Development (ISED)
Transport Canada City of Toronto
Ministry of Transportation
Ontario (MTO)
Ministry of Economic
Development Job Creation
MaRS Discovery
District
Waterfront Toronto
Durham
Regional
Municipality
York
Regional
Municipality
Halton
Regional
Municipality
Peel
Regional
Municipality
Metrolinx
Toronto Transit
Commission (TTC)
Brampton
Transit
MiWay
(Mississauga)
ZUM
Oakville
Transit
Burlington
Transit
Milton
Transit
Durham
Region
Transit (DRT)
York Region
Transit (YRT)
& VIVA
Toronto Region Board of Trade
Toronto Global
Canadian Urban Transit
Association (CUTA)
Transportation Association of
Canada (TAC)
Automotive Parts Manufacturer?
s
Association (APMA)
Autonomous Transportation
Canada
Ontario Public Transit
Association
Ontario Good Roads
Association
Ontario Centres of
Excellence (OCE)
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR)
Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation
Consortium (CUTRIC)
Vector Institute
University of Toronto
Ontario Tech University
Ryerson University
York University
Durham College
Pantonium
DiDi
Uber ATG
NVIDIA
Thales
X-Matik
Siemens
LeddarTech
EVdirect
Precise
ParkLink
AVO
Ecopia
Faurecia
General
Motors
NuPort
GeoTab
iNAGO
Invision.ai
KonnectShift
Magna
Passenger AI
Routible
Sheba
MicroSystems
TrackGen
Trapeze
Weather
Telematics Zown
Huawei
Harmonize
Mobility
Iris R&D
Group
Lyft
QA Consultants
aUToronto
University of Toronto
Transportation
Research Institute
Automotive Centre of
Excellence
Centre for Automotive
Research (CAR)
Ontario Train Autonomy
Collaboration
(On-TRAC)
Autonomous Vehicle
Innovation Network (AVIN)
Strategic Innovation Fund
Advanced Manufacturing
Supercluster
ENCQOR 5G
Ontario AV Pilot Program
Advance Connectivity and
Automation in the
Transportation System
AV Tactical Plan
Automated Vehicle
Readiness Schedule
Green Market
Acceleration Program
(GMAP)
Sidewalk Toronto
Coursera self-driving
cars specialization
Creative
Destruction
Lab
Pan-Canadian
AI Strategy
Autonomous Vehicles
Applied Research
(AVAR)
Ontario
Auto
Mayors
National smart vehicle
demonstration &
integration trial: phase I
Torque Labs
Sidewalk Labs
Municipal Alliance for
Connected and
Autonomous Vehicles in
Ontario (MACAVO)
Bombardier
Nova Bus
/ Prevost
Alstom
WSP Deloitte
VIA Rail
Spark Centre

6. Framing the Automated Vehicle Landscape
MaRS Solutions Lab with support from Sidewalk
Labs set out to address the question of how we
might create market and policy conditions that
enable automated vehicles to support safe,
equitable, and efficient transportation models
for Toronto and Ontario?
Over a six-week our team performed research
and convened stakeholders to deliberate on
automated vehicle (AV) deployment in Toronto,
with a focus on safety and microeconomic
considerations.
Together we Developed a publicly available
report that summarizes our high-level insights
and nine recommendations for automated
vehicle deployment. Considerations focused on
a deeper collaborative process, in which
companies, government, civil society, and
citizens can co-design and deploy regulatory
interventions to manage AV deployment.

7. Municipal Innovation Exchange
The City of Guelph, in partnership with the cities
of London and Barrie, and MaRS Discovery
District, completed a two-year innovation
procurement project. Challenge-based
procurement leads to collaborative partnerships
- vendors embed with municipalities to co-
develop solutions. This creates opportunities for
businesses, ranging from large established
vendors to small and medium enterprises such
as start-ups and entrepreneurs, often excluded
from municipal procurement invitations and
tenders.
Key learnings, including a challenge-based
innovation procurement framework, are shared
through a toolkit and case studies for
municipalities across Ontario, to help them
purchase innovations and deliver better
experiences for their residents

8. Futures of Food Regulation
Through a collection of foresight exercises, we
explored the futures of food regulation in 2050
in the face of shifting public trust. This frame
provided a lens through which potential futures
and ensuing strategies were developed.
After scanning and collecting signals, various
drivers affecting food regulation were identified
and plotted by impact and probability. Scenarios
were built to explore the multi-dimensional
realms created by the interaction of key drivers.
Finally, strategies were developed for a case
scenario, culminating in an immersive future
experience, allowing participants to engage with
provocative and plausible narratives that spark
dialog.
§ Home biofa
§ Canadian’s
§ Biofarming
§ Disagreeme
§ Though vot
HOME RECI
§ Canadians
traditional f
§ Regulatory
perform a fa
§ Climate cha
southern Ca
§ Knowledge
citizen asse
§ Canadians
sacrificing v
ROOTS OF R
§ Biotech boo
§ Oligarchy o
§ Land usage
§ Only ⅓ of p
§ Recently vo
knowledge
most food d
BASICALLY
INCOMPATIBILE
HOPES CANADIAN
CLOCKWORK
HOME
RECIGENES
ROOTS OF
RENAISSANCE
BASICALLY
NOURISHED
§ An algorithm
oversaturat
§ Knowledge
§ Citizens are
of governm
§ Social enter
being more
achievemen
§ Bioengineer
strategy or
their own h
INCOMPATI
We chose to use a 2x2x2 scenario generation process as it allowed for a number of
possible futurescenarios to explore given our topic and the number of members in our
group. We identified various drivers that could have an impact on food regulation and
plotted them by impact and probability.
From this we identified three critical drivers that we felt could have an unpredictable,
yet high,impact: (1) political pluralism, (2) ubiquitous information,and (3) biotechnology.
We then took each driver and created axis with extreme end points (visualized as a
cube). The end points were designed to prime scenarios that had a rich interplay
between the 3 axis, to challenge and propel our thinking.We ended up with eight
possible scenarios, and chose to explore five.
The future of food regulation in
the face of declining public trust in 2050.
§ A system of c
as well as ad
§ Legislation is
§ Current dow
unabated, un
§ Society requ
government
CANADIAN
Arena: food regulation • Horizon: 2050 • Audience: government, advocates

9. Toronto Cycling Gigamap
This project examined complex problems and
issues surrounding the goal of Toronto becoming
a cycle-friendly city. A Gigamap was created
using systems thinking methodologies. It
compares past, present and future states of
cycling, using both time-series and cross-
sectional data,
The social systems map examined key variables
such as demographic shifts, health implications,
economics, social acceptance, environmental,
infrastructure, cycling ridership, collisions and
stakeholder viewpoints.
This was supplemented through the results of
our primary research. This research utilized
surveys, Embodied Bodystorming and World
Café, to obtain both quantitative and qualitative
data. We explored how cyclists and drivers might
be engaged to build understanding of one
another, and co-create a shared future of a
cycle-friendly city in Toronto.

10. td.onlineoffice.io
With projects getting increasingly larger in scope
and complexity, programing and tracking
requirements began to outgrow the capabilities
of spreadsheets. Working together with back-
and front-end developers and management, a
new, more robust proprietary system was
designed, developed, tested and rolled out in
quick iterations.
Developing a cloud-based solution allowed real-
time, two-way assignment and reporting
between office and field crew through the use of
regular tablets and smartphones.

11. 100 in 1 Day
Organizing Committee / Facilitator
100In1Day Canada was a part of a global
initiative with the goal to inspire change in
cities across the country by compelling
residents to activate 100 innovative,
thought-provoking ideas into interventions
to enhance their city all in one day.
100In1Day (first known as 100en1dia) was
started in 2012 by a group of design
students in Bogotá, Colombia. In 2014,
Evergreen introduced the program to
Toronto among other Canadian cities.
Creative outreach, engagement, and
encouragement of its citizens ensured
widespread success and yearly iterations
and growth.

12. Cicloplan MTY
Cicloplan MTY is a group of non-profit and for-
profit organizations and individuals concerned
with building a better city by fostering more
sustainable urban transportation alternatives
and engaging the community.
Our multi-disciplinary team helped bring about
various municipal bylaw amendments and
public policy updates to prioritize pedestrians,
cyclists, and other sustainable modes of
transportation. In Coordination with the Mayor
and his cabinet, both shared and separated
bike lanes were created along various arteries.
Additionally, partnerships with local universities
lead to the design and implementation of new
urban bicycle and motorcycle driver education
pilot programs.

13. Paseo Edison Boulevard redesign
One of the city’s most impoverished
neighborhoods sits as the ‘back yard’ to the
national headquarters of one of the largest
convenience store chains in the country.
Through lengthy conversations with the
corporation’s C-suite, and extended consultation
and engagement of the local community, a
redesign of the main boulevard was put forward,
approved and built. The new design re-
prioritized local pedestrian traffic and and
turned a disheveled median into the new heart
of the community. At the same time, we
developed programming that would bring the
corporation and its staff closer to the
neighborhood for mutual benefit.

14. In response to an RFP put forward by ONE
Development group, we created a proposal
considering unique circumstances:
The greater metropolitan area of Monterrey has
been unsustainably modeled after major cities in
Texas: How could mid- and high-rise
developments be designed to attract home-
buyers accustomed to the detached, two-story
home?
In response, we designed stepped, two-story
apartment buildings around a large, enclosed
community space with rooftop garden options.
SILICA Mixed-use development and Master Plan

15. The growth and expansion of Pladis provided our
team with the unique opportunity to
collaboratively design our new head office. Also
unique, was the opportunity for team members
to step outside their comfort zones and try their
hand at design that fell outside of their regular
projects. This included interior design, furniture
design, branding, purchasing, and other
disciplines.
New Pladis Offices Interior Design

16. In response to the false dichotomy between
buying a plastic Christmas tree or a harvested
one, we designed, and developed the “Adopt-a-
tree” campaign. This consisted of delivering live,
potted trees to homes and offices across the
city. The tree adopters then had a choice of
keeping the tree for the next holiday season, or
arranging for a pickup. Trees that were collected
at the end of the holidays would then be used in
the organization’s reforestations during late
winter and early spring.
The success of the program was such that it sold
out on its inaugural run as well as the following
two years.
Christmas Adopt-a-tree Campaign

17. We created Arbor Day as a festival to bring the
community together in celebration and
recognition of the value and importance of urban
trees. The day-long festival features an awards
ceremony, keynotes by national environmental
speakers, a green vendor and innovation
showcase, and special competitions. The
success of the annual spring festival was then
followed by a counterpart in the fall.
Arbour Day / Acorn Festival

18. This multi-faceted campaign sought to revert the
severe deficiency in Monterrey’s urban canopy.
At the program’s core lied the belief that actions
speak louder than words. Hence, weekly tree-
panting activities open to the public made up
the axis of the campaign, rain or shine. These
reforestations operate in conjunction with
regional multimedia campaigns with a strong
social media component, corporate tree planting
events and services, partnerships with
universities and large corporations, and
maintaining strong relationships with municipal
and state governments.
Monterrey - Urban Forest

19. sergiodelaras@gmail.com
647-224-2422