Industrial design is one of Canada’s most consequential and least-covered professions. Industrial designers shape the physical and digital products that Canadians use every day; from medical devices and clean technology hardware to mobility systems and consumer goods.
The Rocket Awards, a key component of the Association of Chartered Industrial Designers of Ontario’s (ACIDO) yearly programming, provides a window into that work: a room full of young Canadians, standing in front of the products they built, presenting their ideas and explaining their design process. And on June 6th, the 2026 Rocket Awards will recognize the top graduating industrial designers from Ontario’s four leading post-secondary design programs: Carleton University, Humber Polytechnic, OCAD University, and Sheridan College.
The event will bring together emerging designers, established industry professionals, educators, and community leaders for an evening that reflects the ambition of Ontario’s design talent.
Nominees selected at the top of their graduating class will pitch their final-year projects to a panel of industry jurors. Winners will be announced at the Rocket Awards Ceremony.
The 2026 Rocket Awards arrive at a moment of heightened national focus on innovation. The federal government has made economic sovereignty and domestic innovation capacity defining policy priorities, committing billions to advanced manufacturing, AI infrastructure, and intellectual property commercialization. Industrial designers are among the practitioners who turn those investments into market-ready reality, yet their contribution to Canada’s innovation economy is less frequently highlighted.
Canada’s federal ministers have been explicit in 2026 about the stakes of innovation for the country’s economic future. The Rocket Awards are where that national ambition meets the next generation with Ontario’s design graduates building the future.
To view this year’s finalists, click here.
To reserve tickets for Rocket 2026, click here.
Previous winners of the 2025 ACIDO Rocket Awards include the following.
1st Place: Rain Catch by Hafeez Gomez
Rain Catch is a low-cost, collapsible rainwater collection system designed to support Maasai communities in Longido, Tanzania. It addresses the need for accessible, locally manufactured water solutions. By using fabric-based construction and leveraging local sewing skills, Rain Catch can be easily produced, assembled, and maintained within the community. Its lightweight and modular design makes it highly portable, scalable, and adaptable to different household needs, providing a sustainable way to capture and store rainwater year-round.
2nd Place: Namik by David Thompson
This project aims to reimagine personal protective equipment for first responders in post-hurricane environments. The resulting hybrid drysuit combines waterproof protection with flexible, breathable materials and integrates moisture management features inspired by the Namib Desert beetle. Developed with input from Water Rescue personnel, the suit is engineered for real-world performance, durability, and safety.
3rd Place: MOVA by Behzad Rashidi
MOVA is a premium hands-free knee crutch, designed with user needs and practicality in mind. It enhances mobility and overall quality of life during recovery while offering a refined, calming aesthetic that boosts confidence and preserves dignity, ensuring users feel comfortable and empowered while wearing it.