Design Groups Toronto

Making the case for service design

How do you communicate the value of service design at your workplace? Where does your team stand, **and** what is your role within it? We all know service design creates value, but pinpointing exactly *where* your org stands, and what role you should be playing to move it forward, is a different skill entirely. This session is about getting clearer on that. **Format:** Design jam **What to expect:** * A quick icebreaker * Opening context — a fast recap of the article and why it matters * A spotlight share — one person walks us through where their own org sits on the model, and what that's actually looked like in practice * Main activity — working solo, then in pairs, then as a full table * A quick close — one small thing to try shifting this month **To get ahead:** Read the [Service Design Maturity Model article;](https://service-design-network.org/community_article/the-service-design-maturity-model-a-strategic-framework-to-embed-service-design-into-an-organisation) it's a quick one, and it'll give us a shared language for the night. The model breaks organizational SD maturity into five stages Explore, Prove, Scale, Integrate, Thrive) and tracks how a service designer's role shifts through each: from scout > doer > trainer > facilitator > leader. No need to have it all figured out before you arrive. Just come ready to think out loud with a few new people. See you there!

Toronto Luxury Real Estate, Interior Designer, Construction & Renovation NE

***Tickets Must be purchased in advance!*** https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-luxury-real-estate-interior-designer-construction-renovation-ne-tickets-1997235886300 Get ready to connect with Toronto's finest real estate, design, construction, and finance professionals at a networking event like no other! **Stellar Socials by Limitless: Toronto Real Estate, Interior Design, Construction & Renovation Networking Event** Join us for an exclusive evening curated for ambitious professionals across real estate, interior design, construction, and renovation. This is your opportunity to build meaningful connections, unlock new opportunities, and elevate your business or career. Whether you're seeking strategic partnerships, industry insights, or simply looking to expand your network, this event offers the perfect environment to connect, collaborate, and grow. **DRESS CODE: BUSINESS CASUAL** ### About Stellar Socials by Limitless Stellar Socials is a premier networking experience hosting high-quality events across North America. We bring together top-tier professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives in a stylish, high-energy environment designed for real connections. Our mission is simple: create powerful spaces where connections turn into opportunities. ### Who Attends? Expect a curated mix of driven professionals, including: • **Real Estate Professionals** – Agents, brokers, developers, investors, and builders • **Interior Designers** – Designers, decorators, and creative consultants • **Construction Leaders** – Contractors, project managers, architects, and engineers • **Renovation Specialists** – Builders, flippers, and home improvement experts • **Entrepreneurs & Investors** – Business owners and growth-focused professionals • **Startups & Innovators** – Companies seeking partnerships and exposure • **Job Seekers & Graduates** – Ambitious individuals entering the industry • **Media & Marketing Professionals** – Creators covering real estate & design trends 📍 **Age Group:** 21–55 \| **Venue:** 21+ (Bar Setting) ### What to Expect ✨ High-value conversations around real estate trends, design innovation, and development ✨ Opportunities to meet industry leaders, collaborators, and future partners ✨ Career and business growth insights ✨ A relaxed, upscale social environment designed for natural networking Whether you attend solo or with friends, you’ll leave with valuable connections, fresh ideas, and new opportunities. ### The Stellar Socials Experience Our events are intentionally designed to feel effortless and high-quality. No pressure—just genuine conversations, strong energy, and the right people in the room. Come ready to connect, collaborate, and elevate your network. ### Join the Community 📲 Instagram: @stellarsocialsbylimitless 📘 Facebook: Stellar Socials by Limitless 🎥 TikTok: @stellar.socials ### Notice of Photography Please note: Photos and videos will be taken during the event for promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to being photographed and/or filmed. If you prefer not to appear, please inform an event organizer upon arrival.

Beauty & Fashion w/ Mishel

Movie Night - Toxic (Kannada - eng subtitles)

Join us for Toxic movie night! We’ll meet at 6:30 PM to catch up and chat before heading in for the 7:00 PM show. After the movie, anyone interested can stay back for coffee and discussions about the movie. ☕ Looking forward to a fun evening with good company, movie vibes, and post-movie chats!

Model Mondays - Spotlight On Model router in Microsoft Foundry

AI agents rarely rely on a single model to solve every task. In this episode of Model Mondays, we'll explore how model router helps developers apply a hill-climbing approach to agent development by continuously finding better models for different steps in a workflow. Learn how to evaluate models, compare performance across providers and model families, and dynamically route requests to the model best suited for each task. Through discussions and demos, we'll show how model router helps agents improve quality, efficiency, and cost by treating model selection as an ongoing optimization process rather than a one-time decision. *** * [Explore the Resources](https://github.com/microsoft/model-mondays) * [Read the Newsletter](https://aka.ms/model-mondays/newsletter) * [Continue the conversation on the Discord](https://aka.ms/model-mondays/discord)

Beauty & Fashion w/ Marina

Creative Code Toronto work session

Join us for a Toronto meetup of creative coders! Instead of our usual show-and-tell, this will be a **work session!** If you're looking for some motivation to tinker on a creative project, now's your chance! **What is creative code?** *Creative coding* refers to anything with an artistic component that uses code as a medium. We welcome artists who use code (for visuals, audio, poetry, or whatever else), designers, animators, toolmakers, researchers, or just enjoyers and people looking to learn more! **Location:** Impact Kitchen on Queens Quay (88 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON M5J 0B6) **Join our discord** if you want to talk to everyone before/after the event, or have any suggestions for things you'd like to see or do! [https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ](https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ)

THROUGH Opening Reception

New paintings by Mark Viola explore layered identity, movement, and perception through translucent, process-driven works. Through explores translucence, movement, and the layered nature of perception. Figures emerge and recede within surfaces that reveal the process of their making, inviting viewers to look beyond the immediate image toward what lies beneath. In this way, the act of painting becomes inseparable from the subject itself. The accumulation of layers echoes the psychological and emotional weight carried by each figure, suggesting that identity is not static, but continuously constructed, obscured, and revealed over time. Rather than offering resolution, the works remain open—holding space for ambiguity, motion, and multiple readings. Through ultimately asks not only what we see, but how we see, and what might be uncovered when we choose to look beyond the surface. [ENROLL NOW](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/through-opening-reception-tickets-1989021637260?aff=ebdssbdestsearch)

Testing Craftsmanship Evolving in the Age of AI | Toronto Meetup

**Testing Craftsmanship Evolving in the Age of AI \| Toronto Meetup** AI isn't replacing testers, it's reshaping what testing craftsmanship means. After two decades of watching the discipline evolve, one thing has stayed constant: the testers who win are the ones who keep growing their judgment, not just their tool stack. Join The Test Tribe's 15th Toronto Meetup for a deep, honest look at where testing craftsmanship is headed as AI reshapes the role, and what still can't be automated away. **Event Details** ● Date: 26 August 2026 ● Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM ET ● Venue: [20 Toronto St, Toronto, ON M5C 2B8, Canada](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WUfTxyU1LuVJfX1Y6) **What's on the Agenda?** **Testing Craftsmanship Evolving in the Age of AI** **Speaker: Jacky Zhang, Test Architect, General Motors** Drawing on two decades of hands-on experience in automation, computer vision, OCR, and large-language-model experimentation, Jacky traces how testing craftsmanship has evolved through major technology shifts, and argues that AI is the next transformation, not a total disruption. He'll unpack the real barriers to AI adoption in testing, hallucination, limited generalization, compliance constraints, infrastructure cost, and unclear ROI, and make the case that lasting testing value still depends on stable engineering foundations, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of quality goals and human needs. **How This Meetup Solves Your Problem** If your team is being asked to "adopt AI in testing" without a clear picture of what that actually means day to day, this session cuts through the hype. Jacky offers a grounded, practitioner's view of where AI genuinely helps, where it falls short, and how testers can evolve from script executors into quality strategists, knowledge architects, and human-centered risk explorers. **Why You Should Show Up** * Understand which testing foundations remain essential even as AI capabilities grow. * Get a clear-eyed view of AI's real barriers: hallucination, generalization, compliance, cost, and ROI. * Learn how to reframe your own role as AI reshapes what "testing" means. * Meet fellow testers, automation engineers, and QA leaders from Toronto's testing community. **Become a Speaker at The Test Tribe events** Wish to share your insights with the community at a future event? Submit your talk idea [here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8xebmOBD2WYXwGKWj7GteY-tMLaj-aZzQk88MAsE0LUiMUQ/viewform) and our team will get back to you, if the idea resonates with them too. **About The Test Tribe** The Test Tribe is the world's largest software testing community, empowering testers globally since 2018. With 700+ events and 150K+ members across 130+ countries, we bring testers together to learn, grow, and connect through meetups, conferences, cohorts, masterclasses, and more. By RSVPing, you agree to our [Terms and Conditions](https://www.thetesttribe.com/website-terms-conditions/) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.thetesttribe.com/our-privacy-policy/) and consent to be contacted by The Test Tribe and our event partners.

Shoot with the NEW Sony FX5 - Hosted by River Sheppard

### Shoot with the NEW Sony FX5 - Hosted by River Sheppard \*\*Date:\*\*Saturday, August 15, 2026 **Time:** 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm **Location:** Vistek Toronto Join filmmaker and YouTube creator, River Sheppard, as he leads a hands-on demo using Sony's new FX5 camera. River will be working with a model setup to fully demonstrate the capabilities of the camera. No registration is required, just show up to join this hands-on experience!

Fitness & Boudoir w/ Amber

Tech & Startup Social Mixer ($20 Tix!)

**On August 19, TechinTO is taking over IDK Social Bar** for our summer finale — and honestly, our biggest comeback yet. It's been a minute. Longer than usual, actually. We've been quiet all summer, heads-down figuring out how to make this the strongest room we've put together yet. Now we're back, the format is looser than ever, and the timing is perfect: one last blowout before everyone disappears into fall-grind mode. **Welcome Back, Toronto:** After the longest break we've taken yet, we're back in the room we love most. No stage, no slides, no pitch deck — just the return of TechinTO's original, unstiff energy. Grab a drink, mix and mingle, and actually connect. **The Summer Finale:** Consider this the closing party of the season. One last mixer before summer wraps for good — bring whatever energy you've got left and spend all of it here. **Come Ready to Show, Not Just Tell:** This one's for the builders. Whatever you've shipped, learned, pivoted on, or figured out over the break — this is the room to talk about it. Swap insight, show off what you're actually working on, and walk away having learned something from the person next to you. **The Crowd:** Entrepreneurs, devs, designers, and marketers who are actually moving the needle in this city. Bring your team — groups of three or more lock in a 25% discount at checkout. **📅 The Details** * When: Wednesday, August 19, 2026 * Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM * Where: IDK Social Bar (172 Ossington Ave) **🎟️ Secure Your Spot** Capacity is limited and the summer finale moves fast. * **Get tickets for $20 !** [https://shop.techinto.ca/products/august-19-networking-event](https://shop.techinto.ca/products/march-25-networking-event) **Follow the fun:** 📸 Instagram: [@techinto.event](https://www.instagram.com/techinto.event/) 🌐 Website: [www.techinto.ca](https://techinto.ca) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 🍸 **Venue Highlights: IDK Social Bar** IDK Social Bar is a vibrant, two-level venue in Toronto that blends a cozy café vibe by day with a lively bar atmosphere at night. Known for its stylish interior, creative cocktails, and upbeat energy, it's a go-to spot for social events and creative gatherings.