VODA: Student Competition Winners
The focus of VODA Student Competition is the potential of design to positively change and add value to our lives. As designers, we are trained to use design thinking processes to better understand the people for whom we are designing.
Projects must clearly communicate the intended value to people, businesses, or society at large.
Explore previous years’ winners:
2026 Winners
| Award Type | Project Name | Student | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Deaf Connect | When Design Listens Beyond Sound | Salwa Asghar | Yorkville University | Concord, ON |
| Excellence | Lumak – Outpatient Alternative Cancer Care | Jagroop Singh | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Burnaby, BC |
| Merit | Bleu Sphere: Ocean Conservation Learning Centre | Andrea Mercado | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Burnaby, BC |
| Merit | Casa Latina: A Cultural Gathering Centre for Latin American Immigrants in Vancouver | Isabela Boiago Gollucke | Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Surrey, BC |
| Merit | Pointform | Jodie Sun | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Burnaby, BC |
| Honourable Mention | Living Layers: A Protective Shelter for Wildfire Displacement | Melika Gheisari | Yorkville University | Concord, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Penumbra: Integrated Wellness Centre | Jeremy Wong | Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Surrey, BC |
| Honourable Mention | LOOP – A Dynamic Indoor Skatepark & Recreational Social Space | Natalie Opdebeeck | Fanshawe College | London, ON |
2025 Winners
| Award Type | Project Name | Student | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Apricity: Children’s Palliative & Respite Care Centre | Francesca Mak | Sheridan College | Mississauga, ON |
| Excellence | Catalyst: A Digital Wellness and Learning Center | Lizette Bautista | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Burnaby, BC |
| Excellence | Un Pas à la Fois | Léa Dos Santos Riboux | Université de Montréal | Montréal, QC |
| Merit | The Art of Void: Transcending from Loneliness to Solitude / Ex Nihilo Omnia | Irina Alturmessova | Yorkville University | Concord, ON |
| Merit | Urban Edge | Ricia Beze | Université de Montréal | Montréal, QC |
| Merit | ÉcoHorizon | Loraly Cassanhol | Université de Montréal | Montréal, QC |
| Honourable Mention | Ada Loft – Quantum Realm | Ngan-Quynh Dong | Yorkville University | Toronto, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Canvas of Thrives / Burgeon | Noora Aziz | Yorkville University | Concord, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Vélo-Cité | Esmée Roy | Université de Montréal | Montréal, QC |
2024 Winners
| Award Type | Project Name | Student | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Esse – Celebrating Stories and the Circularity of Life | Andrea Clayton | Yorkville University | Regina, SK |
| Excellence | NeuroNest Resource Center | Brandon Taylor | British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) | Vancouver, BC |
| Excellence | Thousand Islands Long-term Care Residence | Yoojeong Bae | Sheridan College | Mississauga, ON |
| Merit | Certitude Advertising Office Design | Ashley Yachiw; Francesca Mak | Sheridan College | Calgary, AB |
| Merit | Little Village Elementary School | Hailey Bell | Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Vancouver, BC |
| Merit | Springwater Summit | Cali Pitcher | Georgian College | Barrie, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Soundscape | Cathryn Kennedy | Sheridan College | Oakville, ON |
| Honourable Mention | “The Tree of Life” Post-disaster shelter | Irina Alturmessova | Yorkville University | Concord, ON |
2023 Winners
| Award Type | Project Name | Student | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Caladrius Health and Wellness Center | Cali Pitcher | Georgian College | Barrie, ON |
| Merit | Oasis – Interior Garden & Wellness Center | Sam Piner | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Burnaby, BC |
| Merit | Yúustway Healing Center; to take care of one another/each other | Alyssa Scott | Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University | Richmond, BC |
| Honourable Mention | Copper restaurant/ Concept : Pizzazz | Noora Aziz | Yorkville University | Concord, ON |
| Honourable Mention | Seeing and Non-Seeing | Shuning Xie | Toronto Metropolitan University | Toronto, ON |
2022 Winners
| Award Type | Project Name | Student | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | The Restoration Hub | Samantha McNair | Sheridan College | ON |
| Merit | Minoru Cardiac Rehabilitation Center | Kelly Wu Wu | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Vancouver, BC |
| Merit | The Heartwood Residence | David (Yu) Kim | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Vancouver, BC |
2021 Winners
| Award Type | Project Name | Student | Institution | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellence | Our House: A shelter for those facing homelessness | Leah Lorentz | Conestoga College | Waterloo, ON |
| Merit | Wahid | Basharatullah Rahmat | Mount Royal University | Calgary, AB |
