Toronto
November 10 to 13, 2011

About

The Super–Awesome Conference for Young People

The Design Our Tomorrow (DOT) Conference brings together the world's greatest visionaries to inspire young people to create, innovate, and better the world. The topics covered include: technology, science, design, entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and the arts.

Started in 2008 as "Changing the World", we believed that the TED organization was the best 'school' on Earth, so we wanted to provide that spirit for a young audience.

The Format

Each speaker is given 18 minutes to deliver their epic talk.
Every attendee gets the same experience.
Rapid fire inspiration.

Innovation for All

As a non-profit organization, we want to provide a world-class conference to all students regardless of their age, financial background, and past leadership experiences. We believe that every student should be given the opportunity to be inspired and to learn from some of the world's most fascinating people.

Who Should Attend?

DOT is primarily targeted towards students from the high school to graduate school level. Non-students and recent graduates are also welcome to attend the event. For anyone who wants to do amazing things, this conference is for you.

Program

Agenda
Logistics

Special Events

Opening Night Friday
Kick-Ass Sunday
More Kick-Ass Sunday

  • A Special Screening of Urbanized hosted by director Gary Hustwit

    Opening Night presented by Roots

    Fresh off a World Premiere at TIFF 2011, this stylish and inspiring documentary from the director behind Helvetica and Objectified examines ideas about cities and urban design with examples from around the world and interviews with architects, politicians, artists and city planners.

    Urbanized is the third part of Gary Hustwit’s design film trilogy, joining Helvetica and Objectified.

  • The Shaken Media Collective with Raghava KK

    A small group of visionary young leaders will come together at DOT with internationally renowned artist and TED Speaker Raghava KK to form The Shaken Media Collective.

    The Shaken Media Collective is an initiative with the vision of introducing a new form of storytelling that will address the urgent need for empathy in this world through art, technology, and storytelling.

    A new secret society initiated by Aza Raskin

    Started in Silicon Valley with Aza Raskin and a group of the world's leading entrepreneurs, a secret society was created focused on one particular topic - but this topic is secret. At this society, no one is allowed to talk about its existence nor what happens when they gather. As a special initiative at DOT, Aza will be forming a chapter of this society with a selected group of DOT young leaders. We can't say what happens, but we can say that it's awesome.

    Fireside with a Nobel Peace Prize Winner

    It's not everyday that you can sit and chat with someone who has impacted the world in such a great capacity. Hang out with Nobel Peace Prize winner, Eric Chivian, and talk about anything you want. Not only is he a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, he was named by Time Magazine as one of their 100 Most Influential People in the World for his work on the environment+biodiversity. As well, he is a psychiatrist at Harvard Medical School. I would give my right arm for this.

Sponsors

At DOT, we see things differently. We recognize that greatness starts from the very beginning, that imagination is limitless, and that together we can change the world. We would like to take this opportunity to give thanks to the organizations that have supported us since our founding in 2008 in inspiring young people all around the world.




Frequently Asked Questions

  • Help! Tickets are sold out on Eventbrite! What do I do?

    You can also add yourself to the waitlist on Eventbrite. You'll recieve an email by Friday, November 11 to let you know if there is a vacant spot for you. Like us on Facebook for the latest information regarding tickets! Also, there is a possibility that we will have rush tickets on the day of the event, so you can try getting a ticket at Bahen Centre on Nov 12, 2011.

  • What is the dress-code for this event?

    Smart-Casual

  • Will lunch be served at the conference?

    Lunch will not be provided at the conference. There are many food options in the surrounding area.

  • I work for a media publication, how do I request a media pass?

    For any media related inquiries, please contact Justin Lee at [email protected]
    In your email, please include your full name, contact information, the media outlet that you work for, and briefly outline how that pass will be used if the request is granted. Also, when you arrive, please inform our staff that you are a media guest.

  • I still have questions. How do I reach conference staff once the conference has started?

    Once the conference has started, you can call our phone number (1-888-DOT-5779) for assistance or visit our information booth located at the Bahen Centre.

  • Are tickets transferable? Can I give my ticket to someone else?

    Tickets are issued in the name of the registrant and all pass holders must show photo ID at check-in. tickets are non-transferable once the conference has begun. However, we encourage individuals who can’t attend the conference to either give his/her ticket to a friend or email us so that we can provide someone else with the opportunity to attend DOT.

  • Where can I find the DOT Conference schedule?

    The complete DOT 2011 schedule will be updated on the Agenda page closer to the event. In the meantime, click here to read up on all of the presenters announced to date.

  • What should I bring with me for the day of the event?

    Please don’t forget your ticket (if you were issued one before the event)! We will be checking photo ID/student ID during check-in, so please remember to bring these forms of identification. We recommend that you also bring cash to purchase items autographed by our speakers. DOT is also a great networking opportunity, so if you have business cards, please bring those too!