About
Known for helping startups and project teams apply best practices in design, the Design Fabrication Zone at Ryerson University strategically propels early-stage inventions, businesses and installations through the stages from concept to prototype and mass manufacturing.
The DFZ offers members access to networking, mentorship, workshops, industry partnerships and cross-disciplinary collaborations. It also provides access to traditional and digital fabrication technologies so that members can prototype and evaluate their designs.
Offered only at Ryerson University, Zone Learning is a new model of experiential learning that prepares students for the 21st-century workplace. With opportunities to lead or contribute to startups and creative or social-impact projects, the Zone network offers resources and mentors that empower Zone members to build entrepreneurial capabilities while solving real-world problems.


To help startups and project teams apply best practices in design.

To strategically propel early-stage inventions, businesses and installations through the stages from concept to prototype and mass manufacturing.
“The startups and projects that incubate and emerge in the Design Fabrication Zone are incredibly diverse but share a common bond: they leverage best practices in design to have an impact.”
Zone Highlights
500 entrepreneurs
85 press articles
140 Projects
18 commercial businesses