our history
Design Lab was founded in 1992 by Alexander Younger.
Back then, the mission of the company was to help its clients leverage new technologies such as the "information superhighway" to make their businesses more efficient in communicating with their customers.

While our mandate is quite similar today, we've come a long way since then and our experience has made us one of the most trusted and capable companies in the industry.
Click on the following years to view
some of our highlights:
12
  • We enjoy many birthday adventures this year including indoor rock climbing, snooker, ping pong, archery, horseback riding, a trip to Second City and the CN Tower Edge Walk!
  • We design and launch the responsive website: oxfordresidential.ca.
  • We launch a redesign of chestnutpark.com complete with a Content Management System.
  • We create a new brand for Deb McCain, and launch debmccain.com complete with a Content Management System.
  • We create a new brand for AGNORA, launch agnora.com complete with a Content Management System and provide numerous marketing materials
  • We launch martyparker.ca complete with a Content Management System.
  • We launch the responsive website, aeras-cmo.com complete with a Content Management System.
11
  • We launch express-scripts.ca, complete with a Content Management System, marketing materials and a Member Portal currently in development.
  • We launch breakthroughautism.ca, complete with a Content Management System and marketing materials.
  • We launch agellancapital.com complete with a Content Management System.
  • We launch the award winning reveraliving.com followed by their intranet.
  • We launch candeal.ca complete with a Content Management System.
  • We launch sentinelsolar.com, complete with a Content Management System.
  • We launch a new website and marketing campaign for the Win A Million Lottery.
  • We launch the newly branded website and mobile site for thebeerstore.ca complete with a Content Management System that manages both the desktop and mobile versions of the website.
  • We launch the mobile site for sarahrichardsondesign.com (for the Interior Design Show Exhibit)
  • We launch the mobile site for chestnutpark.com
  • We launch marlenesmealmakeovers.com, complete with a Content Management System, eNewsletter Campaign System and light eCommerce solution.
11
10
  • We launch khachi.com, complete with a Content Management System and an eNewsletter Campaign System.
  • We launch a new website and marketing campaign for the Dream Lottery.
  • We launch phase one of a new website for KJ Harrison, complete with a Content Management System.
  • We launch Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd., with a fresh new design, incredible mapping functionality and an easy to use search feature - all powered by a robust Content Management System.
09
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08
07
06
  • We purchase 155 George Street (our current office) and begin renovations including installing a solar panel array on the roof with enough capacity to power all of the technology in our office so that all of our work is done using renewable energy from the sun.
  • We win the GWL Realty Advisor account and begin creating the online and offline "Vertica Resident Services".
  • We launch Jennifer Worts Design, Smythe Les Vestes, Penny People's e-commerce driven website and Phase One of the Bata Shoe Museum's All About Shoes (English and French).
05
  • The Bata Show Museum in conjunction with CCO awards us the contract to build an innovative and interactive exploration of culture through the study of footwear throughout the ages.
  • Genuine Health, the makers of greens+ and other innovative health products awards us their online business including a full revamp of their Canadian website and creation of a custom content management system.
  • The London Health Sciences Foundation awards us the contract to run the marketing for their two lotteries, which we help to sell out and raise millions of dollars for London's hospitals every year. We also help with the Vancouver General Hospital's lottery initiatives.
  • We build the Elliott Resource Services marketing program and launch the online presence
  • We launch Sarah Merry and the Bata Shoe Museum's On Canadian Ground (English and French)
04
  • We win the Diamond Aircraft Account, become Holt Renfrew's and Design Inc's Online Agency of Record, launch Scaramouche, and add more staff to accommodate our client's growing needs
  • We win the Gemini for "Most Popular Website" for Room Service Television.
03
  • Needing more space, we move to 80 Sherbourne Street.
  • We create the first interactive Annual Report for RBC Financial Group which wins the Best Investor Relations Website award.
  • We launch Mark Lash Fine Jewelry.
02
  • The Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care awards us a consulting contract to create a new strategy for their online marketing, communication and management initiatives.
  • Vasogen, a pharmaceutical company, awards us the business to build their new online presence and manage it.
  • Architectural School Products awards us the contract to help promote their innovative educational and institutional line of display products.
01
  • We expand our office and hire more staff to meet the growing needs of our clients.
  • We add Samaco Trading, Urbacon Limited, Moneris Solutions, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and Room Service Television to our client list.
  • We build our first online learning tool that we brand Catalyst for DATIS, part of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health which is still in operation today and is used widely across the province of Ontario.
  • We relaunch Chestnut Park Real Estate's website including a massively overhauled real estate search engine that sets a new standard for the industry.
00
  • At a time when the internet bubble is quickly disappearing (and so are many of our competitors) Design Lab is growing, adding staff and new accounts. Our RBC account now also includes Corporate Communications, Corporate Human Resources.
  • Loblaw Companies Limited (LCL) awards Design Lab the business to create online presences for all of their 15 grocery banners, such as Loblaws, Fortinos, and No Frills. Our solution includes an innovative content management system that allows LCL to update one, all, or a selection of sites with new pricing, promotions and other information creating great operational efficiencies. We deliver the work two weeks early, even though we had an incredibly aggressive timeline.
  • President's Choice Financial turns to us to create interactive in-store displays to help sell their new financial and banking products to Loblaws customers. We also help launch PC Freesurf, LCL's foray into offering internet service provider services to consumers.
  • We help win POI Business Interiors the Steelcase Innovative Sales Award with the "Magic Powers" video featuring the Leap Chair (which is our current workstation chair of choice).
99
  • We create the first online presence for RBC Insurance, a site we manage for six years until we implement the enterprise wide content management system. We also quickly pick up many projects from many business units at RBC: Credit Cards, Mortgages, Small and Medium Sized Businesses offering integrated campaigns that include websites, CD-ROMs, brochures and ads.
  • We build our first e-commerce site for Weston Bakeries
98
  • RBC Financial Group, Holt Renfrew & Co, The Bata Shoe Museum, Upper Canada Soap and Candle and Orogen Minerals of Papua New Guinea join our client list. We grow our team to support the additional work.
  • POI Business Interiors (Canada's largest Steelcase dealer) awards us the ongoing contract to create CD-ROM based sales tools to help empower their sales staff
97
  • CDA Industries, Guardian Capital, Hirsch Asset Management, join out client list.
  • Working with Warrillow & Co we create RBC's Investor Relations website. We are on call 24/7 to help manage this site until 2003 when it is brought in house.
96
  • George Weston Limited approaches us to build an innovative CD-ROM that documents the history of the company since 1882 and includes video, sound bytes and interactivity. We create one of the most innovative CD-ROMs of its time using Macromedia Director and launch a online version on the GWL website.
  • We create a new employee information tool that works across a windows based network and allows large companies to communicate effectively with their employees via a dashboard based tool. Birthdays, meetings and employee specific information can be easily managed.
95
  • Given our expanded services we rebrand ourselves "Much Greater Than Communications Inc." or MGT for short.
  • With the Internet now making waves, we begin our internet career in earnest and build large presences for companies such as Rothmans, Genesis Media and also launch our first intranet site for Abitibi-Price's "Home Base of the Future".
  • Needing more space we move our office to 51 Front St. East so we can be close to Toronto Life who takes over our events and restaurant listing business.
94
  • We publish the first "online" newspaper by fax for CFRB and distribute every weekday by 7am to 5,000 people.
  • We build our first commercial website for Toronto Life Magazine.
  • We win Capital Canada Limited, an investment bank as a client.
93
  • Companies such as Harbourfront Centre, Standard Broadcast News, CFRB Radio, Fidelity Investments become clients.
92
  • Late in the year, Design Lab opens its doors under the name of Find It By Fax offering interactive voice and fax services - the first of its kind in the country.
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