COLIN HARRY

 

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

A Mechatronics designer and Educator with over thirty years of experience designing and fabricating robots, mechanical devices, prototypes and interactive art. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor at OCAD University in the faculty of design. Proven track record in bridging the gap between complex engineering principles and creative application.

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

OCAD University | Assistant Professor | 2022 – Present

Curriculum Leadership:

  • Course Lead for Experience/Interaction Design (INDS-2017), a core course in the Industrial Design program.

    Course Development:

  • Authored and launched Creative Technologies (INDS-3016), a mechatronics course designed to provide design students with foundational skills and technical competence to begin integrating their learning into professional practice. 

    Graduate Instruction:

  • Taught a graduate course in the Inclusive Design program, Lab 2 Prototype Generation (INCD 6012) Winter 2024.

    Mentorship:

  • Supervise two graduate students in the Inclusive Design program and five undergraduate independent study students. 2025 -2026

    Service:

  • Active member of various academic and administrative committees, contributing to university governance and planning.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

University of Toronto | Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering

Maker Space Supervisor (Myhal Centre) | 2020 – 2022

  • Administrated the Myhal Centers Light Fabrication (LFF) and Rapid Prototyping (RPF) facilities. The LFF and RPF are interdisciplinary workspaces that provide technical resources and expertise to support the fabrication of graduate and undergraduate design and research projects.  

  •  Provided instructional leadership in mechatronic design, digital fabrication (3D printing, laser cutting), parts selection and integration, the use of LFF tools and machinery, and safety.

  • Oversaw U of T’s Engineering Society (EngSoc) design teams in the arena. The arena is a work area on the lower level of the Myhal building allocated for fabrication and assembly of Eng Soc design team projects.

  • Managed a technical team of seven (3 full-time employes and 4 students).

University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS)

Engineering Technologist | 2015 – 2020

  Research Support:

  • Technician for the Flow Control and Experimental Turbulence Lab (FCET); assisted in the design and troubleshooting of experiments in the labs wind tunnel. The lab's research focuses on the dynamics of fluid flow and developing strategies to mitigate drag and noise emission in aircraft.

    Lab Management:

  • Maintained subsonic/supersonic wind tunnels and diagnostic hardware.

    Pedagogical Support:

  • Mentored Engineering Science students in the AER201 robotics design course.

Continuum Aerospace

Senior Designer | 2007 – Present

  • Detailed mechatronic design, assembly and integration of test stand hardware for an additively manufactured small rocket engine prototype, intended for use as a propulsion system for micro satellites. Funded by the Canadian Space Agency’s (CSA) Space Technology Development Program (STDP). 

  • Developed 3D models and renderings for a CSA feasibility study on domestic satellite launch vehicles.

 Toronto Rehabilitation Institute (TRI) / UHN

Industrial Designer & Mechanical Technologist | 2010 – 2014

Robotics in Healthcare:

  • Designed and built a socially assistive robot for use in a research study conducted by the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics group. The study examined the effectiveness of using a mobile robot to assist individuals with cognitive impairments in performing their daily activities by providing them with verbal and visual prompts and reminders.

    Medical Device Prototyping:

  • Designed the electrical system for a mobile patient lift intended to help mitigate back injuries in nursing staff and personal support workers.

    Created a functional prototype of a device to be used for the safe disposal of human waste with non-ambulatory patients in hospitals. It was intended to help reduce the spread of infectious disease in clinical environments.

    Rehabilitation Research:

  • Designed and fabricated electrical and mechanical hardware to support the research activities of scientists and graduate students

  TECHNICAL CONSULTANCY & INNOVATION

Mechatronic Design Consultant | 2000 – Present

  • Work collaboratively with visual artists to design and fabricate interactive robotic and mechanical artwork.

    Key Projects:

  • Designed and fabricated an autonomous interactive robot table (Version 1) entitled The Table for artist Max Dean (Venice Biennial 2001). Now part of the permanent collection at the National Gallery of Canada.

  • Designed the internal armature, mechanics and electronics for Artists Shary Boyles piece entitled White Elephant. The work was part of a larger nationally touring exhibition entitled Outside the Palace of Me.

    International Installation:

  • Managed fabrication and installation for exhibitions in Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the UK.     

Turnkey Automation / Safeguard Biosystems

Mechanical Designer | 2008 – 2010

Patents:

  • Invented a needle designed to pierce the closed lids of micro-liter sized plastic laboratory sample vials and extract the contents for analysis.

Automation:

  • Integration and testing of electrical and mechanical hardware for a fully automated desktop DNA analyzer.

Ontario Science Centre (OSC)

Exhibit Developer | 2004 – 2006

  • Researched and developed a series of unique interactive exhibits designed to foster innovation and creativity in Ontario Science Center (OSC) visitors.

  • Developed an innovative robotics exhibit designed to help visitors quickly construct and program simple robot figures using cardboard sheets, tubes and specially adapted programmable motorized joints.

CORE TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

  • Design & Prototyping: SolidWorks, 3D Printing (SLA/FDM), Laser Cutting.

  • Fabrication: Manual Machining, Metal Fabrication, Carpentry, Hydraulics, Pneumatics.

  • Electronics: Microcontrollers (Arduino), Circuit Design, Electrical Integration.

  • Instructional areas: 2D and 3D design, Additive Manufacturing, Mechatronics.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

  • Electromechanical Engineering Technologist | Humber College of Applied Art and Technology

  • Conventional Machining Program Certificate | George Brown College

  • Advanced Design Certifications: SolidWorks (Levels 1-3), AutoCAD (Levels 1-3)

  • Fine Arts Coursework: Sculpture, Installation, and Life Modeling | OCAD University

PUBLICATIONS & PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

  • The Table (with Max Dean and Raffaello D'Andrea), Permanent Collection, National Gallery of Canada.

  • Featured on Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet series.

  • As Yet Untitled (Max Dean) Permanent Collection, Art Gallery of Ontario

  • White Elephant (Shary Boyle), Permanent Collection Art Gallery of Hamilton