With over 35 years of industrial design practice, Jay Sobel shares a diversity of collaborative and leadership experiences championing end-user needs, defining product functionality, and creating an appropriate "look and feel" across product platforms in the telecommunications, defense, healthcare, pet care and sporting goods industries. Ventures in these fields have led to the development of a bevy of meaningful products and a portfolio of 29 patents and 34 awards including prestigious Gold (2001) and Silver (1997 & 1991) Industrial Design Excellence Awards from the Industrial Designers Society of America and Business Week Magazine.
Jay has contributed significantly to the production of meaningful environments and the manufacture of compelling products that have helped populations across the globe to:
1) Live Safely and Securely:
- Personal Protective Equipment for First Responders, Police Officers and the Armed Forces;
2) Communicate Efficiently:
- Telecommunications Network Infrastructure Equipment deployed in the “Central Office”, “Customer Premises” and “Outside Plant” Environments;
3) Play Effectively:
- Lacrosse Equipment and Playground Structures for Disabled Children;
and
4) Enjoy an Improved Quality of Life:
- Hospital Room Furniture, Hospital Environments, Office Environments, Outdoor Environments, Medical Products, Industrial Products, and Pet Care Products.
Jay's passions include: (1) Industrial Design; (2) Human Factors; (3) "All Things Lacrosse" as a Competitive Field Lacrosse Player, Box Lacrosse Player, and Nationally Certified Box Lacrosse Coach with playing experience at the International, National, Provincial, Intercollegiate and Regional Levels; (4) Breeding, Raising, Showing and Handling Award Winning Dogs (Miniature Schnauzers and Brittanys); and (5) Education.
An alumnus of both the University of Toronto (8T2 Human Biology) and Carleton University's School of Industrial Design (8C8 "With Distinction"), Jay has taught "Human Factors", "Sketching and Drawing Fundamentals", "Professional Practices", and "Product Design Studio" as a Part-time Faculty Member at Sheridan College in Oakville and Centennial College in Toronto. He has also taught Ontario Grade 12 Visual Arts to international students and English as Second Language to New Canadian students.
Jay was fully accredited as a Professional Member of ACIDO back in 2002. He is also a member of the Association of Canadian Ergonomists, the Association of Canadian Industrial Designers, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, the Canadian Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club, the Canadian Brittany Club, the American Brittany Club, and the Brittany Spaniel Club of Ontario.