History

The byDesign-eLab was founded in 1997 by Liss Jeffrey and Associates at the McLuhan Program in Culture and technology, UNiversity of Toronto. eLab began as an informal think tank and testing ground engaged in research, education and production focusing on new media and policy.

eLab's first project was the Visionary Speaker Series Canada byDesign, Using New Media and Policy to Build a Knowledge Nation. In 1997, the eLab constructed the first online Electronic Commons as an experiment in digital democracy, both online and offline.

The second project was to create, build and host the New Media Forum for the CRTC in summer/fall 1998. The New Media Forum/ Forum Nouveau Media was Canada's first online citizen policy consultation to form part of the official federal public record.

The third project was the (four language) Visionary Speaker series PanAm byDesign: Building a Knowledge Hemisphere using new media and policy.

The eLab has been independent since spring, 1999; a member-run, self-funded private organization dedicated to realizing significant public interest projects. eLab is the lead cyber architect for the national not for profit eCommons/agora. The eLab is inspired by the life and work of Marshall McLuhan. eLab is a founding member of the McLuhan global research network (www.mcluhan.ca). In the wake of the McLuhan Program's decline at U of Toronto, watch for our multidisciplinary media design and communications ecology learning alliance http://toronto-school.ca.