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Engineering Holiday Gift Guide

Gift ideas designed by U of T Engineering alumni and students

From glasses that help you sleep better, to customizable ambient lighting, ‘tis the season for engineering-inspired gifts. We’ve rounded up items designed by U of T Engineering alumni and students that will please everyone on your list.

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In a world where everyone has a similar-looking smartphone, a banana-shaped phone is sure to make a statement. Co-created by grad student Charlie Katrycz (MIE MEng 1T8, MSE PhD candidate), the wireless handset brings a dash of fun to each phone call. And just in time for the holidays, Katrycz and his team launched the Banana Phone 2.0., featuring extended battery life, and a Bluetooth speaker — so that yes, you can play “Banana Phone” on your banana phone. The banana phone is among Katrycz’s many ventures. He is also leading a team to develop the world’s thinnest hot water bottle for menstrual pain relief. For those looking for a gift idea for next year, the team plan to release Undu for presale in the first half of 2020. “We are working on manufacturing the packets and optimizing the design so that it is user friendly and easy to wear and reheat,” says Katrycz.

Banana Phone

In a world where everyone has a similar-looking smartphone, a banana-shaped phone is sure to make a statement. Co-created by grad student Charlie Katrycz (MIE MEng 1T8, MSE PhD candidate), the wireless handset brings a dash of fun to each phone call.

And just in time for the holidays, Katrycz and his team launched the Banana Phone 2.0, featuring extended battery life, and a Bluetooth speaker — so yes, you can play “Banana Phone” on your banana phone.

The banana phone is among Katrycz’s many ventures. He is also leading a team to develop the world’s thinnest hot water bottle for menstrual pain relief. For those looking for a gift idea for next year, the team plan to release Undu for presale in the first half of 2020.

“We are working on manufacturing the packets and optimizing the design so that it is user friendly and easy to wear and reheat,” says Katrycz.

Nanoleaf Light Panels Founded by alumni Gimmy Chu (ElecE 0T6), Tom Rodinger (IBBME PhD 0T7) and Christian Yan (ElecE 0T6), Nanoleaf’s energy-efficient light panels add a pop of colour to any room. The modular LED lights are available in triangular or square panels and can be arranged into any design. From functional tiles that gradually brighten to wake you up in the morning to statement-making “smart art” that pulses and changes colour in sync with your music, the lights are designed to fit any home and lifestyle. They also come packed with a number of high-tech features including touch control and integration with smart home assistants such as Siri, Google and Alexa.

Nanoleaf light panels

Founded by alumni Gimmy Chu (ElecE 0T6), Tom Rodinger (IBBME PhD 0T7) and Christian Yan (ElecE 0T6), Nanoleaf’s energy-efficient light panels add a pop of colour to any room.

The modular LED lights are available in triangular or square panels and can be arranged into any design. From functional tiles that gradually brighten to wake you up in the morning to statement-making “smart art” that pulses and changes colour in sync with your music, the lights are designed to fit any home and lifestyle.

They also come packed with a number of high-tech features including touch control and integration with smart home assistants such as Siri, Google and Alexa.

Instant potCo-created by alumnus Dongjun Wang (ElecE 9T5), the Instant Pot has earned cult-like devotion from users since it debuted in 2009. The New York Times has professed its love for the device, and Wirecutter selected it as the best pressure cooker you can buy. There’s even an Instant Pot Community Facebook group with more than 1.6 million fans. Do yourself a favour: when you buy an Instant Pot for somebody on your list this year, put one under the tree for yourself, too.

Instant Pot

Co-created by alumnus Dongjun Wang (ElecE 9T5), the Instant Pot has earned cult-like devotion from users since it debuted in 2009.

The New York Times has professed its love for the device, and Wirecutter selected it as the best pressure cooker you can buy. There’s even an Instant Pot Community Facebook group with more than 1.6 million fans.

Do yourself a favour: when you buy an Instant Pot for somebody on your list this year, put one under the tree for yourself, too.

Kamigami Andrew Gillies (MechE 0T7) co-founded Dash Robotics, Inc. with the mission of creating affordable, educational robots designed to inspire students to get involved in robotics and engineering. The company’s six-legged Kamigami Robots are easy to fold and snap together from flat sheets into insect-like creations — no tools required. The free companion smartphone app enables users to remotely control their robot, battle with friends, play interactive games and more. They’re perfect for the budding maker (or future engineer) on your list.

Kamigami

Andrew Gillies (MechE 0T7) co-founded Dash Robotics, Inc. with the mission of creating affordable, educational robots designed to inspire students to get involved in robotics and engineering.

The company’s six-legged Kamigami Robots are easy to fold and snap together from flat sheets into insect-like creations — no tools required.

The free companion smartphone app enables users to remotely control their robot, battle with friends, play interactive games and more.

They’re perfect for the budding maker (or future engineer) on your list.

Everyone’s skin can use a little extra love during these dry winter months — treat your friends and family to skin care products from NIU BODY this holiday. Co-founded by alumna Laura Burget (ChemE 1T6), NIU BODY is a Toronto-based skin care company that keeps sustainability in mind. All products contain all-natural ingredients, packaged in reusable and recyclable containers and bottles and are 100% vegan and cruelty free. From NIU BODY’s bestselling sugar lip polish to face serums, mists and masks, you're sure to find something for the natural skincare lovers on your list.

Natural skin care products

Everyone’s skin could use a little extra love during these dry winter months — treat your friends and family to skin care products from NIU BODY this holiday.

Co-founded by alumna Laura Burget (ChemE 1T6), NIU BODY is a Toronto-based skin care company that keeps sustainability in mind. All products contain all-natural ingredients, packaged in reusable and recyclable containers and bottles and are 100% vegan and cruelty free.

From NIU BODY’s bestselling sugar lip polish to face serums, mists and masks, you're sure to find something for the natural skin care lovers on your list.

NIU Body was rebranded to Three Ships in August 2020.

Rorschach Brewing Company tour Chemical engineering has been integral to the brewing process for centuries, but in the case of Toronto’s Rorschach Brewing Company, the connection was even more explicit than usual. The company’s co-founders — Matthew Reiner, Chris Ristevski and Mohan Pandit (all ChemE 1T0) — met each other when they were still undergraduates; they even mention the beloved “Unit Ops” lab in their foundational story. Rorschach officially opened in 2017, and tours are available for the beer-lover in your life.

Rorschach Brewing Company tour

Chemical engineering has been integral to the brewing process for centuries, but in the case of Toronto’s Rorschach Brewing Company, the connection was even more explicit than usual.

The company’s co-founders — Matthew Reiner, Chris Ristevski and Mohan Pandit (all ChemE 1T0)— met each other when they were still undergraduates; they even mention the beloved “Unit Ops” lab in their foundational story.

Rorschach officially opened in 2017, and tours are available for the beer-lover in your life.

Blue Block Glasses We’ve all been guilty of scrolling through our phones before bed or falling down the “just one more episode” wormhole, only to toss and turn in restless sleep afterward. Blue light emitted by electronic devices can affect levels of melatonin (a hormone associated with sleep), shifting circadian rhythms and delaying sleep. Blue Block Glasses by Somnitude are designed to filter out the harsh blue lights and mitigate its effects. Created by MIE alum Amol Rao (MIE, MASc 1T8), the glasses should be worn two to three hours before bed for a better sleep. Somnitude’s glasses have received a Medical Device Approval from Health Canada and counts Canadian Olympians among its clients.

Blue Block Glasses

We’ve all been guilty of scrolling through our phones before bed or falling down the “just one more episode” wormhole, only to toss and turn in restless sleep afterward.

Blue light emitted by electronic devices can affect levels of melatonin (a hormone associated with sleep), shifting circadian rhythms and delaying sleep. Blue Block Glasses by Somnitude are designed to filter out the harsh blue lights and mitigate its effects.

Created by MIE alum Amol Rao (MIE MASc 1T8), the glasses should be worn two to three hours before bed for a better sleep.

Somnitude’s glasses have received a Medical Device Approval from Health Canada and counts Canadian Olympians among its clients.

The vinyl renaissance continues — sales of vinyl records have grown every year for at least a decade, and may now have eclipsed sales of CDs. But if you want to start up a new label, there are only two companies in the world from whom you can buy your vinyl pressing machinery. Etobicoke-based Viryl Technologies is one of them. Founded by James Hashmi, Chad Brown and U of T Engineering alumnus Rob Brown (MechE 0T0), the company has more than 50 presses in operation around the world. Artists whose records have been pressed with Viryl's machines include country singer Eric Church — both he and Viryl were recently featured in a Ram commercial.

Vinyl records

The vinyl renaissance continues — sales of vinyl records have grown every year for at least a decade, and may now have eclipsed sales of CDs. But if you want to start up a new label, there are only two companies in the world from whom you can buy your vinyl pressing machinery.

Etobicoke-based Viryl Technologies is one of them. Founded by James Hashmi, Chad Brown and U of T Engineering alumnus Rob Brown (MechE 0T0), the company has more than 50 presses in operation around the world.

Among the labels that use Viryl’s machines are Dine Alone Records, which has offices right here in Toronto as well as in Nashville, Los Angeles and Sydney. If you buy an LP copy of Smaller Chairs For The Early 1900s by Moneen, On A Wave by Dave Monks, or A Pill for Loneliness by City and Colour, you will be spinning a small piece of U of T ingenuity.

Dog collars and leashes Very good dogs deserve gifts, too. And better yet, sales from Team Plovers’ collars and leashes go towards helping other good dogs. Upon graduating from U of T Engineering, Christian Marcello (ChemE 1T8) became a volunteer rescue-animal transporter, helping to drive dogs from kill shelters in Montreal to rescue sanctuaries in Toronto. “Once I got started, I couldn't stop,” says Marcello. “I saw firsthand how rescue transportation was able to open up a world of possibilities to pets stuck in awful situations and wanted to do as much as I could. I ended up starting Team Plover.” Every leash and collar sold through Team Plover funds the transportation of an animal to safety — the company even sends a video of the rescue to the customer. So far, more than 200 dogs across North America have been saved. “My vision for Team Plover is to be able to help bring about a world where every pet has a loving home,” adds Marcello.

Dog collars and leashes

Very good dogs deserve gifts, too. And better yet, sales from Team Plovers’ collars and leashes go towards helping other good dogs.

Upon graduating from U of T Engineering, Christian Marcello (ChemE 1T8) became a volunteer rescue-animal transporter, helping to drive dogs from kill shelters in Montreal to rescue sanctuaries in Toronto.

“Once I got started, I couldn't stop,” says Marcello. “I saw firsthand how rescue transportation was able to open up a world of possibilities to pets stuck in awful situations and wanted to do as much as I could. I ended up starting Team Plover.”

Every leash and collar sold through Team Plover funds the transportation of an animal to safety —  the company even sends a video of the rescue to the customer. So far, more than 200 dogs across North America have been saved.

“My vision for Team Plover is to be able to help bring about a world where every pet has a loving home,” adds Marcello.

Batteries A pack of alkaline batteries is an essential stocking stuffer — but did you know that the technology behind them was developed by U of T Engineering alumnus Lewis Urry (ChemE 5T0)? While working for Eveready Battery in 1957, Urry and two of his colleagues invented a long-lasting alkaline battery using a zinc/manganese dioxide chemistry. We know it today as the Energizer battery, the source of power for toys and electronics around the world.

Batteries

A pack of alkaline batteries is an essential stocking stuffer — but did you know that the technology behind them was developed by U of T Engineering alumnus Lewis Urry (ChemE 5T0)?

While working for Eveready Battery in 1957, Urry and two of his colleagues invented a long-lasting alkaline battery using a zinc/manganese dioxide chemistry. We know it today as the Energizer battery, the source of power for toys and electronics around the world.