Canada
Designer
After working for government agencies and manufacturers, Mario Gagnon founded ALTO Design in 1986. His vision of developing an expanded expertise based on a team approach has resulted in numerous national and international awards over the years.
From 2008 to 2014, he was president of the Association des Designers Industriels du Québec. Following his term as president, he was made member emeritus in recognition of his contribution to the promotion and development of the profession. He is currently president of the Association of Industrial Designers of Canada (ACID).
From 2013 to 2017, he was a member of the ICSID board of directors, now known as the World Design Organization. He is still involved in the organisation as Regional Advisor for Canada.
He was on the Scientific Committee of the 2017 Montreal World Design Summit, along with representatives of other design professions, tasked with defining the themes and issues for the event.
A dedicated supporter of next-generation designers, he is continuously involved in educational institutions and in numerous projects to promote industrial design. In February 2016, he was appointed associate professor at the Université de Montréal School of Industrial Design.
In April 2015, he handed direct management of the company over to a trio of partners. He continues to be involved in the company’s strategic direction and brand development worldwide.
