University of Ottawa
In collaboration with uOttawa Food Services, uDesign Solutions successfully designed and constructed exclusive Gee-Gee waffle makers, marking uOttawa as Canada’s pioneering university to offer bespoke waffles.
In August 2016, inspired by a Mickey Mouse waffle, Patrick Genest, Director of uOttawa Food Services, envisioned a unique Gee-Gee waffle for the university. In under a year, his vision materialized through custom waffle makers crafted by uDesign Solutions.
Within a week of the initial meeting with Food Services, Chris Falconi, Director of uDesign Solutions, swiftly 3D printed the first Gee-Gees logo prototype for design validation. Upon prototype approval, a life-sized 3D waffle iron model was created and tested using Play-Doh.
Testing the prototype with Play-Doh was instrumental in refining the design, including adjustments like deepening the mold for better Gee-Gees logo definition. Achieving the desired definition posed the most significant challenge throughout the project.
Once the required adjustments were made and the dimensions were finalized, the team crafted a third prototype from aluminum. Upon approval, five additional waffle presses were produced and subsequently coated with a food-safe material before delivery.
After a productive five-month partnership with Food Services, Gee-Gees waffles are now available at My Pantry in the university’s Dining Hall, delighting students.
uDesign Solutions takes pride in its contribution to this entertaining and one-of-a-kind project, establishing uOttawa as the inaugural Canadian university to offer its own personalized waffles.
