Informal Solutions

What is an Informal Solution?

In my view, an informal solution is an improvised hack. A quick, clever fix to a small, tangible problem. It’s the kind of everyday ingenuity you stumble across when people use what’s at hand in unexpected ways. For example, in one submission, a cake mixer is attached to a hand drill. The mix of a construction tool in the kitchen is both humorous and surprisingly ingenious.

Where do the photos come from?

In the beginning I collected them, walking to uni through Toronto’s china town. I created the Instagram account @informal_solutions in 2015. It gained some popularity in small design communities all over the globe. Now most of the images are submitted by friends and strangers on the internet.

Who is behind this?

Hello! My name is Briar Gill. I’m a designer based in Toronto Canada. I studied Industrial Design at OCAD University and for the past 7+ years I've been working as a designer for manufacturing and fabrication.

In my spare time curate art shows, study digital design, build websites, and recently got into vibe coding. Like this one using Figma Make. You can see my work here!

What inspired the Project?

The project was inspired by Jane Fulton Suri’s Thoughtless Acts (2005), a collection of photographs capturing how people adapt to a world not always perfectly designed for them. While completing my BDes, Suri’s work pushed me to start noticing these patterns around me.

Showcased by the following collectives & individuals

Table

A collective of designers , students & friends with roots in industrial design.

2025

Florine Bonaventure

Creative director and publisher

2021

Informal Solutions

What is an Informal Solution?

In my view, an informal solution is an improvised hack. A quick, clever fix to a small, tangible problem. It’s the kind of everyday ingenuity you stumble across when people use what’s at hand in unexpected ways. For example, in one submission, a cake mixer is attached to a hand drill. The mix of a construction tool in the kitchen is both humorous and surprisingly ingenious.

Where do the photos come from?

In the beginning I collected them, walking to uni through Toronto’s china town. I created the Instagram account @informal_solutions in 2015. It gained some popularity in small design communities all over the globe. Now most of the images are submitted by friends and strangers on the internet.

Who is behind this?

Hello! My name is Briar Gill. I’m a designer based in Toronto Canada. I studied Industrial Design at OCAD University and for the past 7+ years I've been working as a designer for manufacturing and fabrication.

In my spare time curate art shows, study digital design, build websites, and recently got into vibe coding. Like this one using Figma Make. You can see my work here!

What inspired the Project?

The project was inspired by Jane Fulton Suri’s Thoughtless Acts (2005), a collection of photographs capturing how people adapt to a world not always perfectly designed for them. While completing my BDes, Suri’s work pushed me to start noticing these patterns around me.

Showcased by the following collectives & individuals

Table

A collective of designers , students & friends with roots in industrial design.

2025

Florine Bonaventure

Creative director and publisher

2021

Informal Solutions

What is an Informal Solution?

In my view, an informal solution is an improvised hack. A quick, clever fix to a small, tangible problem. It’s the kind of everyday ingenuity you stumble across when people use what’s at hand in unexpected ways. For example, in one submission, a cake mixer is attached to a hand drill. The mix of a construction tool in the kitchen is both humorous and surprisingly ingenious.

Where do the photos come from?

In the beginning I collected them, walking to uni through Toronto’s china town. I created the Instagram account @informal_solutions in 2015. It gained some popularity in small design communities all over the globe. Now most of the images are submitted by friends and strangers on the internet.

Who is behind this?

Hello! My name is Briar Gill. I’m a designer based in Toronto Canada. I studied Industrial Design at OCAD University and for the past 7+ years I've been working as a designer for manufacturing and fabrication.

In my spare time curate art shows, study digital design, build websites, and recently got into vibe coding. Like this one using Figma Make. You can see my work here!

What inspired the Project?

The project was inspired by Jane Fulton Suri’s Thoughtless Acts (2005), a collection of photographs capturing how people adapt to a world not always perfectly designed for them. While completing my BDes, Suri’s work pushed me to start noticing these patterns around me.

Showcased by the following collectives & individuals

Table

A collective of designers , students & friends with roots in industrial design.

2025

Florine Bonaventure

Creative director and publisher

2021