Unlikely Labs is a creative design lab in Winnipeg, focusing on projects:
- Promoting the local economy & small businesses
- Exploring the future of work, coworking & community-building
- Embracing eco-friendly processes & materials
We consult, design, and collaborate. Reach out to see how we can work together. Keep on scrolling to see some of our favourite projects.
Projects + Partners
peg3 (“peg cubed”)
What are the building blocks of a city? peg³ is an art project in which local architecture meets a classic children’s toy.
Laser-etched into handmade maplewood blocks, peg³ is a playful tribute to Winnipeg’s built heritage, and also a celebration of the small businesses & organisations that thrive within. peg³ was featured in Winnipeg Architecture Foundation’s Building Toys exhibit in January 2020.
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Each set features laser-engraved representations of Winnipeg landmarks on locally-made maplewood blocks. They are designed by Winnipeg artists, and manufactured locally using eco-friendly biodegradable materials.
There are currently 5 blocks in the series:
• Bate Building, Burton Cummings/Walker Theatre, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Fortune Block, and Public Safety Building.
The CMHR blocks are were available for purchase at the CMHR Boutique ($10). If you are interested in the other blocks or a full set, they are available by request (contact Brian at the email at the bottom of this page).
Phase: available on demand
our role: concept, design, production
Partners: local artists, artisans, & retailers
Side-Project Saturdays
Discover Winnipeg’s favourite (and only) pop-up coworking meetup. Started in 2016, SPS is a meetup event for anyone working on anything. Experience coworking by working on your own project or hobby alongside others, while enjoying free coffee and meeting other people.
Next event: Reach out if you’d like to collaborate on future events!
Status: 40 events held since 2016
our role: concept, hosting & promotion
Partners: various host businesses
website: unlikely.ca/sps
CoworkingWinnipeg.ca
Coworking Winnipeg promotes local coworking & makerspace communities, and helps people connect with our city’s thriving creative, entrepreneurial, freelance, and innovation sectors. Find Your Community!
Status: launched 2018
our role: concept, website, social media
Partners: local coworking spaces
website:CoworkingWinnipeg.ca
Design Clients & Collabs
We get a kick out of applying our skills to help local small businesses stand out online, so they can focus on the things that they do best. Here are some of our recent favourites.
Nick’s on Broadway
website:nicksonbroadway.ca
our role: web design, maintenance
trivia: For chef Nick Graumann, using fresh local ingredients is essential to his craft. Nick’s on Broadway served some of the best sandwiches and unique sides in Winnipeg to downtown diners from 2015-2025.
Big Flaming Pile
website:bigflamingpile.com
our role: web & product design
trivia: BFP have been proudly keeping Winnipeg weird by selling their locally-inspired t-shirts for over 20 years. Over those many years BFP also dabbled in no-budget short films, poorly drawn web comics, a record label for the untalented, and flogged their wares at Canada Day and ManyFest festivals.
Winnipeg Poster Pole
website:posterpole.ca
our role: Concept, web design
trivia: WPP has been featuring posters for upcoming shows at venues across the city since 2006 (off and on), and features a huge archive of over 1000 posters from past local shows – a treasure trove of local music history.
Unlikely Perspectives
I always have an eye out to capture unlikely perspectives of Winnipeg through whatever lense is on hand (camera or phone). Here are some shots from the archive.
Let’s Connect
Brian Griffith
Creative Projects Lead
I’ve largely disconnected from social media recently — but you can reach me the old fashioned way, by email: brian(at)unlikely.ca
I’d be interested in working with you on projects that promote Winnipeg, the local economy & small business, community-building, sustainability, or things related.
I might be able to help with creative copy writing, consulting, web design, or maybe something else. When in doubt, reach out!
-BG