Research, design and manufacturing

Smart plaques that connect places to phones.

CityDevice designs and makes plaques and signs, from simple printed tags to connected displays, that link homes, shops, buildings and public spaces to the apps people already use.

See the product line Start a project
It started with one plaque on one front door. Now it's built for every place that wants to talk to the people passing by.

Where it started

CityDevice grew out of the plaque we designed for nice.to, a local marketplace where families open their own small stores. A simple sign with a QR code turned a front door into a storefront.

The same idea works far beyond family stores. Shops, buildings, schools, parks and events all have something to say to the people nearby. CityDevice is the hardware company that makes those devices, for nice.to and for anyone else.

Who it's for

Any place with something to say.

A plaque on a wall reaches everyone who walks by. A phone takes them the rest of the way.

Homes

Home stores, yard sales and garage sales that stay open all year.

Local shops and cafés

Hours, specials and menus on the window, updated from a phone.

Buildings

Lobby notices, deliveries and amenity booking for residents and visitors.

Schools and community centres

Programs, events and sign-ups at the door, for families and neighbours.

Parks and public spaces

Trail info, local history and service updates right where people stand.

Events and markets

Vendor stalls, schedules and maps that change day by day.

Product line

Three levels, one system.

Each level works with the same software, so a place can start simple and move up when it needs more.

CD-1

Tag

A printed or engraved plaque with a QR code and an NFC chip. Tap or scan to open a live page. No battery, nothing to charge.

  • PowerNone
  • ConnectQR code, NFC tap
  • MaterialsAluminum, composite, laminate
  • Best forDoors, counters, gates
Available for pilots
CD-2

Display

An e-paper plaque that shows live information, such as items available or opening hours, updated from a phone. Readable in sunlight and very low power.

  • PowerBattery, optional solar
  • ConnectLow-power wireless, QR, NFC
  • ScreenE-paper
  • Best forShopfronts, porches, lobbies
Prototyping
CD-3

Interact

A connected device with a screen, a button and simple sensors. Visitors can ask, book or notify the owner on the spot, and the owner answers from an app.

  • PowerMains or battery
  • ConnectWireless, NFC, app alerts
  • InputsButton, presence sensor
  • Best forShops, lobbies, community hubs
In research

Outdoor and indoor

Built for where it lives.

The same product line comes in versions for weather and for walls inside.

Outdoor

Doors, gates, porches and shopfronts

Designed for rain, snow, sun and cold, with sealed enclosures, fade-resistant finishes and mounting for brick, wood and metal.

Weather-sealedUV-resistantCold-ratedSecure mounting

Indoor

Counters, lobbies, classrooms and halls

Lighter, slimmer versions for walls, desks and windows, with options that stand, hang or stick in place.

Slim profileDesk or wallQuiet designEasy to move

Design and technology

Simple hardware, smart software.

We keep the device as simple as the job allows, and put the intelligence in software that can grow over time.

1

Software-defined

Every device points to a permanent link. What it opens or shows can change at any time, without touching the hardware.

2

Low power first

Passive tags need no power at all. Displays use e-paper, which only draws power when the image changes.

3

Made for weather

Materials, seals and finishes are chosen for Canadian winters and summer sun, then tested outdoors before production.

4

Open to integrate

Devices connect to the apps and platforms a project already uses, through simple links and APIs.

5

Private by design

No cameras and no microphones. Devices share only what the owner chooses to show, and keep no personal data.

6

Built to last

Durable materials, replaceable parts and long product support, so a plaque stays useful for years.

A yellow nice.to plaque reading Our little store, with a QR code and Scan to shop

First project

Plaques for nice.to family stores

nice.to is a local second-hand marketplace where families open their own small stores. It is the first place CityDevice plaques are used, and the project the product line was shaped around.

  1. Tag: Our little store

    A 5 x 5 in plaque with the family's store QR code. Neighbours scan it to see what is on offer.

  2. Display: live from the porch

    An e-paper version that shows how many items are available and when pickup is open.

  3. Interact: ask at the door

    A future version where a visitor can tap to ask about an item or book a pickup, and the family gets a notification.

How we work

From idea to installed device.

We take a project from the first sketch through to devices made and mounted in place.

Discover

We learn the place, the people and what the device needs to do.

Prototype

We design and build working samples, starting from proven parts.

Pilot

Devices go up in real places, and we measure how people use them.

Produce

We manufacture, test and support devices at the scale the project needs.

Have a place that should talk to phones?

We are looking for early partners for pilots across homes, shops, buildings and public spaces.

hello@citydevice.com