They will welcome the Olympians and Paralympians in 2010. They will be the most popular photo op among spectators. They will be the hottest gift for family and friends at home. And they are just waiting to be unleashed from someone’s wild imagination…They are the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games mascots.
Vancouver 2010 is looking for a creative genius (or team of them) to develop the mascots for Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic Games - with the full support of the GDC!
The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada [GDC] volunteer Executives work tirelessly on your behalf working with schools, associations and industry to improve the business of professional design in Canada. In 2004 we lobbied the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee [VANOC] for more appropriate design competition processes and recently local GDC Executives Yves Rouselle MGDC (President, GDC/BC) and Mark Busse MGDC (President-Elect, GDC/BC) met with VANOC Creative Services Directors Ali Gardner and Leo Obstbaum. With valuable input from BC Ethics Chair and GDC National Ethics Committee member Linda Coe, the GDC team helped VANOC finalize language and procedures for the newly announced mascot design request for proposals.
We’re thrilled to annouce that VANOC has adopted virtually all GDC guidelines and suggestions and have created a fair, equitable and professional RFP that meets with GDC’s approval and support. For those opposed to spec design competitions, this is a momentus occasion in Canadian and international design indeed.
According to VANOC’s RFP page, the design of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics mascot will not be an open speculative design competition, but rather a search for the most qualified professional design candidates using a carefully crafted RFP process that includes evaluation of potential mascot designers based on written proposals, experience, education, capabilities, references and portfolio samples.
Only a few lucky professionals or teams will make the final selection process and be contracted to develop design concepts for the 2010 Olympic mascot character from a comprehensive creative brief, with the winning entrant working closely with VANOC design and marketing teams to fully develop the mascot artwork and system. They’ve even included an informative FAQ page on the site.
This is a shining example of a large organization working closely with the Canadian design industry to create a respectful and appropriate call for candidates and an excellent example of real advocacy by the GDC on its members’ behalf.
Candidates interested in participating must send in a confirmation form (found in the RFP) by October 11, 2006 and submit their initial written (not creative) proposals by 2:00pm November 1, 2006. Those interested in participating in this RFP process can Download the RFP here.
October 1st, 2006 at 5:46 pm
Congratulations to the BC Chapter members who worked on this initiative! It is a great victory when organizations understand how designers work, and are willing to adjust their proposals so that they can work with us.
It is important that VANOC was willing to listen and work with the GDC to adjust the RFP. Thanks to Yves, Mark and Linda for taking the time to make this happen.
Peggy Cady
October 1st, 2006 at 10:17 pm
Nice work everybody! Gold medals all around!
Pun intended.
October 2nd, 2006 at 1:55 am
[...] Society of Graphic Designers of Canada [...]
October 2nd, 2006 at 7:47 am
I am delighted to hear this news. It bodes well for our whole industry.
Congratulations.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:41 pm
Fantastic! Well done everyone!
October 10th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
I look forward to meet all who submit proposals for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Mascots. My six names are doodY, doodles, les dood, oops, loops, & scoops. Good Luck!