Hey Lotus Landers, It’s that time again. Time to prove your worth and send us everything you’ve got. The 2008 Lotus Awards call for entries is now officially open. But don’t procrastinate the deadline for entries is just under a month away. So grab a computer, a cup of joe, and your awards entry list. This year proves to be the best yet. The website - lotusawards.comThe deadline - August 18, 2008
Remember a while back when, with the full support of the GDC, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Committee (VANOC) put out an Request For Proposal (RFP) for Mascot Designs? Well the results are in. VANOC had a press conference to announce their 3 Mascots. First and foremost, congratulations go out to Vicki Wong and Michael Murphy, of Meomi Design for their design! Also, for those of you have been following the relationship between the BC/GDC and VANOC with regards to Spec Work, I have to give a lot of credit to the both parties who worked together to ensure that the RFP was done in accordance with GDC guidelines and had the full support and approval of the GDC.
As is the case with ALL public design (be it Communication Industrial or Architectural Design) reception to the results are mixed and blogs, list-serves and even TSN are starting to weigh in with opinions. The result may not be what YOU would have done, but they are an an expression of Canadian diversity with multiple stories and symbolism. They are simple, friendly and attempt to capture aspects of the Canadian spirit, culture, attitude, geography, athleticism, sports—even mythology—in a friendly way.
A hybrid of a bear and a whale? Why not. At least they tried to be clever. More aboriginal iconography? Certainly. It’s an attempt at being first-nations friendly without alienating other British Columbians. The best possible solution? Of course not. Is there ever one perfect solution with so many stakeholders?
Is it good design? Consider the audience and demographic before engaging in another bashing. Time will tell if it engages and communicates the message to a broad international audience—a predominantly younger audience—and brings the crowds to Vancouver.
Congrats to all involved!
Now that you’ve seen Helvetica…
Come join us for a social BBQ and meet with your fellow associates from the GDC (Society of Graphic Designers of Canada), CAPIC (Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communication), BCID (British Columbia Industrial Design Association), NMBC (New Media British Columbia) and CDRN (Canadian Design Research Network). Eat stuff, drink stuff or just talk shop. Either way come out and meet your community of creatives.
Where: Spanish Banks, Vancouver
(Look for the tent at the farthest west parking lot)
When: Wednesday, August 22nd, 4pm – 8pm
What: BYOB and BBQ goodies – it’s casual!
– Dogs and kid friendly –
Please RSVP to association.bc@gdc.net before August 17th.
On Tuesday, May 15, 2007, Adobe came to Vancouver’s Sheraton Wall Centre to officially raise the curtain on the stunning new version of Creative Suite - and GDC/BC was there.
Various GDC/BC Executives enjoyed conversations with members, non-members, educators and students. Attendees who visited the GDC both entered their business cards for a prize draw for a t-shirt and copies of the 2003 and 2006 Graphex Design Awards.
The all day seminar series was sold out with nearly 500 attendees and was jam packed with information, inspiration and insights that we designers can put to work in our studios immediately. Fully optimized for the new Intel-based Apple computers, the all new CS3 features a new array of innovative tools, features and techniques designed to change the way we work and create. I literally ordered two upgrades the very next morning and you probably should too - especially if you’ve migrated to a new Mac recently. If you’ve been thinking of upgrading, now is the time.
Thanks to Adobe for the opportunity and continuing support.
The GDC/BC wants to be your friend.
Join us as we tag, meme, publish, subscribe, remix, and 2.0 our way into your hearts (asynchronously). Making the GDC/BC part of your social network online is another great way to keep up to date with GDC/BC events and news.
- Join us on Facebook.
- Add us as a contact on flickr.
- Have photos from a GDC event? Add them to our flickr photo group.
- See, share, and subscribe to our video log at YouTube.
- “Friend” us, and keep an eye on our full-length videos at video.ca.
Not yet a GDC member? Here’s a link to the membership application form.
Page 27 of the October issue of BC Business Magazine features an article entitled “Designophobia: Why Is BC So Afraid Of Good Design?” by Trevor Boddy.
The article describes the writer’s recent visit to Quebec, on an invitation from Design Montreal, “the civic agency charged with promoting design in all its technical and artistic diversity”, and his admiration for Quebec design and the factors there that make good design possible, which according to him, are “design education infrastructure, its advocacy of design competitions, its promotion of designers through media products and junkets.”
He then proceeds to diss BC’s attitude towards good design, the “deep-seated fear of design that will sooner or later make us losers in the new global economy, where design is a primary engine”. So far, so good, I can swallow that. But then he states that MORE design competitions, not just for logos/graphic design, but also for buildings/architecture, such as for the Olympics, would be a good thing. “That hokey 2010 logo was the subject of a design competition - and that’s good news - but the competition was badly managed after first blowing a wad on an extravagant ‘Olympic Design Symposium.’ ” He should have questioned the competition concept itself, not the fact that VANOC actually gave a meagre public briefing to all would-be entrants, and even charged them $150 for the briefing. The only thing extravagant about that is the gauging of designers.
Read the rest of this entry »
As the GDC celebrated its 50th anniversary, Design Edge Canada Magazine’s July/August issue takes a look at the past, present, and potential of the Canadian graphic design industry through the lenses of its associations. (Design Edge is FREE - signup here)
Download the full article PDF here.
