I wonder if the BC Chapter will have a funky new space for local events soon? Hmmmm?

BC sent a strong contingent again to keep our fingers on the pulse and get some good succession planning in the works. Marga Lopez, Mark Busse, Carolina Beccarra, Steve Mynett and I were there to represent (and I talked too much).

We did all the basic stuff like pass the budget and hear what all the chapters were doing. But in getting things done we took some novel approaches and set out some great policy direction. So here’s what happened, apart from getting kicked out of hotel rooms:
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• Object Styles
• Text Styles and Text formatting
• Paragraph Styles Paragraph formatting
• Nested Styles
• Apply next Style command
• Text Wrap controls
• Numbered List and Bullets
• Using the Eye Dropper with text
• Table Styles and Cell Styles

Register through the Vancouver InDesign User Group.

And so with such irreverent lines as “In the beginning, the Great Designer created the heavens and the earth…” began the 2008 edition of  the Rock Awards. And it just got worse better from there. With professional actors serving as this crazed clergyman, a full choir dressed in black robes and a terrific tongue-in-cheek script written by Dylan Petley, the evening proved to be one of the most fun GDC events I’ve ever attended. Congratulations to President Valerie Elliot, Past-President Kirsty Armstrong and their volunteers for putting on a terrific awards show.

If you weren’t fortunate enough to be there in person, check out this video of the 2008 Rock Awards show. It may even save your soul!

If you don’t already subscribe, you can sign up to receive GDC eNews here.

The Art Institute of Vancouver is having their Graduate Portfolio Review. Be among the first to meet the new grads and see them show off their talents.

Thursday June 19, 2008
Featuring Graduates from:
Graphic Design / Web Design & Interactive Media / Fashion Design & Merchandising / Fashion Marketing & Management/Interior Design

• Portfolio Gallery: 9:00am - 2:00pm
• Meet the Grads: Industry: 2:00pm - 7:00pm

New Location!
The Art Institute of Vancouver, 7th Floor, 1090 W. Georgia St, Vancouver, BC
RSVP to 604.639.3868 or marmstrong@aii.edu

Monday, June 23, 2008
Featuring Graduates from:
Animation Art & Design / Game Art & Design / Digital Film & Video / Professional Recording Arts / Visual & Game Programming / VFX for Film & Television

• Industry Admission: 3:00pm - 7:00pm*
• General Admission: 5:30pm - 7:00 pm

The Art Institute of Vancouver, 3264 Beta Avenue, Burnaby, BC
RSVP to 604.298.5492 ext 5242 or sthummel@aii.edu

Catering for each event provided by The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Vancouver.

For more details, and to rsvp, please visit their website.

Two of our local GDC Chapter Execs, myself and our Web Communications Chair, Steve Mynett, attended this year’s conference in Boston keen to discover the latest trends in the design industry, network with like-minded designers from across North America, participate in workshops of all kinds and learn from the best and brightest—not to mention represent GDC and Canadian designers!

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The Awards ceremony this year took place on May 9 at the Roundhouse Community and Arts center in Yaletown and we were joined by Stefan Sagmeister who gave the keynote address to a packed house of over 300 people who had gathered to see the awards (along with the students’ awarding-winning work), view the 2008 Graphex Awards exhibit and the Kwantlen University College GDMA grad show.

All this in the same venue (along with the chance to mingle with fellow designers over food and drinks) made for great evening well worth the price of admission!

Sagmeister’s speech, “Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far” was inspirational, witty and, yes, I have to say modest despite his “design superstar” status. Speaking personally with Stefan you quickly realize that he is just one of us (only a little bit better as a designer!), and that he doesn’t feel famous or feel the need to act like a pop star. All of this made me realize the importance of being modest but confident, being truth to your beliefs as a designer and to try new things.

In an evening of many highlights, including of-course the awards themselves and the inspirational work of both student and professional designers, Stefan Sagmeister was a stand-out. For some of us, the night ended with the feeling of having gone to see our favorite band, only to discover a mini-festival that was amazing and curiously extraordinary.

If you were not lucky enough to go, you should check this photos…

Video to come soon…

Entrants must be 30 years of age or younger and must have been working professionally for at least 2 years (both full-time and freelance work qualify).
Entrants can submit both professional AND personal, unpublished work.

Fifty new ADC Young Guns will be chosen!

Deadline: June 2, 2008.

ENTER at http://www.adcyoungguns.org

This unique three-tier jury comprises ten design professionals selected by Icograda, ten marketing managers representing major international clients selected by Aquent and finally ten members of the public, representing the ultimate target market of consumers, selected by Consumers International.

Built on the success of Eulda, the European Logo Design Annual (which it replaces), Wolda is the high-profile graphic design award scheme that rewards the best logos and trademarks designed throughout the world. The winners are selected by an international three-tier jury consisting of 10 top design professionals, 10 marketing managers from major international clients and finally 10 members of the public (provided respectively by the worldwide organizations Icograda, Aquent and Consumers International).

For more information: http://www.wolda.org

You still have some time this month to prepare your portfolio for review with GDC. The submission deadline got extended to Tuesday May 13th so if you are looking to upgrade your membership status to Professional Certification, contact the BC Membership Chair and submit your work now!

All the events included in this day long event provide an unparalleled opportunity for design professionals, students and design newcomers to learn, connect, guide and inspire each others creative thinking. Developed with this experience in mind, the conference includes design exhibits, a creative workshop, portfolio critique and studio tours. It’s also a great opportunity to network!

WHEN: Saturday, May 10th, 2008

WHERE: Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre
181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver BC

INFO & TICKETS: bc.gdc.net/pogo/

For the past few years, advertising website ihaveanidea.org has hosted these “speed dating” style events in cities around the world where students and young people dreaming of careers in creative advertising around show off their books to experienced industry professionals in the hopes of receiving that one killer bit of advice or meet someone that can open the door for them.

Each year, GDC/BC and Met Fine Printers proudly present the Salazar Awards which celebrate the best in student design. The Call For Entries has already gone out and the deadline is approaching quickly! Spread the word and encourage young design students and recent grads to see how their work stacks up. More info and entry forms available here.

This year’s keynote speaker at the awards show on May 9th is Stefan Sagmeister who will be speaking to a packed room at Roundhouse Arts & Community Centre in Vancouver’s trendy Yaletown district. Order your tickets for this unique opportunity now as they are selling fast.

The following Saturday, May 10th, GDC/BC is also hosting a one day conference called POGO (Perspectives, Opportunities, Guidance and Open-Learning) aimed at students including a portfolio critique by some of Vancouver’s top designers and studio tours of some of the best local studios. Info and tickets available here.

Lastly, the Graphex 2008 exhibit will be back up on display from as part of the festivities and in conjunction with Kwantlen University College’s GDMA Grad Show at Roundhouse from May 3rd–11th. The exhibit will be touring across Canada, appearing next in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan as part of the GDC National AGM April 24th–26th. More info available at www.gdc.net/graphex.

Hope to see you there!