A selection of Canada’s top designers, one from each of our design regions,
will form the judging panel. Only judges from outside your region will judge
your work, while the judge from your region will critique work from the
other design zones.
2010 Regional Design Award judges
Editor
Design Edge Canada
Mississauga, Ontario
Representing British Columbia and Yukon
Group creative director, partner
Rethink Communications
Vancouver, British Columbia
Jeff joined Rethink Communications in 2004, successfully establishing the design division as one of the leading studios in Vancouver. Jeff has led clients both large and small to their business objectives through brand communications and creative solutions. His clients have included Solo Mobile, Dose, The Canadian Press, Coast Capital Savings, The Contemporary Art Gallery, Bootlegger, Opus Hotel and Alliance Atlantis.
In addition, Jeff’s work in print, identity, packaging and branded retail environments has been featured internationally in design periodicals and award shows such as Communication Arts, AR100, London International Awards, Ad and Design Club, Applied Arts, New York Festivals, Communication Arts, Print Magazine, How Magazine, I.D., The Grammy Awards, Graphis and The One Show.
Jeff is also a professional member of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada.
Representing Alberta and Northwest Territories
Creative director, partner
Foundry Creative
Calgary, Alberta
Zahra Al-Harazi is the creative director and co-founder of Foundry Creative – a Calgary studio that provides strategic design and branding solutions. As creative director, Zahra has designed and guided the execution of numerous award-winning annual reports. Over her career she has worked with Shaw, Calgary Zoo, RBC, Travel Alberta, Nexen, Canexus, Atb Financial, Celtic Energy, Encana, Government of Yukon, University of Calgary, to name a few.
Over the past three years her design studio has built a list of high-profile clients. It has also garnered national and international design and marketing awards for corporate clients such as Nexen, ATB Investment Services and for its pro bono work with Immigrant Services Calgary. Recently Zahra was selected as one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 – a list of Calgary’s most notable community members and leaders under 40.
Zahra also sits on the boards of Immigrant Services Calgary and Ad Rodeo and teaches graphic design at the Alberta College of Art + Design.
Representing the Prairies and Nunavut
President, creative director
Spacecadet Design and Velocity Branding
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Chris Clarke co-owns two design firms, Spacecadet Design and Velocity Branding. Wearing a variety of stylish hats Chris is creative director, bill collector, visionary, teacher, and salesman, in general a genuine renaissance man, jack of all trades and master of a few. Clients like Ford, Levis, Carlsberg, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Where to Wee (iPhone app), and Canad Inns have all tapped into his many talents.
Since 2003, Chris has been instructor at the University of Manitoba, School of Art. Since 2005, Chris has helped identify some of the best album cover artwork in Canada as part of the selection committee for the Juno Awards.
And as a charter member of Motherbrand he has championed Canadian design in New York, Tokyo and coast to coast in Canada.
Chris can be found racing cars, chasing his young beautiful children around his Winnipeg home or losing to the creatives in his office at Guitar Hero.
Representing Ontario (K, N, P postal codes)
Partner, art director
Barefoot Creative
Kitchener, Ontario
With more than 15 years of experience in design and marketing, Kevin’s passion for generating creative solutions through design and strategic thinking remains strong. Over the years he has created many memorable campaigns and effective tools for a wealth of businesses and not-for-profit organizations.
As owner and art director of Barefoot Creative, Kevin leads a talented, multi-disciplined team to bring solid strategy, effective creative and a distinct look that communicate the unique character of each client.
His philosophy? Communications is a creative discipline. Good research with strong reasoning informs creativity. Conceptual thinking, visual psychology, intuition and brand consistency maximize results. True integration applies these fundamentals in a regular and intentional manner.
Representing Ontario Horseshoe (L postal code)
Vice president, design
Davis
Mississauga, Ontario
As the VP of design, Mark partners with Davis client service teams to provide an experienced creative vision, strategic observations and insights on client projects. He embraces the principle of "dramatic simplicity."
Mark joined Davis in 1994 and has worked with many North American and global consumer-packaged-goods marketers to create breakthrough brand identities and emotional consumer touch points for clients such as Unilever, Kraft and Cadbury.
Representing Toronto (M postal code)
Creative director, partner
Underline Studio
Toronto, Ontario
Claire Dawson is a creative director and founding partner of Underline Studio, a design agency based in Toronto. Underline has gained international recognition for creating intelligent and engaging design solutions for clients such as Dyson Canada, Harry Rosen, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, the University of Toronto, Prefix Institute of Contemporary Art and Random House Canada.
Underline's work has been widely recognized, including golds from the Advertising and Design Club of Canada, Graphis and the National Magazine Awards and citations from Communication Arts, the New York Art Directors Club, the New York Type Directors Club, Creative Review, the American Institute of Graphic Arts and Applied Arts.
Claire graduated from York University, where she earned her BFA.
Creative director, design
Bleublancrouge
Montreal, Quebec
With over 60 awards and publications to her name, Marie-Hélène is one of the reasons Montreal remains a UNESCO City of Design. Her expertise includes graphic design, packaging and branding, and she regularly collaborates with architects and industrial designers. Her goal is to make Montreal plus belle, toujours plus belle.
An integral part of Canada’s greatest design shops, she was a senior designer at Epoxy, the legendary international design house based in Montreal. Marie-Hélène also helped build Diesel (Sid Lee) into a design powerhouse in the late 1990s. She later joined Bleublancrouge as CD, Design in 2006.
Marie-Hélène’s creativity is visible throughout Montreal. She has revitalized the image of Place Ville Marie, the Ritz Carlton, the City of Montreal, Simon’s chain of stores, Labatt Breweries, the Blue Dog Bar, the fashion designer Marie Saint Pierre, the Tristan’s chain of boutiques, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal and many others.
In addition, Marie-Hélène launched BBR’s 24hDesign, a charity event that supports new entrepreneurs. Ten new companies were branded for free as part of a 24-hour design marathon in 2008. It is now an annual event.
Marie-Hélène is an oft-published expert on subjects related to design and frequently gives lectures to universities and professional organizations.
Creative Director, Partner
Revolve
Bedford, Nova Scotia
Meet Matthew Allen. A master of harnessing the chaos of creative energy and channeling it into great ideas that deliver extraordinary results for clients.
A past president of the Graphic Designers’ Society of Canada (Atlantic Chapter) with more than 14 years of industry experience, Matt has established himself as a cunning and intuitive force in the design world. Matt understands that all brands must influence long-term attitudes and behaviours to truly make an impact; a way of thinking that has endeared him to his clients and his team alike.
In a world increasingly overwhelmed by the clutter of information overload, Matt’s design philosophy is refreshing: clarity and simplicity above all else. An innate understanding of human nature allows Matt to leverage powerful insights in his approach to creativity, taking universal truths and communicating them with clean design. Matt knows that branding’s most crucial insight is that regardless of the media, you’re always talking to people.
Originality
Do the methods, designs and strategies employed make this design project unique?
Creativity
Does this piece incorporate innovative design solutions?
Craftmanship
Is this piece beautifully designed? Does it adhere to the standard principles of design in such areas as layout, colour selection, print reproduction and typography?
Effectiveness
Does this piece successfully communicate the brand or its intended message?
Overall Experience
Is this project a valuable and strategic piece of communication design?
Sponsors:
Design Edge Canada Regional Design Awards are Produced by Design Edge Canada
8-1606 Sedlescomb Dr., Mississauga On Canada L4X 1M6 awards@designedgecanada.com 905-625-7070
8-1606 Sedlescomb Dr., Mississauga On Canada L4X 1M6 awards@designedgecanada.com 905-625-7070