May 30, 2006
Pantone’s fall colour trends revealed
CARLSTADT, N.J.—Following New York’s fall 2006 fashion week last February, where Pantone surveyed designers for the season’s hottest colour trends, Pantone has now released its colours for the upcoming season. According to its Fashion Color Report Fall 06, neutral colours take centre stage. Paired with rich tones like Mahogany Red and Purple Magic, the neutrals, such as Frost Gray, Pale Khaki and Vetiver, take on a more exotic, complex dimension, says the report. The ever-present organic and natural trend that’s been embraced by every design industry also plays a dominant role in Pantone’s new colour palette, including Mineral Red, Golden Ochre and Apple Cinnamon. Contact: www.pantone.com/fall2006

Albert Ng (left) receives commemorative plate from RGD Ontario past president Wayne McCutcheon

May 26, 2006


Designer receives first RGD Ontario fellowship honour
TORONTO—Albert Ng can add yet another letter to the end of his name. The Association of Registered Graphic Designers of Ontario recently awarded Ng the first RGD Ontario Fellowship (FRGD) He is also the first graphic designer in Canada to receive two of the industry’s highest honours. Ng was awarded fellowship by the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada in 1996.

Ten years ago, as founding president of RGD Ontario, Ng was responsible for establishing graphic design professional accreditation in Ontario, a first in North America. Known as the “Father of Canadian graphic design accreditation,” Ng was presented with a silver plate at the RGD Ontario annual general meeting to commemorate his role in accreditation, on the occasion of the association’s 10th anniversary. Vice president Nicole Vallée stated that without Ng’s initial vision, there would be no RGD Ontario. He also initiated the RGD scholarship award program for graphic design students.

Ng studied graphic design, architecture, calligraphy, drawing and painting in Hong Kong and Canada. After beginning his career in a multidisciplinary practice, Ng relocated to Toronto in 1974. He led a graphic design team at the Toronto Hydro Electric Corporation and is now an instructor at York University’s Hon. Design Degree Program.

May 23, 2006

Montreal is the first in North America to be designated a design city

MONTREAL—Montreal has become the first city in North America, and the third city in the world, to join the recent UNESCO City of Design network, after Buenos Aires and Berlin. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Montreal’s potential for economic and social development in the field of design. Design Montreal, a bureau dedicated to the development and promotion of design, with support from Montreal’s design community, applied for the honour at the request of the city of Montreal. 

“After becoming the headquarters of the International Design Alliance (between the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design and the International Council of Graphic Design Associations) last year, his UNESCO award represents major international recognition for Montreal and all our creators and players involved in the fields of design, culture and economy,” said Montreal Mayor Gerald Tremblay in a released statement. 

According to the statement, design is responsible for 20,356 jobs in Montreal’s metropolitan area and economic spin-offs of more than $750 million. Contact: www.creativitemontreal.com; www.idm.qc.ca

May 18, 2006
West coast design shop rebrands
VANCOUVER—Design and branding firm Blue Suede Creative announced last week that it’s changing its name to better articulate its personality and capabilities. Its new moniker Bazaar Transactional Design represents the energy, dynamicity and vibrancy of the agency, says general manager Megan McCord.

“We wanted our name to reflect what we feel our core strengths are as a design firm and we do a lot of work in the retail sector. We chose the name Bazaar because it kind of represents the dynamics of a marketplace and the energy and the directness,” says McCord, who oversees a staff of eight. “Tranzactional denotes that we understand what our role is as a design firm and that’s to create a transaction of some description for our client. That’s the end goal.”

McCord felt that although there was a lot of equity in the Blue Suede name, it didn’t communicate the brand’s strengths. An internal brand audit and positioning exercise determined that it made more sense to change the name, says McCord. “Too often we don’t take the time to make ourselves the client.” Bazaar’s new corporate identity was also designed in-house, with typeface Info Text.

The 18-year-old company, which employs two designers and two production artists, is a subsidiary of Omnicom Canada. Contact: www.bazaardesign.ca

GDC's new national president Dean McNeill

May 16, 2006
GDC’s new and past presidents hail from opposite coasts
EDMONTON—The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada selected its new national executive at its annual general meeting earlier this month. Taking over as national president from Peggy Cady in Victoria is Dean McNeill.   

The Halifax resident has been a member of the GDC for 23 years. He previously served as vice president and then two terms as president of the Atlantic Chapter. A graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (1978), McNeill is a partner with Halifax design firm Colour. 

As the newly minted president of the national association, McNeill plans to “ride the wave” of increased understanding toward the importance of design with design events currently held across the country, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the GDC. He would also like to see an increase in communication between chapters and members, which can be challenging for a country this size, says McNeill. What helps is having truly national representation on the board. “The president and a number of executive members are based in the Atlantic, where they were once in the West,” says McNeill. “It’s good to shift it from side to side.” 

In addition to McNeill, and Cady as past president, the 2006-2008 GDC national executive includes vice-president of membership Judy Snaydon in Vancouver; Halifax-based May Chung as vice-president, education; Michael Surtees of Edmonton as vice president, communication; corporate secretary Jim Hudson in Moncton, N.B.; legal advisor Meenu Ahluwalia Brar of Calgary; and administrative director Melanie MacDonald, based in Ottawa. GDC’s new treasurer has yet to be announced. Contact: www.gdc.net

May 11, 2006
Design and advertising firms announce recent hires
VANCOUVER—DDB Canada announced yesterday the addition of a new art director in the creative department of its Vancouver office. Angela Sung will be working alongside senior copywriter Paul Little on several client projects including Telus, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Bogart’s Chophouse and Bar. Sung was formerly an art director with Arnold Worldwide in Toronto.

Also in Vancouver, Kaldor Brand Strategy + Design recently hired a new creative director. Hailing from London, England, Matthew Renton was previously the associate director and creative director of communications at London agency Corporate Edge and partner of Renton & Johnson. His former accounts include Jaguar, BBC and Tetley Tea. Contact: www.ddbcanada.com; www.kaldor.com

Several studios snag new accounts
CALGARY/TORONTO/MONTREAL— Interactive shop Rare Method of Calgary has been selected by Tourism Calgary as its agency of record.

Downtown Partners of Toronto has been chosen as the first agency of record for Tilley Endurables. After reviewing its new client’s current communications channels, Downtown Partners will start developing a long-term marketing and brand strategy for the travel apparel company.

Montreal-based digital ad agency Provokat has three new contracts with Monster.ca, Télé-Annonces and Elektra. After a successful project with Monster.ca last December, Provokat has been named the career site’s digital agency of record. Provokat is also developing a new website and brand strategy for Télé-Annonces and is responsible for all the communications and marketing plans of the Electra digital arts festival in Montreal from May 9 to 14. Contact: www.raremethod.com; www.downtownpartners.com; www.provokat.ca

May 9, 2006
Dutch designer says business skills are key
TORONTO—Despite technical difficulties with the audio-visual equipment, Dutch designer Tom Dorresteijn delivered some words of wisdom to the graduating class of George Brown College’s School of Design, at its year-end show last Thursday. “Follow your heart to create great design and involve your brain to create great successes,” says Dorresteijn, a partner of Studio Dumbar in Holland and a corporate branding, design and communications strategist. “For you, design is a goal. For your client, it is a tool,” explains Dorresteijn. “You are in the business of creation and the creation of business. To do it right, you have to do both.” Although design is at the core of every project, he says, designers will have to master the business aspects of design—strategy and project management—to get the clients. Netherlands has a rich design culture with a strong corporate sector that appreciates design. “Nowadays, we’re [dealing with] marketing and communications people who don’t know much about design.” And if we can’t speak their language, he says, we won’t be in the game. Contact: www.studiodumbar.nl

May 4, 2006
Graphic designers among staff let go at CBC
TORONTO—The production department of CBC’s Toronto broadcast centre laid off 79 employees two weeks ago, including eight graphic designers. Also affected was scenic construction staff such as set designers, carpenters, painters and props and costume makers.

“It’s part of an overall decision by CBC Television to get out of the scenic elements business; the set design, build and props and costumes business,” says Fred Mattocks, executive director of production and resources for CBC English Television. “We are the last major broadcaster probably in North America still in the business. Virtually everybody else has left it.”

CBC was spending approximately $8 million a year on in-house scenic design support for a variety of shows and programs such as the Royal Canadian Air Farce and the Rick Mercer Report, says Mattocks. By contracting these services from specialty shops he now expects to save at least $1 million this year.

CBC continues to employ 31 graphic designers in several departments including news, communications and promotions at its Toronto broadcast centre. Contact: www.cbc.ca

Clear your calendars; May is design month
TORONTO—George Brown College’s School of Design hosts a reception tonight to open its year-end design show, Raw, which runs until Sunday. In attendance will be guest speaker Tom Dorresteijn of The Netherlands’ Studio Dumbar.

The Ontario College of Art & Design’s graduate exhibition, It Happens Here, starts tomorrow and ends Sunday. On display is the students’ thesis work in all areas of art and design including drawing and painting, photography, sculpture, installation, ceramics, printmaking, jewelry, textiles, integrated media, advertising, illustration, graphic design, industrial design, and environmental design. For more information on other design events during Toronto’s Festival of Architecture and Design, see the May/June issue of Design Edge Canada.

Also this week, the Graphex 06 exhibit opened in Montreal, until June 15. On display are the 65 winning projects from the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada’s awards of excellence in communication design. The travelling exhibition coincides with the GDC’s 50th anniversary celebrations. For more on GDC@50 watch for the July/August issue of Design Edge Canada.

Last weekend marked the launch of Toronto’s month-long photography festival, Contact, now celebrating its 10th year. Claiming to be the largest photography event in North America, this year’s festival includes public tours, films, lectures, panel discussions, public installations, portfolio reviews, a photography contest and thousands of images on display in more than 187 venues across the city. Contact: www.designshow.ca; www.ocad.ca; www.toronto.ca/fad; www.gdc.net; www.contactphoto.com

May 2, 2006
Canada’s Tom Brown profiled in CA magazine
MENLO PARK, Calif.—The May/June edition of Communication Arts features a 10-page spread on Port Moody, B.C.-based designer Tom Brown of Tom Brown Art + Design. Known for his award-winning international work in editorial design, Brown has designed for such titles as Adbusters, DestinAsian, Field and Stream, Global, Golf, Men’s Journal, Ski, Traveletc., and more recently Transworld Skateboarding and Money Sense magazines. Brown got his start in publishing design as a paste-up artist for Vancouver-based Western Living magazine at the age of 23. He then became art director of Vancouver and Western Living before moving to New York to help redesign Jann Wenner’s Men’s Journal. Now working independently since 1997 out of his home in Port Moody, Brown has also taught at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont., and Vancouver-based Simon Fraser University Summer Publishing Workshops and Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. Contact: www.commarts.com