Gdc.Net.2006 Graphic Designers of Canada
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Society of Société des Fall/Winter 2006 G Graphic Designers of Canada designers graphiques du Canada National Council Counsil national Welcome to gdc.net The Voice of the Society of gdc.net.2006 Graphic Designers of Canada In This Issue > GDC@50 Celebrations > Graphex’06 National Design Awards > 2006 National Scholarship Awards > 2006 AGM Highlights > New GDC Fellows > (Re)Defining the Profession? > Cross Country Check Up > GDCBC Blog > Member Benefits > Calendar Society of Société des 2 Graphic Designers of Canada designers graphiques du Canada I have now been retired for close to 14 years, and many more changes in both society and technology have occurred during that time, than all those I witnessed during my close to 40 years of working in the Graphic Arts. This year I was invited by GDC Manitoba to come and give a talk with slides of my work, which covered ‘our’ 50 Years. And the vibrancy of the Winnipeg group convinced me that just maybe what Sam [Smart], Frank [Davies], John [Gibson] and I started 50 long years ago really was worthwhile. I hope that you—today’s GDC—will be sure to remind Canada who you are, and what we do! > Frank Newfeld FGDC Designing Canada for 50 Years 50 années de design au Canada TDC/GDC 1956–2006 Society of Société des 3 Graphic Designers of Canada designers graphiques du Canada I recently received in the mail two items that have floored me. One is the booklet Designing Canada for 50 Years and the other was Graphex’06, the catalogue showing the latest in the Graphex exhibitions. The standards of professional excellence are a tribute to the designers and reflect the work that was put into the forming of TDC in 1956, and continued by so many over those fifty years. This has been successful to a degree that could not have been envisioned by the founding few, certainly not by myself, though I must admit to a pleasant swelling of pride at having been involved in those early days in Toronto. Remembering those years brings to mind a clear picture of Sam Smart FGDC who was the prime mover. He gave so much of his time and energy to the concept with a bouyancy that brooked no hurdle. > John Gibson FGDC It is hard to realize the essential differences between 1956 and today. When the GDC was founded we were still recovering from years of war which had taken us from a normal life of developing our careers to dressing in uniforms and attacking or being attacked. Upon my return to Canada I met other designers who saw the value of sharing talents and contacts to help each other. I feel that the contributions of designers to internationalism and world peace are the true goals which launched the TDC/GDC in the first place and that the path ahead is both inspiring and achievable. > Frank Davies FGDC Society of Société des 4 Graphic Designers of Canada designers graphiques du Canada and FGDC Live music accompanied David Coates, you make GDC Founding member, Robert Peters company get their hands dirty celebrating our profes- roots. sion’s Photos: Oliver Oike and Karla Burr > the Saskatchewan North GDC@50 celebration. > the best tasting stamps! Photos: Ronan Lannuzel > Frank Newfeld FGDC, addressed the Manitoba Chapter for GDC@50 > > 50 Years of Designing Canada The GDC’s 50th anniversary was celebrated in style all across the country, starting in Vancouver with the Graphex’06 Awards Gala and continuing on into 2007 with the travelling exhibit visit- ing PEI, Hamilton, and beyond! A huge round of thanks goes out to all the volunteers who put in countless hours of work to put all these events together—you know who you are! Here are some brief reports on some of the activities, followed by in depth features on the Graphex’06 Awards, the GDC@50 stamp, and the 50 years of Designing Canada annual report. > Saskatchewan North On April 22, 2006, the Saskatchewan North Chapter marked the occasion of the GDC’s fiftieth anniversary with a presen- tation of the Graphex’06 National Design Awards and the GDC Fellows 50 Years of Design in Canada poster exhibitions. Held at the prestigious downtown Saskatoon Club, the festivities included birthday cake, live music and a cash bar. > GDC@50 Celebrations—Island Style The Vancouver Island Chapter celebrated GDC@50 with a birthday party on > Manitoba Chapter Gets Creative December 6, 2006 complete with birthday The Manitoba Chapter’s GDC@50 celebrations on October 21 cake and goodie bags for everyone. The included spending a day largely getting acquainted-and celebrations were part of the Chapter’s reacquainted-with old/new school art techniques on a ‘creativity annual holiday social and membership circuit,’ which included printmaking, cutting graffiti stencils, cre- drive. Over 80 members, non-members ating Polaroid-esque photo transfers and life drawing. The day and sponsors came from Victoria, was capped off with the Graphex’06 and GDC Fellows poster Vancouver and up-island (with a strong exhibits, and an inspiring discussion with TGD/GDC co-founder/ contingent from Malaspina University designer/illustrator Frank Newfeld FGDC, most notably of Alligator College) to enjoy a fantastic party. Pie and Garbage Delight fame. Some guests arrived early to view the Graphex’06 and GDC Fellows 50 Years of Design in Canada exhibits, which were > Alberta South: 50 Years Design in Canada and Alberta displayed for from 29 November 29 to December 9 at the Greater On May 18, a small group of Calgary designers gathered at Victoria Public Library, Central Library. Artspace to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and check out the Graphex’06 and GDC Fellows poster exhibits. Chapter president Gwen Attendees made a donation of $250 to support the Victoria Hetherington MGDC commented on the small turnout which she Women’s Transition House Art Therapy program. thought may have been because of the lack of winners from A special thank you to Coast Paper, Hemlock Printers, SOHO their Chapter, which was likely due to the low number of entries Computer Services and Island Blue Print for goodie bag treats from Calgary. Watch out next time though, she warned! and to Unisource, Benwell Atkins, MiniMax Media, Island Blue Print and Restart Computer for supplying fabulous door prizes. Society of Société des 5 Graphic Designers of Canada designers graphiques du Canada The HSBC Pendulum Mois du design featured International exposure > Gallery in the heart of business district Vancouver’s once agin set the stage for the Graphex’06 and GDC Fellows poster exhibits. > the exhibits for an entire month in one of Montréal’s busiest throughfares. > for the Graphex’06 winners Design during Icograda’s in Seattle, USA. Week In January 2007 GDC Alberta South will be launching a Call for Submissions for the 50 Years Design in Alberta Exhibit, with an planned website launch in late Spring 2007. The purpose of this project is to display a representation of creative excellence by graphic designers in Alberta spanning 50 years—from 1956 thru 2006. The 50 Years Design in Alberta Exhibit will commemorate the GDC’s 50th anniversary in perpetuity, existing as an unchange- able portrait of this period of Alberta’s history showcased through visual communications. Locked into this exhibit will be the names and work of the people who have helped to shape design in Alberta. The site will become a regular reference for designers throughout Alberta, Judges’ Choice. Debbie commented that his work could compete and a valuable resource for students. It will be a source to in New York, proof of the great design talent existing in Nova review the evolution of design in our province and a place where Scotia. The exhibit was on display from the October 23–28. individuals are showcased and recognized for their work. It then moved onto Moncton, New Brunswick from November 27 Structure of the Exhibit to December 1 at the McKenzie Art Gallery. In addition to the The exhibit will exist entirely online. In this way the chapter can gallery’s regulars, general public and local industry profession- make it globally accessible, broadly inclusive, and can maintain als, the one week stop in Moncton also saw the classes from it easily. They anticipate that they will collect more than a design programs of three high schools and two colleges tour thousand submissions. There will be quality control to ensure through. that pieces selected for viewing are of a professional calibre and According to Moncton organizer Richard Osborne MGDC, “Those that they comply with GDC’s Code of Ethics. This code ensures, who saw the exhibitions were excited, those who missed it were for example, that work promoting violence or hatred will not be disappointed. The general opinion was that people would like to included in the pieces exhibited. see this type of exhibition tour through again.” The exhibit will A panel of judges will identify “Best of Show” entries to be heading to Holland College in PEI in January 2007. recognize outstanding work. Work will be cross-indexed by year, by category, by membership and by artist. > Montréal, Québec Thanks to the combined efforts The project will be open for participation to all designers in of SDGQ, IDM (Institut de Design Southern Alberta, however members of GDC will have special Montréal) and Icograda, the privileges related to submission of work. Graphex’06 and GDC Fellows The launch of this site will be celebrated at an evening posters exhibit opened on the Gala event, showcasing “Best of Show” work. The evening will evening of May 1 at Marché feature keynote speakers and will honour people who have Bonsecours, a busy public space made significant contributions to design in Alberta in the past in downtown Montréal.