WIN BUILTIN WITHIN SUSTAIN In-House means INSIGHT an ingrained expertise — INTENT an instinctual INTEGRAL practice of best-in-class INTELLIGENCE and intimately INSPIRE informed work. INVESTED INITIATE INVITE INVENT CONTENTS > INTRODUCTION 1 JUDGES 3 AWARDS OF DISTINCTION 7 AWARDS OF MERIT 29 DOMTAR AWARD 60 IIDEXCANADA AWARD 62 ACCESSIBIL-IT AWARD 64 COLOPHON 67 PARTNERS & SPONSORS 74 ABOUT RGD Through the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), THE IN-HOUSE DESIGN AWARDS Canadian designers exchange ideas, educate and inspire, set professional Introducing the 2016 In-House Design standards and build a strong, Awards: a celebration of the incredible, supportive community dedicated to advocating for the value of design. inventive, intelligent, integral, inspired RGD was created by government legislation to grant and intimate work by internal agencies qualified designers, design educators and design managers the right to use the designation RGD. that are intrepidly facing the world. The RGD designation offers employers the assurance of hiring an experienced and qualified professional The in-house team has the advantage of who’s committed to the highest ethical standards. developing focused knowledge of the brand RGD members have documented levels of relevant, professional education and experience, along with and its products. What you are seeing here is demonstrated competence in design, strategy, the best of these departments — the most business, accessibility, research and ethics. Representing over 3,400 designers, managers, inventive, the bravest and the most refined. educators and students, RGD advocates on behalf It’s not just the result of nimble minds, bold of the profession, communicating the invaluable contributions of graphic designers to commerce, visions and imagination; rather, it’s the combi- culture and society. RGD programming includes the nation of these traits within a team that informs annual DesignThinkers Conference, the biannual the creation of world-class creative work. Creative Earners National Survey, the So(cial) Good Design Awards, the DesignThinker of the Year Award, an annual Design Educators Conference, Student Awards Program, mentorship programs, and extensive virtual professional development programs and resources for members. FOR MORE, VISIT RGD.CA 1 CHALLENGES OF IN-HOUSE DESIGNERS 2016 IN-HOUSE DESIGN AWARDS JUDGES These small teams are changing.” “Many times the A key source of both pride Judges selected the best work based on principles including colour, composition, typography As part of this year’s being asked to take on a designers are left to put out and concern for in-house and imagery as displayed in various media, as well as promotional design, creativity, strategy, Awards submissions, range of projects. “As a small fires. The client and market- creative teams is their ability and young team with limited ing managers have been in to provide a brand experience we asked entrants to clarity and overall impact of messaging. Each judge was given entries based on his or her sector, resources, we do not have many meetings planning out that maintains consistency, yet comment on the access to a large pool of the strategy for a campaign. is still creative. “Our greatest and scored entries based on the criteria listed above. challenges they face creative talent for large-scale By the time the designers are challenge is pushing the as in-house designers. projects, which can hold us engaged, it becomes a rush boundaries of creativity and back from realizing those scenario.” design while still working Here is a summary projects to their full poten- Lack of respect often within the brand.” “Ensuring of the obstacles they tial.” This same team also translates into a process which global unity of our brand face, communicated works to overcome this chal- is not ideal for good design to and the deployment of brand standards at all levels of brand through the entrants’ lenge. “These circumstances take place. “My role is often push us to become more re- perceived as a ‘free of charge’ exposure is a major challenge, own words. sourceful and to think outside service, which can lead to as is educating internal stake- of the box to accomplish our project requests that are of holders about the value of PATRICE BOUDREAULT strong design, unity, harmony objectives.” questionable impact/value. JON ARKLAY Creative Lead, Marketing and attention to detail.” Overwhelming workloads This misuse of my services can Senior Vice President, and Communication, “Our biggest challenge is The Association of National didn’t stop entrants from impact my capacity to take Bell Media Agency Cirque du Soleil to keep the brand moving Advertisers released a report in pushing to produce the on projects of a much higher As the head of Bell Media Patrice has contributed his ROBIN COLANGELO forward in an industry that 2013 on the growth of clients best quality work. “We are value to the organization, that Agency, Jon Arklay oversees advertising savviness and Global Director of Creative is slow to change. Avoiding building in-house marketing a large company on a busy are better aligned with my the complete marketing, notorious meticulousness to Services, White & Case LLP industry norms when it comes capabilities. Nearly 60% of 2,300-acre site with many skill set and would be a more design, promotion, brand the success of many shows, Robin Colangelo is a strategic, to marketing and design can clients were using in-house communication needs. In efficient use of my time.” strategy and media buying including Joya, Amaluna, results-oriented creative leader be difficult because innova- capabilities in 2013, up from Creative Services, our biggest The lack of appreciation services for Canada’s largest Kurios-Cabinet of curiosities, in developing and executing tion in any aspect of the com- ASHLEIGH AXIOS 42% in 2008. challenge is juggling a large felt by in-house designers media company. Bell Media Zumanity, Luzia, Toruk (in- integrated brand strategies pany requires a leap of faith Creative Director & Digital But the growth of in-house volume of work while main- is further exacerbated when owns 30 local television spired by James Cameron’s across print and digital com- and outside-the-box thinking. Strategist, White House design does not appear to be taining a high standard of compared to the treatment stations, led by CTV, Canada’s Avatar) and Michael Jackson munication channels. She Evolving the brand without Office of Digital Strategy keeping up with the demand. quality.” “Our team is small, of external agencies. “There highest-rated TV network; 31 ONE. Honing his skills as a leads a global in-house cre- relying on safe practices is a For the past four years, Many of our 2016 entrants but mighty. We have earned is a perception that our specialty TV channels; four graphic artist at BBDO on ative team for White & Case, challenge, but it is one that Ashleigh has worked at the echoed that sheer volume a reputation for delivering time is less valuable than an pay TV services; and over 200 major accounts such as Telus where she manages the visual we meet with great determin- White House Office of Digital of work was a key challenge. excellence within the organ- external agency’s. The quality websites; and is also Canada’s and Chrysler Dodge Jeep, identity and oversees a diverse ation and enthusiasm.” Strategy, creating meaningful “One of the biggest challen- ization and are sought out of the briefs, information largest radio broadcaster, with Patrice has since become a team across six offices and RGD salutes the winners of opportunities for engagement ges we face is the amount of to support many areas in the and scope of work tends to 105 licensed radio stations in prolific designer and creative five countries. Robin’s team of our inaugural In-House Design and participation between the work coming in versus the business.” be less formal than it would 54 markets across Canada. director on the Quebec scene. digital and creative profession- Awards and the exceptional Obama administration and amount of time needed to Despite the amount of be with an external vendor.” Jon served on the PromaxBDA als design and produce all work shown here. Given the the public. She is also the complete the work.” work given to them, in-house “Our challenge is proving the board from 2011 to 2013, and touchpoints to support the many obstacles these teams president of the Professional “Our biggest challenge is designers face a lack of ap- in-house team is as capable is on the Advisory Board firm’s strategic goals. From face, it is an even greater Association for Design (AIGA) keeping up with all the work preciation for the relevance of and creative as an agency.” of the Vancouver Film School. branding, marketing collateral, in Washington, D.C., where she with such a small depart- their contributions. “Proving “Sometimes we are treated testament to their ingenuity, web and social media to video helped form DotGovDesign, ment.” the ‘worth’ of design in a as production designers who inventiveness and intelligence. and animation, they tackle it all. Many entrants represented world where people consider work on smaller pieces that an initiative connecting and small teams of one or two themselves their own de- fulfill an immediate insti- empowering government de- designers. “For an in-house signers is hard.” “We have to tutional need while external signers. She has been named design ‘team’ that consists educate team players about agencies are hired one of Graphic Design USA’s RAY CHEAH RGD of one permanent full-time what we do and what we can to develop the more strategic, (GDUSA) People to Watch and Senior Graphic Designer, His areas of expertise include designer, there is a constant do, explain that we are more high-profile pieces.” was honoured by Essence Faculty of Applied Science strategic brand and identity struggle to provide the best than a production house.