Art Articles & Reviews

} The Zen of Winning at a Graphic Design Competition By Paul Constable Recently, I attended a Graphic Designer's of Canada (GDC) Conference in Saskatoon - Frontiers 2005, which included a show of work by the attending designers from Saskatchewan. The three presenters judged the show the previous day. The format was simple for this one-day event, two lecture presentations in the morning and one in the afternoon. Then there was a wine and cheese reception where everyone mingled among the design pieces that were on display. Everyone waited in anticipation of the juries' picks as well as the door prizes. Let me back up a step. Three weeks prior to the event, our creative staff at the agency discussed what pieces would be entered. We decided each designer could enter 2 pieces. All work was to be mounted 16"x 20"on black foam core. One piece stood out from all the rest. It was a fun job. We all agreed this was the kind of design that everyone wants to do - and because of that it has potential to win an award. The quality of the show was very good, with lots of production value, photo-shopped images complemented typographical challenges, appropriate paper choices, expertly printed and everything was looking darn purdy. I arrived at 8:15, approached the reception table where I was given my nametag, a suppliers goody bag and a piece of paper to be filled out with my name, for the prize draws. What are the odds. It's no 649 - oh well, I filled it out - gave it my patented half pinch in the middle and tucked it into the abyss of the box. 9 AM Craig Medwyduk of GUPPY GRAPHIC DESIGN - A young, break away, design group from Winnipeg showed us how to have fun with graphic design, inject yourself into your work and win the admiration of your clients and piers. 10:45 AM Casey Hrynkow of Herrainco Skip Herrainco from Vancouver, talked on the business side of a Graphic Design company. In order to have fun doing your work and be sustainable in a crazy industry, you need to make a living and a profit.  1:30 PM Dave Mason of SamataMason Inc. from Vancouver/Chicago, presented a time line of his life showing his progress from his childhood to the present day. As he did more work the way he wanted to, the more fun he had and success followed. Well by now you have guessed who won. Yes, the young designer from our agency won best of show and I won a great door prize. So how is this possible? Student Bus Passes Designer - Colin Mcfayden Agency - The Marketing Den Client - Saskatoon Transit System Later, while in a conversation with two of the presenters, I mentioned the premeditation of our fun entry - the one that took "Best of Show". They were somewhat taken back when I mentioned that their decision was somewhat anticipated. Judges don't make good design; they seek it out. All three judges chose this work for the same reason; it was fun, unique and met all the objectives of the job. These opportunities will happen more frequently in your design career, if you are able to implement those same attributes in your work. Enjoy! My door prize win had a bit of luck involved granted, but like the design competition, I knew what I would be up against. Generally, the ballots are flat and lay on the bottom of the box. The creative fold of my entry form can work ones chances to the top. Regardless of the win, I had a fun day. Remember, give your own work a creative twist. You may check out the GDC's Frontiers Conference 2005 on line, as well as the web sites of the Three speakers and see more work by Colin McFayden, a senior designer at the Marketing Den. www.gdcfrontiers.com www.marketingden.com www.guppydesign.com www.samatamason.com www.herraincoskip.com _________________________________________________ © 2003 ArtistsInCanada.com