BFdesign » Blair

Ontario Nonprofit Network

Blair — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:25:05 +0000

The Ontario Nonprofit Network is one of the projects which was developed at the Centre for Social Innovation. ONN is described as:

The Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN) is a network of networks that helps to build communication and coordination amongst nonprofit organizations working for the public benefit in Ontario. We support nonprofits to have the information that they need to make their voices heard and their issues addressed.

I was asked to create a brand image for the ONN. I wanted to show the interconnectedness of the nonprofit sector in Ontario. The trillium is a well-known symbol within Ontario. As the ONN does a lot of work in regards to government policy, I felt the connection between the trillium in the Government of Ontario logo and the ONN logo was appropriate.

Concept design

Blair — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:00:05 +0000

I work with FLIP Publicity on a regular basis helping some of their clients with their design needs. This poster was created as a concept for a dance show developed by Coleman and Lemieux. The project didn’t move forward, but I liked this concept and thought it was worth sharing.

LivLotus Yoga

Blair — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:00:31 +0000

A good friend of mine from school became a yoga instructor and needed a brand and website created for her. The result was a clean design for the brand of the logo as well as a simple, but effective website.

She’s a really fantastic instructor and I would highly suggest you check out one of her classes if you are looking to take up yoga or want to further your practice.

In Good Company

Blair — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:00:26 +0000

Orenda, a “strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) consulting firm”, approached me in 2009 to create a logo for a conference they were producing called “in good company”. The conference was a chance for business leaders from the not-for-profit and corporate sectors to come together and discuss social investments, CSR programs, environmental and social initiatives etc. I was happy to help out and received a fair amount of recognition for the project. Unfortunately I couldn’t attend the conference but I heard it was a great success.

FAIR Canada

Blair — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:30:54 +0000

FAIR Canada is an independent organization whose focus is on Canadian investors in securities regulations. As a small start-up organization, they needed a new brand which was simple, elegant and reflected their mission statement:

The mission of FAIR is to be a national voice for investors on securities regulation and a catalyst for enhancement of the rights of Canadian shareholders and retail investors.

I wanted to create something that would be simple and easy to read while fitting in with the financial institutions on Bay Street.

Dora Mavor Moore Awards

Blair — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:12:36 +0000

The annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards celebrate the enormous talent on Toronto stages each year. Produced by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), the awards recognize outstanding achievements in theatre, dance and opera in a variety of categories. It’s similar to the Tony Awards in New York, but on a smaller scale.

I’ve been working with the Dora’s since 2000 (this year is my 10 year anniversary with them!). Since my time with them, I have been responsible for producing the multimedia portion of the show – a visual presentation of all the nominees during the award ceremony. Since 2005, I have had the privilege of working with the production team as the Art Director, responsible for creating the printed material and overall look of the branding each year.

In 2009, the Dora Awards celebrated their 30th Anniversary. In celebration, TAPA created a limited edition 30th Anniversary poster highlighting some of the most memorable Dora-winning shows from the past 30 years.

The samples below are the various covers designs for the souvenir programme since 2005 which I have been responsible for.

Concept Design

Blair — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 20:00:47 +0000

I was asked to create a mockup for a new festival happening in Montreal. The turn around was quick and there was little to go on from a design perspective as the festival’s concept was still in the planning stages.

While these ideas never moved forward as the festival took on a different name and direction, I enjoyed coming up with the concepts.

The Chimera Project

Blair — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:47:01 +0000

The Chimera Project is one of Toronto’s most well-known contemporary dance companies.

Powerful, risk-taking and fiercely contemporary, The Chimera Project creates visceral theatre experiences that break down the social veneer between audience and performer. Founded in 1999 by award-winning choreographer Malgorzata Nowacka, The Chimera Project confronts the audience with high-octane physicality, ferocious technique and darkly gritty themes.

I’ve had the pleasure of working on two different shows with The Chimera Project over the past couple of years. I’ve worked on two different concepts for both Blood and The Hidden Spot. Both times each mounting of the productions had different designs, each time more refined from the first.

The refined designs tend towards the more minimalist in keeping with the type of dance and presentation the company creates.

Centre for Social Innovation

Blair — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:31:44 +0000

When I left my full time job in 2007 and went the route of freelancing, I was told (by my friend Mark over at Remarkk!) to check out the Centre for Social Innovation as a place to possibly run my business out of. I’m not one who can stay at home and work (I’d never get out of my PJ’s), so I gave the CSI a look. It was conveniently located 2 floors above where I worked. After applying for a permanent desk, I was invited to take up residency in one of the coolest places to work in Toronto. Thanks to being at the CSI, I have made a lot of connections and networked with some really fascinating people. I’ve also been able to get a lot of work out of being there which has been fantastic. Some of the work came from the Centre itself. One of the biggest pieces I worked on was a print piece explaining who and what the CSI is exactly. It took a lot of work to put together from every end, but the final product is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Two other pieces that I have had the pleasure of designing for them is the Hot Desk promotional postcard, “Are you an agent of change?”. The I also created an ad for the CSI which appeared in Spacing Magazine. Both designs are featured below.

AuthentiCity

Blair — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:14:19 +0000

Culture is one of the reasons why cities thrive. And no one knows this better than Greg Baeker, PhD. Greg is an expert on cultural mapping for cities around the world. His company, AuthentiCity, needed a new brand and a new website to help promote his work and the various reports and articles he has written on the subject.

Three samples that were presented to Greg prior to finalizing the brand are presented below. I was exploring the idea of using a cityscape, direction, and interconnectedness between culture and the economic development of a city.

Below is a screenshot from the website developed for AuthentiCity: