The Arctic Chapter holds portfolio reviews two times a year. Reviews are handled anonymously and confidentially by a rotating team of standards officers, made up of professional members of the Chapter.

Commercially printed work is accepted, and web and new media designers may submit electronic media and web URLs. Do not mount brochures or information pieces.

Portfolio pieces are judged on five main areas:

• Strategy: Appropriateness of concept, meets objectives: client’s & audiences needs, perceived goals and objectives, desired outcome, skill ability to define the concept and objectives.
   
• Typography: Appropriateness font, weight, size, emotion, skill hierarchy, readability and legibility, interpretation; craftsmanship kerning, leading, use of grid, etc.
   
• Use of imagery: Appropriateness supports the concept, choice of illustration, photography or typographic approach, skill placement, colour, size, technical ability, craftsmanship high level of execution.
   
• Implementation: Appropriateness size, format, paper, inks, varnishes, die-cuts, embossing, bindery, skill marriage of materials to concept, craftsmanship spelling, layout, format, print quality.
   
• Presentation: Appropriateness materials used, labelling, skill, diversity of work, craftsmanship, cleanliness of presentation, etc.

Your portfolio must achieve an average score in each area. If a portfolio does not receive an average score, you are contacted by the GDC membership chair to discuss how to improve your portfolio. You are able to re-submit for a future review. The chair is the only person who knows the identity of the applicant in this process.

Registered as the GDC Arctic Chapter/Chapitre de l'artique, they were welcomed officially as a Chapter at the 2004 National AGM in Victoria. This status was granted at the request of Greg Spronken, GDC Arctic's founding President, to allow them to begin the recruitment and awareness campaigns necessary to ensure they would become a full and beneficial member of the National Society.

The chapter now has the required ten professional members required for chapter status. GDC Arctic hopes to provide a valuable professional development tool for Canada's North. By bringing the strong ethical and design concepts of the National Society to their communities it is their belief that they will be able to develop a consistent standard of skills and ethics in their local industry. It is also their hope to bring the unique and diverse culture of the North to the southern members of the GDC, allowing for a richer and more diverse community for everyone.

The founding GDC Arctic Board Members were:

• Greg Spronken, President
• Steve Freake, Secretary & VP Communications
• Jennifer Luckay, Treasurer
• Dan Franklin, VP Ethics & VP Sponsorship
• Allison Howie, VP Membership

Anyone living in the Yukon, Northwest Territories or Nunavut who is interested in supporting or becoming a member of the GDC's newest Chapter should contact:

Allison Howie, President
GDC Arctic Chapter
P.O. Box 2144
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P6

T: 867.669.9344
E: