One Annual Report
Enablis, client
Identica, design firm
Julie Brassard, designer
Jon Murray, Patrice Dancziger, copywriters
Design Requirements
Enablis is a non-profit organization sponsored by the G8 in 2002, and founded by Accenture, Hewlett Packard, Telesystem, and the Government of Canada. Enablis, through its organized and interactive global network, helps entrepreneurs in developing countries by giving them access to a range of affordable professional and financial resources.
Design Solution
The concept of the annual report invites readers to look at things from a different perspective thanks to a graphic language based on perforations and dotted images, and the unveiling of two stories that can be discovered by tearing the pages open.
Suite 88 Identity Program
Suite 88, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, Rene Clement, designers
Design Requirements
Suite 88, a new and very exclusive chocolate boutique located in Montreal, mandated us to create an extensive branding program. The identity would also be a brand of fine chocolate products sold at the boutique. We wanted to create a logo that could be used everywhere: signage, labels, shopping bags, packaging, etc.
Design Solution
We created a logo made with 4 small circles, referring to small pieces of fine chocolate, placed in a way that forms the number 88. It is simple, elegant and communicates the brand easily. We wanted the logo to occupy a very important place in developing the identity program. Its simplicity makes it very easy to integrate. It even inspired the staff in the way chocolates are presented in windows and in the way they decorate the plates.
Vancouver Sculpture Biennale Corporate Identity
Vancouver Sculpture Biennale, client
Rethink, design firm
Michael Milardo, copywriter
Lisa Nakamura, designer
Chris Raedcher, Dale Vankoughnett, print producers
Bart Batchelor, art director
Ian Grais, Chris Staples, creative directors
Design Requirements
The Vancouver Sculpture Biennale (VSB) is a bi-annual citywide celebration of art in public spaces. The inaugural VSB: 'Open Spaces 2005/2006' highlighted public spaces with an 18-month installation of major public art sculptures. It was the largest public art exhibit and festival in Vancouver and the only event of its kind in North America. The Vancouver Sculpture Biennale needed a new corporate identity to celebrate this public exhibition, appeal to citizens and visitors and showcase this unique three-dimensional medium.
Design Solution
All pieces in the corporate identity reinforced the three-dimensional message. A stationery package was created with a multi-level blind emboss for maximum sculptural effect. In addition, three-dimensional plastic posters covered construction hoardings around the city. This allowed Vancouverites the option to take home a piece of original sculpture (each one was individually numbered) or to create their own art on the provided shelf space. The campaign brought art into the city streets, and demonstrated that the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale was an event for the entire city.
Paprika Stationery
Paprika, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, Rene Clement, designers
Design Requirements
Paprika is a graphic design firm well-known for its know-how in brand identity. It is always very difficult for us to work on our own image, knowing that people; clients, suppliers and partners will look at it with special attention. We had to create something that would catch people's attention, knowing that stationery can often serve as an advertising tool.
Design Solution
We created an extensive stationery system where all the information (name, address, etc.) is treated as a visual pattern. In the manner of an optical illusion, the positioning and repetition of this basic information creates a texture, with the resulting image resembling a bar code.
La Couleur del'Ombre Invitation
Commissaires, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, David Guarnieri, designers
Pierre Laramee, illustrator
Design Requirements
Commissaires, a unique boutique gallery located in montreal, wanted an invitation to launch its second exhibit, 'La Couleur deL'ombre' (The Colour of Shadow), in which every presented piece was black. They wanted to catch people's attention and make sure that many art and design lovers would attend this exhibit, so the invitation had to have a major impact.
Design Solution
We created a black on black invitation to recall the theme of the exhibition. We then silkscreened it on an oversize sheet of black tissue paper, which we folded many times. Once unfolded, the invitation had to be held up to the light to reveal the black on black text.
La belle Excuse Website
Oliveraies Stravopoulos, client
orangetango, design firm
orangetango, designer
Marc Montplaisir, photographer
orangetango, programming
Launch Website
Design Requirements
The challenge was to position La Belle Excuse as a cottage industry, with direct contact between Quebec and Greece, infused with a passion for a culture and a land whose wealth is conveyed through the quality of its products. The notion was to create a visual identity that would emphasize the qualitative and authentic values of artisan and family while capitalizing on the absence of a go-between in the tasks of selecting olives and bottling them.
Design Solution
In the solution all these values are conveyed through the imprint of hand or finger. The site has precision in navigation, and the backgrounds were treated with delicacy.
Paprika Website
Paprika, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, Richard Bélanger, designers
Julien Fondère, programmer
Launch Website
Design Requirements
We wanted our website to be different than what we usually see. Not only from a graphic design stand-point, but also from a navigational point of view. We wanted to put a lot of information on our website such as an extensive portfolio and oversized pictures, but at the same time, it had to have a “Paprika” vibe.
Design Solution
We decided to treat the pages like we treated our stationery; using the repetition of information to create visually interesting patterns. It gave us the possibility to treat the corporate information and the different section titles in a way that served our design. The result is a clean looking, easy to navigate website, that is the image of our graphic design studio.
Origami
Hemlock Printers Frogfile, client
Change, design firm
Jin Nam, Timothy Turner, designers
Jin Nam, illustrator
Wil Boucher, copywriter
Timothy Turner, executive director
Marc Stoiber, creative director
Design Requirements
To create a new line of eco-friendly copy paper products to be sold exclusively through Frogfile that are clearly differentiated and obviously green, and to do so in a manner that is relevant and meaningful to consumers.
Design Solution
Since copy paper brands are largely interchangeable, indistinguishable and driven by price, we sought to create packaging that would assuage consumer's 'paper waste guilt'. Our unique and elegant solution was to use the principles of origami; Each wrapper becomes a ' fold by numbers' origami project resulting in an origami tree! Office workers can build a small forest on their desks as a humorous reminder that they are indeed making a difference. Additionally, when stacked, the paper packs create a spruce tree design, complete with a birds nest!
Madame Chose Poster
Commissaires, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, David Guarnieri, designers
Pierre Laramee, copywriter
Design Requirements
The exhibition 'Madame Chose' at the Commissaries gallery-boutique presented pieces that were created by women only. The title (which can be roughly translated as “Miss Thing” or “Jane Doe”) puts the emphasis on that fact. Therefore, our poster had to work with the title and with the subject of the exhibition.
Design Solution
We decided to print on pink paper, with a large title made with the special typeface that we created for the event. We used bobby-pins to create the typography and translate the exhibition concept. The use of a common, every day woman's object allowed us to convey femininity in an untraditional way.
Cena Ole!
Theatre du Nouveau Monde, client
Identica, design firm
Julie Brassard, designer
Julie Brassard, illustrator
Francois Forget, copywriter
Design Requirements
Cena Ole! is a fundraising event for Theatre du Nouveau Monde, a prestigious and avant-garde theatre company in Montreal. In this context, the design requirements are focused upon creating an enticing and compelling piece to generate interest in the event and demonstrate the theatre company's creative vision and cultural involvement. The theme for this third edition was 'Spain'.
Design Solution
Don Quixote's windmill, the Madonna, Dali and other symbols of Spanish culture were all integrated to create new surrealistic characters. On the day of the event, guests were given limited edition silkscreened posters of one of the two illustrations, a token of the company's appreciation for their supporters. The wrapper around the poster presented the evening's menu.
"Les Frontieres Floues" Poster
Commissaires, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, Richard Belanger, designers
Pierre Laramée, copywriter
Design Requirements
This poster was created for the exhibition “Les Frontieres Floues” (“Blurring the Boundaries”), at the Commissaires gallery-boutique, celebrating the less and less precise dividing line between different artistic disciplines. The pieces presented were made by graphic designers and visual artists as well as fashion designers. The poster had to represent the theme of the exhibit, while also playing with the “blurring” idea. We also had to give an idea of the type of pieces that could be found at the exhibition.
Design Solution
We decided to play with a blurred font so, just like at an exhibition, the piece would be at its best when viewed from a distance. We also chose to work with cyan, which is a color that has a strong symbolism to many artists, of different disciplines.
Paprika Chez Commissaires Poster
Commissaires, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, David Guarnieri, designers
Pierre Laramée, copywriter
Design Requirements
This poster was created for the exhibition 'Paprika Chez Commissaires' that took place at the gallery boutique commissaries, during the 'Design Montreal Open House 2007' . The exhibition presented different pieces produced by the graphic design studio Paprika during the last 15 years. With the poster, we wanted to catch people's attention, while reminding them who Paprika is. Also, we had to remain true to Commissaires' image and poster restrictions, which are to keep it simple and to be typographical only.
Design Solution
We decided to use the same type of visual as for our stationery to create a sense of unity between our different pieces. This way, someone who knows Paprika will instantly recognize Paprika's style. We repeated our address and the exhibition info on the whole surface, while adding a layer of red characters, spelling Paprika's name.
Je suis ce que je crée
Nolin/BBDO Montréal, client
Nolin/BBDO Montréal, design firm
Isabel Beaudry, designer
Caroline Raimont, creative director
Pascal Roux, infographics
Design Requirements
The requirements were to define and illustrate the AND from the Nolin agency/BBDO Montréal. The design had to reflect the wide variety of talents centred on the agency in one unique and dynamic whole. The design had to demonstrate the creative richness that developed when everyone's experiences and know-how were concentrated around a common project. The design also had to revitalize the commitment of all to be fully involved and to outdo themselves at all time in the projects entrusted to them.
Design Solution
Inspired by the sentence that has become the agency's motto, "I am what I create," the posters display various images that invoke the act of creation. Inspiration, imprint, the beating Heart, all strong images that stand out in red, the Agency's mascot colour, on a white background.
Ressusciter Poster and Invitation
Commissaires, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, Rene Clement, designers
Pierre Laramée, copywriter
Design Requirements
We created a poster for Commissaire's exhibition 'Ressusciter' ('Resuscitate'), in which 5.5, a group of French designers, gave different objects a 'second life'. We wanted to create a high-impact invitation that would relate to the objects presented in the exhibition, while working on a tight budget.
Design Solution
All of 5.5's interventions were done with green elements. So we decided to use a single element, a green cross, for the design of the poster. The green cross is a medical reference in France and is also an allusion to the biblical idea of resurrection. We found an interesting way to fold the original poster so it could become the invitation for the exhibit. Once folded, it could fit in a standard envelope.
History Gallery
National Museum of Singapore, client
GSM Design Expositions/Exhibits Inc., design firm
GSM Design Exhibits, designer
GSM Media, audio-visual production
GSM Build, supervision of execution and installation
Design Requirements
The History Gallery is the museum's permanent exhibit of the National Museum of Singapore (NAMOS) and has been in existence for 10 years. The two objectives initially identified by the National Museum that drove our design concept and development were to develop a museum of living history with which Singaporeans can identify by showcasing Singapore history and heritage from a Singaporean perspective and to appeal to the broad target audience, ranging from students to local adults and tourists. The didactic content had to be accessible in Singapore's four official languages (English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil) and Japanese.
Design Solution
The general approach takes its source from the Asian tradition of storytelling. Two paths are offered to visitors: one with a general point of view on major historical events, the other presenting personal stories of people that were part of history. A specially developed audiovisual guide called 'The Companion' conveys the didactic content and allows the visitor to tailor each visit to his or her own interests and to navigate the spaces in an intuitive fashion. The environment is immersive, with a strong theatrical approach to design. The intention being to evoke an energy rather than a specific spatial or formal representation.
The artist in society - 2006/2007 Season
Centre National Art Centre English Theatre, client
orangetango, design firm
orangetango, designer
Lino, illustrator
Design Requirements
When the English Theatre appointed Peter Hinton, the respected playwright, as its artistic director, they chose as theme for the 2006-2007 season, “The Artist in Society.” The idea behind this was to bring the Institute and its public closer and to narrow the gap between the creative process and performances. Capitalizing on Peter Hinton's style and vision, their guiding principles were innovation and creativity.
Design Solution
Peter Hinton's commitment and even more so, his creative process. The first bold step they took was a complete break from the early more traditional approaches that the English Theatre had been using. Then, they thoroughly brainstormed all the sketches, manuscript processing, etc., and came up with the report card concept, an approach that has personal overtones and is open and inviting at the same time; a way of accessing theatre in a different way, matching Peter Hinton's fresh and invigorating approach.
Baronet Sweet Baronet
Baronet, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, David Guarnieri, designers
Design Requirements
For High Point's Spring 2006 Show, it was a time of war in the US. Baronet wanted to give a feeling of home and comfort for this showroom.
Design Solution
We decided to go under the theme “Baronet Sweet Baronet”, recalling “Home Sweet Home”. Stitch patterns and gardening references and visuals convey the idea of comfort and of home, while giving the whole showroom a Spring vibe.
Pure Canadian Product
Baronet, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, David Guarnieri, designers
Design Requirements
For this spring Baronet Showroom, in High Point, our goal was to put the emphasis on the fact that Baronet's furniture is all made in Canada.
Design Solution
We decided to translate the fact that Baronet's furniture is all made in Canada with images and the Spring “Sugar Shack” theme. We used red and white visuals, recalling the flag, and used Canadian references and clichés known by everyone, like a beaver, a mounty, etc.
Madame Chose (Type Design)
Commissaires, client
Paprika, design firm
Louis Gagnon, David Guarnieri, designers
Design Requirements
This type design was created especially for the exhibition 'Madame Chose' at the Commissaires gallery-boutique in Montreal. An interesting challenge, because for this exhibit every piece presented was created by women and we had to find a way to reflect that with our choice of font.
Design Solution
We decided to create an original font for this event and since the exhibit presented different pieces created by women only, we chose to create a typeface using a common, traditional woman's object: the bobby-pin. This allowed us to convey femininity in an untraditional way.
