Take a peek at the winners!
Committed to supporting those engaged in design education, the GDC is pleased to announce the results of our National Scholarship Awards
2007 marks the fifth year of this annual competition open to GDC student members completing or returning to continue a program of design study.
The purpose of the scholarships is to recognize emerging excellence in design achievement and encourage a desire in students to go beyond expectations as a natural progression to professional practice. These awards have been funded by some of Canada’s most well known supporters of the design industry, including Veer, Adobe, Aquent, and Applied Arts.
The panel of judges comprised of professional members of the GDC, Société des designers graphiques du Québec (SGDQ), and International Council of Design Associations (ICOGRADA) included: Luce Beaulieu SDGQ (Montreal), Susan Colberg, MVA, MGDC (Edmonton), Pierre Léonard, President, SGDQ (Montreal), Dean McNeill, GDC President, MGDC (Halifax), and Brenda Sanderson, Director, ICOGRADA (Montreal). The adjudication was hosted by ICOGRADA in Montreal and overseen by May Chung MGD, MGDC (GDC Vice-President Education Chair).
The criteria for eligibility was rigorous with submissions of: grade transcripts, a letter of endorsement from a design educator, a personal letter discussing their experience with design and reasons for applying, and one project that exemplifies their abilities and potential (including a description of project requirements and detailed rationale). Submissions were plentiful and the quality continues to be consistently high overall. Judges were asked to weigh all aspects of the submission in respect to cohesiveness of elements, quality of presentation, innovation and suit to purpose as well as demonstration of strong potential. This competition was initiated to provide a way to recognize Canadian design achievement and to fund deserving students to allow them to expand their understanding of the profession. The personal letters and design rationales enabled judges from different regions, backgrounds, and approaches to work to arrive at a high level of consensus
in the results.
Judges were pleasantly surprised with the quality of writing accompanying the projects, and the presentation of pieces that stood out from the rest provided some lively discussion during the adjudication process. An indication of judges' sentiments regarding this year's applicants is expressed in Brenda Sanderson’s remarks, "The range of submissions to this year’s competition showcased the quality of design work being done by students from across the country. The winning submissions demonstrate the caliber of the next generation of Canadian design talent."
^ $1,500 Veer Scholarship: Oleksandra Korobova
York University/Sheridan Institute, Toronto, ON
Design Educator: Mary Ann Maruska
The European influence of her early years in the Ukraine coupled with firm resolve and true passion as expressed in Oleksandra's personal letter is evidence of a force to be reckoned with. This talented individual's attention to detail and understanding of systems of visual organization with type and image is a pleasure to view.
Her goal to create a look that is artistic, sophisticated, and fun to encourage a wide demographic audience to attend a circus is executed in a highly successful, striking manner with the use of polished environmental graphics. As a student that consistently exceeds expectations, Oleksandra is well on her way to realizing her dream of success in career as a graphic designer.
^ $1,000 Veer Scholarship: Vincent de Vera
Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC
Design Educator: Carol Aitken
A mechanical heart as a metaphor to capture the excitement and enthusiasm associated with an auto show showcases his strong illustration abilities. The judges responded very positively to the skillful presentation that serves to hold the viewers' attention in the details of various parts of car engines and bodies.
Vincent's self-taught experience allowed him to develop technical skills and now augment them with a formal design education. The results have garnered him an opportunity this year to art direct the Reflections Vancouver 2008 Calendar project and win the Best of Show for the Vancouver International Auto Show poster contest. As Vincent states in his letter, "I came to the realization, in order to grow as a creative professional, I had to focus on design, 'from the ground up'."
^ $1000 Aquent Scholarship: Ryan Romero
Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC
Design Educator: Carol Aitken
Ryan states his consuming passion for design as, "a hunger for visual satisfaction" with "discoveries leading to quests for aesthetic order." These and other tantalizing statements in his letter provided the initial catalyst to capture judges’ attention. From there the project showed what one judge considered, "a restraint of execution given the subject matter is surprising and interesting."
The resulting poster in Ryan’s words, "conveys a calligraphic event" through, "using different typefaces, weights, and other typographic elements, also by adding a nib, I have been able to make the 'pen' fully realized." Ryan demonstrates a strong verbal and visual acuity, undeniably two essential qualities that will serve him well in future endeavors.
^ $1,000 Adobe Scholarship: Natalie Olsen
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Design Educator: Sue Colberg
This interactive essay to confront conventional reading behaviors is brought about through the integral element of the folding solution and is further reinforced with the thoughtful packaging. Natalie’s solid research results in a piece that judges felt is not only sophisticated but also consistent in referencing appropriately the style of FUSE, a publication launched in 1991 by designer, Neville Brody.
She takes her inspiration from ideas found in the original publications and finesses a solution that does in her own words, "demand a full immersion and struggle with the content in order for the viewer to understand it." Natalie switched to design from fine arts and sees design, "as a dynamic intersection between art and communication… constantly evolving and challenging preconceived systems of language, perception and form."
^ $1000 Applied Arts Magazine Scholarship: Miki Sciana
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, ON
Design Educators: Steve Quinlan + Jayson Zaleski
Miki's previous educational experiences in England and Japan bring to her project a strong concept as evidenced in the presentation. The success of the ensemble in connecting with its intended audience is evident in the cohesive and playful nature of the individual components.
Her goal to "shed light on type designers' lives and personalities" by illustrating their faces using their typefaces is quite appropriate in light of the packaging and the stickers. Miki's double duty envelope to house, unfold, and to display the event drew comment from a judge stating, "a definite angle is delivered consistently and thoughtful environmental concern is much appreciated." The rationale for arriving at her design solution was clearly communicated in her project statement. Miki's hope, "to be a designer whose work can inspire and communicate effectively between people" is highly attainable given her command of multiple languages and desire to push the limits.
_______________________________________________
The GDC National Scholarship Awards are Canada's pre-eminent educational awards, funded by Canada's top design-related companies, and coordinated by the GDC. Since 1956 the GDC has been dedicated to improving graphic design standards and practice, in the workplace and in schools. The GDC National Scholarship Awards encourage and support students in taking their design education to a level that will better prepare them for professional practice.
Talented individuals from across Canada who are full-time students enrolled in a 2-, 3- or 4-year graphic design program, who are returning to continue their studies, and who are also Student Members of the GDC are invited to enter the GDC National Scholarship Awards Program.
Winners receive scholarship awards which are applied directly to their next year's tuition fees. The winning students are profiled on the GDC national website, the national newsletter, and also receive prominent coverage in Applied Arts Magazine as well as other Canada design publications.
Adobe Canada
Aquent
Applied Arts Magazine
Veer
Sponsor a GDC Scholarship: Your company can support graphic design education in Canada. Click here to request information. Design firms wishing to sponsor a scholarship award must employ at least one MGDC certified designer.
The purpose of the scholarships is to recognize emerging excellence in design achievement and encourage a desire in students to go beyond expectations as a natural progression to professional practice. These awards have been funded by some of Canada’s most well known supporters of the design industry, including Veer, Adobe, Aquent, and Applied Arts.
The panel of judges comprised of professional members of the GDC, Société des designers graphiques du Québec (SGDQ), and International Council of Design Associations (ICOGRADA) included: Luce Beaulieu SDGQ (Montreal), Susan Colberg, MVA, MGDC (Edmonton), Pierre Léonard, President, SGDQ (Montreal), Dean McNeill, GDC President, MGDC (Halifax), and Brenda Sanderson, Director, ICOGRADA (Montreal). The adjudication was hosted by ICOGRADA in Montreal and overseen by May Chung MGD, MGDC (GDC Vice-President Education Chair).
The criteria for eligibility was rigorous with submissions of: grade transcripts, a letter of endorsement from a design educator, a personal letter discussing their experience with design and reasons for applying, and one project that exemplifies their abilities and potential (including a description of project requirements and detailed rationale). Submissions were plentiful and the quality continues to be consistently high overall. Judges were asked to weigh all aspects of the submission in respect to cohesiveness of elements, quality of presentation, innovation and suit to purpose as well as demonstration of strong potential. This competition was initiated to provide a way to recognize Canadian design achievement and to fund deserving students to allow them to expand their understanding of the profession. The personal letters and design rationales enabled judges from different regions, backgrounds, and approaches to work to arrive at a high level of consensus
in the results.
Judges were pleasantly surprised with the quality of writing accompanying the projects, and the presentation of pieces that stood out from the rest provided some lively discussion during the adjudication process. An indication of judges' sentiments regarding this year's applicants is expressed in Brenda Sanderson’s remarks, "The range of submissions to this year’s competition showcased the quality of design work being done by students from across the country. The winning submissions demonstrate the caliber of the next generation of Canadian design talent."
^ $1,500 Veer Scholarship: Oleksandra Korobova
York University/Sheridan Institute, Toronto, ON
Design Educator: Mary Ann Maruska
The European influence of her early years in the Ukraine coupled with firm resolve and true passion as expressed in Oleksandra's personal letter is evidence of a force to be reckoned with. This talented individual's attention to detail and understanding of systems of visual organization with type and image is a pleasure to view.
Her goal to create a look that is artistic, sophisticated, and fun to encourage a wide demographic audience to attend a circus is executed in a highly successful, striking manner with the use of polished environmental graphics. As a student that consistently exceeds expectations, Oleksandra is well on her way to realizing her dream of success in career as a graphic designer.
^ $1,000 Veer Scholarship: Vincent de Vera
Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC
Design Educator: Carol Aitken
A mechanical heart as a metaphor to capture the excitement and enthusiasm associated with an auto show showcases his strong illustration abilities. The judges responded very positively to the skillful presentation that serves to hold the viewers' attention in the details of various parts of car engines and bodies.
Vincent's self-taught experience allowed him to develop technical skills and now augment them with a formal design education. The results have garnered him an opportunity this year to art direct the Reflections Vancouver 2008 Calendar project and win the Best of Show for the Vancouver International Auto Show poster contest. As Vincent states in his letter, "I came to the realization, in order to grow as a creative professional, I had to focus on design, 'from the ground up'."
^ $1000 Aquent Scholarship: Ryan Romero
Capilano College, North Vancouver, BC
Design Educator: Carol Aitken
Ryan states his consuming passion for design as, "a hunger for visual satisfaction" with "discoveries leading to quests for aesthetic order." These and other tantalizing statements in his letter provided the initial catalyst to capture judges’ attention. From there the project showed what one judge considered, "a restraint of execution given the subject matter is surprising and interesting."
The resulting poster in Ryan’s words, "conveys a calligraphic event" through, "using different typefaces, weights, and other typographic elements, also by adding a nib, I have been able to make the 'pen' fully realized." Ryan demonstrates a strong verbal and visual acuity, undeniably two essential qualities that will serve him well in future endeavors.
^ $1,000 Adobe Scholarship: Natalie Olsen
University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Design Educator: Sue Colberg
This interactive essay to confront conventional reading behaviors is brought about through the integral element of the folding solution and is further reinforced with the thoughtful packaging. Natalie’s solid research results in a piece that judges felt is not only sophisticated but also consistent in referencing appropriately the style of FUSE, a publication launched in 1991 by designer, Neville Brody.
She takes her inspiration from ideas found in the original publications and finesses a solution that does in her own words, "demand a full immersion and struggle with the content in order for the viewer to understand it." Natalie switched to design from fine arts and sees design, "as a dynamic intersection between art and communication… constantly evolving and challenging preconceived systems of language, perception and form."
^ $1000 Applied Arts Magazine Scholarship: Miki Sciana
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, ON
Design Educators: Steve Quinlan + Jayson Zaleski
Miki's previous educational experiences in England and Japan bring to her project a strong concept as evidenced in the presentation. The success of the ensemble in connecting with its intended audience is evident in the cohesive and playful nature of the individual components.
Her goal to "shed light on type designers' lives and personalities" by illustrating their faces using their typefaces is quite appropriate in light of the packaging and the stickers. Miki's double duty envelope to house, unfold, and to display the event drew comment from a judge stating, "a definite angle is delivered consistently and thoughtful environmental concern is much appreciated." The rationale for arriving at her design solution was clearly communicated in her project statement. Miki's hope, "to be a designer whose work can inspire and communicate effectively between people" is highly attainable given her command of multiple languages and desire to push the limits.
_______________________________________________
The GDC National Scholarship Awards are Canada's pre-eminent educational awards, funded by Canada's top design-related companies, and coordinated by the GDC. Since 1956 the GDC has been dedicated to improving graphic design standards and practice, in the workplace and in schools. The GDC National Scholarship Awards encourage and support students in taking their design education to a level that will better prepare them for professional practice.
Talented individuals from across Canada who are full-time students enrolled in a 2-, 3- or 4-year graphic design program, who are returning to continue their studies, and who are also Student Members of the GDC are invited to enter the GDC National Scholarship Awards Program.
Winners receive scholarship awards which are applied directly to their next year's tuition fees. The winning students are profiled on the GDC national website, the national newsletter, and also receive prominent coverage in Applied Arts Magazine as well as other Canada design publications.
Adobe Canada
Aquent
Applied Arts Magazine
Veer
Sponsor a GDC Scholarship: Your company can support graphic design education in Canada. Click here to request information. Design firms wishing to sponsor a scholarship award must employ at least one MGDC certified designer.
GDC Scholarship annual scholarship awards
Take a peek at the winners!
Your company can support graphic design education in Canada.
Local scholarship information
Read about our previous scholarship winners
