Montreal, Canada

INDIGO, the International Indigenous Design Network, is proud to announce that Robert L. Peters has been appointed as an INDIGO ambassador. Rob will bring invaluable design and consulting expertise to INDIGO as well as an extensive international network.

Robert L. Peters, Icograda President 2001-2003, is a designer and principal of Circle, a design consultancy he co-founded in 1976. In addition to practice, he has been actively involved in design education, writing, speaking, advocacy, and professional development for most of his career, including leadership roles within the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC), and the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda).

As Koopman Chair at the School of Art, University of Hartford, Rob worked with Russell Kennedy in 2006 on INDIGO’s inaugural project, MIX06 (Migrant Indigenous Exchange 2006), developed as a collaboration between Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and the University of Hartford in Connecticut, United States.

Rob is active internationally as a consultant and design strategist, policy advisor, writer, juror, and guest lecturer and is based in Winnipeg, Canada.

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INDIGO Ambassadors are individuals committed to creating an awareness of the network, its projects and promoting engagement with designers, stakeholders and the public at large within their communities. INDIGO Ambassadors support the Secretariat in creating a collaborative environment for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. They offer the network local access and insights, help shape projects and initiatives and serve as resources to the network at large.

(reposted from INDIGO news, here) Photo thanks to Ian McCausland.

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Yesterday evening, Adrian J.K. Shum, a graphic designer here at Circle, was honoured to receive his Kuro Obi Shodan (1st degree black belt) in Kyokushin Karate.

Kyokushin is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達). A very practical method of self defense, Kyokushin emphasizes realistic combat and physical toughness, and it is deeply rooted in the philosophy of self-improvement, discipline, and hard training. Adrian started his Kyokushin training not long after joining the creative team at Circle (some five years ago), and continues to train three to four times a week out of the Guardian Dojo. A milestone achievement, Adrian notes that this is only the beginning… quoting Mas Oyama, “One becomes a beginner after one thousand days of training and an expert after ten thousand days of practice.”

Osu no Seishin—the Spirit of Perseverance!

Winnipeg, Canada

A handsome presentation box from Nova Scotia Crystal has arrived at the office… containing the sand-blasted crystal trophy for the Icograda President’s Award presented to Robert L. Peters on 26 October 2009 at the opening ceremonies of the Xin: Icograda World Design Congress 2009 in Beijing. The 35-cm-high piece is now on display in Circle’s forum area—due to logistics complexities (involving the “import of creative works” to China) Peters had been presented only the framed diploma portion of the award at the ceremony in Beijing.

Winnipeg, Canada

Digging through some old files in the office recently, we came across this 17-year-old clipping from the Winnipeg Free Press, which ran just before we moved from our original studio on Albert Street to the space we’ve occupied here at the corner of Princess Street and McDermot Avenue since 1993. Our saying “No” to a cattle-call RFP by a prospective client caught the attention of journalist Martin Cash, who penned a mostly complimentary story about our design practice and ethos (read the whole piece in a 252 KB PDF here, if you like)…

Mr. Cash described Circle as “having become known for a certain thoroughness and a high level of quality”—traits we would like to think have remained with us to this day.

Winnipeg, Canada

We wish you and yours the very best!

Taipei, Taiwan

Circle’s founder, Robert L. Peters, is in Taiwan for a week as part of the three-city 2009 Conference of International Design Competitions lecture tour; Taipei, Taiching, and Tainan. The two other international presenters are Nakanishi Motoo (one of the great corporate identity masters, responsible for creating and/or managing the image of over one hundred top-500 companies worldwide, among them Bridgestone, Kenwood, Mazda, Asics, Kirin beer, etc., etc.), and Hiroshi Tsunoda, a talented young Tokyo-born product designer with a burgeoning practice in Barcelona, Spain. Peters reports that audience response in the packed-out venues has been enthusiastic and warm (and Taiwan temperatures in the high 20s have been a full 50 degrees warmer than back in the ‘Peg).

Images above: Taipei 101 (the world’s tallest skyscraper when it was completed five years ago); delegates with Rodin’s Thinker at Asia University in Taiching; Peters in Tainan.

Beijing, China

Circle’s founder, Robert L. Peters, was honoured today to receive the Icograda President’s Award from outgoing Icograda President Don Ryun Chang of Korea. The presentation took place at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (the ultra-modern opera house also known as “The Egg”) in Beijing, with an audience of several thousand present for the opening day of the Xin: Icograda World Design Congress 2009.

Beginning in 1970, the Icograda President’s Award has been presented on a biennial basis by the Icograda President. The award honors an outstanding contribution to the work of Icograda. A listing of previous recipients is available here.

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The presentation transcript follows:

“Before we start the Adobe Design Achievement Awards, I have the pleasure of announcing the second 2009 Icograda President’s Award and it gives me great pleasure to introduce Rob Peters and to recognize his many contributions—from his distinguished stewardship of our council during his term as President and board member, to his numerous published articles featured in important design publications, but today especially his significant role in nurturing and promoting design in China and Asia.

Raised and schooled in Europe, Robert was educated in Switzerland, Germany, and England. He is a graphic designer, communications strategist, and principal of CIRCLE, an award-winning design consultancy he co-founded in 1976. Robert is active internationally as a design practitioner, advisor, juror and lecturer.

Following the 1991 Icograda World Design Congress in Montreal, Rob was designated as the GDC’s official delegate and liaison, representing Canada to Icograda General Assemblies in Glasgow in 1993, Porto (Portugal) in 1995, Punta del Este (Uruguay) in 1997 (where I first met him), and Sydney in 1999 where he was elected to the Icograda board for a six-year term from 1999 to 2005, serving as President from 2001 to 2003. Significant achievements during Peters’ six years on the Icograda board include: development of our first content-rich portal, rejuvenation of the network ‘Friends of Icograda,’ launch of both the Icograda Design Education Network and the Icograda Design Media Network, co-organization of Icograda congresses in Seoul (‘Oullim’ 2000), Johannesburg, South Africa (‘Continental Shift’ 2001), and as President of our Council in Nagoya, Japan (‘VISUALOGUE’ 2003—with some 3700 delegates from 49 countries in attendance, the world’s largest ever congress of graphic designers). Rob also served as official liaison between Icograda and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as well as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) from 2001 to 2005.

Peters joined the board of the international humanitarian organization Design for the World (DW) in 2000 and was appointed as a Vice President in 2002; in 2004 he was named an Honorary Member of the Brno Biennale Association; he was also a member of the founding executive of the International Design Alliance (IDA) from 2003 to 2005.

For nearly 30 years, Robert has lived in a low-energy, passive-solar house he designed and built in the woods east of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is an avid climber (rocks, ice, mountains) and he enjoys nature and human-powered outdoor pursuits. His interests include art, architecture, photography, visual language, and travel, and he has written many important articles for prominent design publications such as Communication Arts (like the memorable article that introduced Chinese design to many readers all over the world).

Rob has been a great role model, a friend to me over the years, and he has given me great advice—it is a special honor for me to recognize his achievements here in China today.

It gives me sincere pleasure to present the 2009 Icograda President’s Award to Robert L. Peters.”

Winnipeg, Canada

We’re delighted to have senior designer Susan McWatt FitzGerald, MGDC back at Circle—after a year of maternity leave. Following many months of searching (we concur that access to quality daycare in this country is seriously lacking) Sue’s been able to find convenient in-home care for wee August… three days a week for the time being. Welcome back, Sue!

Winnipeg, Canada

Yes, today marks 33 years since the birth of Circle Design Incorporated (we actually started as Circle Graphics back then, and share our illustrious April Fools’ birthdate back in 1976 with this little company called Apple Computer :-). We also continue with gusto…

1976 was an interesting and memorable year in many ways, locally and around the world—in South Africa, anti-apartheid riots began in Soweto; Israeli commandos pulled off the Entebbe Raid in Uganda; in China the Tangshan earthquake killed 242,769 people; in the UK punk enters the mainstream; in the U.S. Jimmy Carter was elected as president; and out in space, the Viking 1 orbiter lands on Mars. 1976 also saw the introduction of the first laser printer by IBM (the Model 3800); The Band’s farewell concert The Last Waltz; the deaths of blues-singer Howlin’ Wolf, artist Alexander Calder, and revolutionary Chairman Mao; and the births of chanteuse Martha Wainright and Brazilian footballer Ronaldo. Here in Canada, the Eaton’s catalogue and Time magazine’s Canadian edition were discontinued; the Summer Olympics were held in Montreal (highlighted by 14-year old Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci’s perfect scores and five gold medals); René Lévesque’s Parti Québécois wins a majority in the Quebec elections; and the CN tower went up in Toronto.

Churchill, Manitoba

It’s that time of year again… and seasonal greetings are pouring in by the hour. This lovely photo of two Churchill polar bears is from our long-time client Mike Grandmaison, just back from a northern photo shoot. Quoting his e-card (and apropos to the season): “Sometimes I just don’t know whether I’m coming or going.” Cheers, Mike… and stay warm!

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Congratulations go out to The Honourable Madam Justice Bonnie R. Warkentin (aka ‘Bonnie’) on the ceremonial occasion of the administration of her Oath of Office as a Justice of the Superior Court of Justice in Thunder Bay on Wednesday, 27 August 2008. We’ve enjoyed working with Bonnie (and her former Kingston-based law practice) Willoughby Macleod Warkentin LLP, Barristers & Solicitors in the past, and we wish her every success in her important new role. Cheers!

Winnipeg, Canada

In case you’ve been wondering (as we have from time to time) what Sue’s been up to during her maternity leave… here’s a pretty good pictorial clue. Sue and Ryan’s 3-month-old son August was ‘captured’ recently by talented Winnipeg photographer Rebecca Whitney. See more of August here.

All images © Rebecca Whitney.

Banff, Alberta

Robert L. Peters spent the past two weeks mountaineering with friends in Canada’s fantastic Rockies. For the first week, he joined an organized outing with colleagues from the Alpine Club of Canada (11 each from the Manitoba and Thunder Bay ACC Sections) based out of the Elizabeth Parker Hut at Lake O’Hara (Yoho National Park, British Columbia) and the Abbot Hut (perched precariously on a col straddling the Alberta/B.C. border and continental divide).

For the second week, he hung out in the Lake Louise and Banff area with long-time climbing buddies Gregor Brandt, Janice Liwanag and Simon Statkewich. All in all a fantastic fortnight—refreshing for mind, body and spirit… more story, images, and links on Rob’s News+ site here.

Images: Lake O’Hara with the ACC’s Elizabeth Parker Hut (grassy clearing in foreground); descending the rubble-strewn Fuhrmann Ledges of Mt. Lefroy high above the glaciated valley with Gregor (photo by Simon, thanks).

Medora, North Dakota

Kevin Guenther (along with three intrepid friends) has just returned from a rigorous 4-day ride of the challenging Maah Daah Hey mountain bike singletrack that winds through the Badlands of the Missouri River Plateau, connecting northern and southern units of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. 140 kilometers (87 miles) of leg-burning climbs, exhilarating downhills, scorching sun, and rustic campsites ensure that “this is no ride for Princesses,” as he puts it. With outfitting by Dakota Cyclery (shuttling campsite supplies to a new stop each night) the boys were freed of logistics and heavy loads to “just ride” the epic trail. See more of Kevin’s trip photos here.

Kevin (in red on left) with buds at a trail marker; and on a downhill run.

Winnipeg, Canada

Georgian Bay, the latest photographic coffee-table book by good friend and client Mike Grandmaison, has hit the shelves. This is Mike’s third feature book published by Key Porter Books. See more of Mike’s outstanding photography on the new website we designed for him here, and attend a book-launch at the Polo Park McNally Robinson outlet in Winnipeg at 19:00 on 12 June, 2008 (to attend, send an e-mail to rsvp@keyporter.com and put “Grandmaison in Winnipeg” in the subject line).

Congratulations, Mike!

Vancouver, B.C.

The book Gray Matter Graffitti: remnants of collections lost… an early gallery from some alleyways & other by-ways by Sam W. Reimer launched unofficially in Vancouver over the weekend. It is a collection of some 200 original written works drawing from a prodigious assemblage penned during four decades of expressive poetic ideation by the Vancouver bard. Edited by Robert L. Peters, the book was designed and published by Circle.

From the book’s introduction: “Sam’s poems provide a plaintive voice for our tempestuous times—his unique commentaries on life and love (and love-lost ennui) are at once poignant, unapologetically direct, and (often) edged with the tragic—his ponderings range from the profane to the sacred, drill deep, and dare to pose unanswerable questions…”

Read sample excerpts from the book here, learn more about Sam W. Reimer here, and find out the latest news (about upcoming poetry readings, etc.) here.

Images: the book; the book unveiled to the bard at the Ivanhoe Pub in Vancouver (a venue that looms large in the writing); illustrated chapter titles (poems in the 214-page book appear in eight thematic chapters).

Winnipeg, Canada

August McWatt FitzGerald made his long-expected entry into the world on Wednesday evening (30 April), weighing in at 8 lbs. 9 ounces, and sporting a fine head of red hair. Mother Susan (a senior designer here at Circle) and father Ryan are as proud and delighted as one might expect… of course all of us are pretty chuffed as well. Congratulations!

In lieu of flowers, Adrian Shum and I compiled a framed keepsake for wee August on behalf of Circle (view a larger PDF file here).

Winnipeg, Canada

Well, it’s just a week away now that Sue starts her maternity leave… her “spring arrival” is expected in about a month, and we’re all very excited for her (she’s been sending out the above notice to select clients and contacts). While we will of course miss her (Sue’s been a pivotal part of our creative team here at Circle for over a decade) we wish her all the best as she shifts her considerable talents and focus to begetting and procreation for a while… she promises to be back with us in a year’s time.

Winnipeg, Canada

All of us at Circle are trying to reduce negative impacts on the environment—at work and at home. New parent-to-be, designer Susan McWatt FitzGerald (expecting late April 2008) is comparing products in preparation for her upcoming addition. One product that is topping the list is cloth diapers.

“Research shows disposable diapering of one baby will produce over two tons of used, non-biodegradable waste… which can take up to 500 years to decompose (www.kushies.com).” Cloth diapers also make sense economically—over a period of 2.5 years, using cloth diapers can save over $1850 compared to disposable diaper use. The options for easy-to-use and comfortable cloth diapers are growing—parents can pick from diapers made from organic hemp/cotton, recycled polar fleece, your traditional flannel, and biodegradable liners. An added bonus—many of these options are now available at your local department store, or online from Canadian sources such as www.kushies.com (based in Ontario) or www.weecarediapercompany.com (BC).

Winnipeg, Canada

Yesterday, our own Susan McWatt FitzGerald (and erudite hubby Ryan) received their Arthur Murray Dance School certificate for Bronze I social dancing at a graduation ceremony held at the Fort Garry Hotel. On weekends and numerous evenings since May, Susan and Ryan have been learning ballroom dancing… the Rumba, Cha Cha, Swing, Merengue, Hustle, Samba, Mambo/Salsa, Bolero, Foxtrot, Waltz and Tango—their aim is to graduate with a full medal Bronze I in the near future (which will require the study of an additional three dances and freestyle testing).

In spite of a busy and varied extra-curicular life (such as daily runs with her three-legged dog Typo, looking after two pet rabbits, needlepoint and embroidery, countless home improvement projects…) Susan also teaches Typography at Red River College, and has recently joined the school’s Graphic Design Advisory Committee. Husband Ryan FitzGerald is no slouch either—his creative hats include those of writer (stories, scripts) and producer (new media and game development) with Nihilonaut.