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!

Lisbon, Portugal

The May/June 2010 (#374 Illustration Annual 51) issue of Communication Arts magazine contains a feature article entitled “Visual Communication Design in Portugal: Land of Discovery” written by Circle’s principal, Robert L. Peters. The piece investigates Portugal’s unique attributes, history, culture, and current realities in relation to visual communication—the article is accompanied by a selection of design and illustration by Portuguese designers.

Peters visited Lisbon in 2009 as a speaker at OFFF 2009 Oeiras (International Festival For The Post-Digital Creation Culture), an event attended by nearly 4000 enthusiastic participants. He then drew from dozens of attendees who contacted him following his talk to crowd-source opinions on Portuguese design and related issues, as well as suggestions for representative works.

Peters has been contributing in-depth foreign feature articles to Communication Arts magazine since 1994, including pieces on design and design events in Russia, Portugal (the XVI Icograda General Assembly in 1995), Uruguay, Australia, Korea, Japan, Brazil, China, Denmark, Cuba, and New Zealand. Copies of CA issue #374 are available at book stores and major news outlets around the world and may be purchased online from the Communication Arts website.

Read the full feature article (with full creative credits for works shown) or download the entire CA Portugal design feature here (1.1 MB). Note: this feature article from Communication Arts magazine appears with permission by Communication Arts ©2010 Coyne & Blanchard, Inc. All rights reserved.

A special thanks to the numerous Portuguese designers and design educators who enthusiastically contributed their insights, viewpoints, and suggestions regarding works that appear in the article, in particular; Sarah Chaves Brasseur, Carla Carrão, Aurelindo Ceia, António (Tózé) Coelho, António Costa, Ana Farinha, João Cardoso Fernandes, Antero Ferreira, Afonso Figueiredo, Margarida Fonseca, Bruno Franco, António Silveira Gomes, Carla Ponte Júlio, Ana Lopes, Miguel Macedo, Mário Moura, Fernando Oliveira, João Maio Pinto, Rosa Quitério, Luísa Ribas, Catarina da Silva, Paulo Silva, and Patrícia Sobral.

Winnipeg, Canada

Amdocs Inc. provides primary physician services in remote and Northern Canadian communities. Its community-based approach fulfills the vision of Dr. Anthon Meyer to develop mutually rewarding relationships with First Nations communities by delivering high quality family physician services, chronic disease management, practice consultant support for nurse clinician services, and related continuous medical education services in full compliance with both College of Physicians and Surgeons and Governmental standards.

Over the past month we’ve been delighted to work with Dr. Anthon Meyer and his team at Amdocs (now located in Gibraltar House alongside long-time client The North West Company) on the design of a corporate identity, recruitment ads, print materials, and a website. Learn more about Amdocs and the good work the organization is doing here.

Toronto, Canada

The latest issue of Applied Arts, Canada’s Visual Communication Magazine (Vol. 24, No. 4, August 2009) has just arrived—in it an in-depth article by Pamela Young on “Green Design” that includes excerpts of an interview with Robert L. Peters. The article by Young acts as “a guide to some of the fundamental issues and options you need to get a handle on or to go green” and lists a variety of accreditation bodies and professional resources to help designers become more savvy.

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, Manitoba

This past month we’ve had the opportunity to update the Beach Safety Program Signage for Manitoba Conservation. Six years ago (when we initially researched and developed a comprehensive set of Beach Safety icons and signage templates for the province) no international standards for pictograms and signage existed—that changed last year with the publication of ISO 20712-1:2008, which we have now incorporated in the entire program (including a change of all Caution/Hazard signs to a triangular shape, standardization of all Prohibition signs, and addition of a new beach safety [status] flag).

Winnipeg, Canada

We’ve recently completed the design of a new corporate identity for the Concordia Joint Replacement Group (CJRG), a highly specialized “swat team” of orthopaedic specialists preparing to move into new, purpose-built facilities within the Concordia Hip & Knee Institute. The identity fulfills the criteria of being distinctive within its field, projecting excellence, inspiring confidence, and having good compatibility with other Concordia identities (which Circle has designed and created standards for in recent years). The folks at CJRG have been good to work with… and we’ve learned a lot about the world of orthopaedics in the process.

Winnipeg, Canada

The recently-founded First Pension Plan & Benefits Co-operative Ltd. today held its first Annual General Meeting in Winnipeg. First Plan Co-operative has been created to provide a single pension and benefits plan for all First Nations and Aboriginal Government employees and businesses. The member-owned co-operative “offers an ideal model for Aboriginal people, reflecting the traditional practices of communal decision-making and sharing.” First Plan Benefits is an exciting initiative that is owned and controlled by the very people using the products and services, a plan free from outside influence, in which the profits generated go back directly to Aboriginal people and their communities.

Over the past months, Circle has been pleased to work closely with the co-op’s founders in a consultative and design capacity—shaping a cohesive identity, developing a key message platform and an initial marketing plan, and designing a trade exhibit, presentations, literature, and promotional tools. We’re particularly chuffed to be able to collaborate with an organization that is truly democratic (member-driven), and is based on ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others. Read more about First Plan Benefits and this visionary co-op here (one-page PDF).

The co-op’s visual identity draws from a traditional Anishinaabe petroform (boulder outline) of a turtle as found in Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park—turtles hold special symbolic significance in First Nation mythology, with the rising of a turtle from the water depicting the formation of the North American continent (i.e. turtle island). Many Native children are taught to examine the segments on a turtle’s back—there are always thirteen large segments (which represent the thirteen moons which make up the lunar year). By counting the smaller segments around the lower edge of the shell, one finds that there are always 28 (which represents the 28 days between new moons).

Winnipeg, Canada

The honoree of this year’s tribute and presentation at the Concordia Hospital Foundation’s 25th Annual Gala Dinner (to be held on 8 May at Fort Garry Place) is this city’s speed-skating Cindy Klassen, Canada’s all-time most decorated Olympian (her winning the largest number of medals at the Turin Olympics caused IOC president Jacques Rogge to name her the “woman of the games.”) In each of the recent years Circle has designed event invitations and collateral promotional materials for Concordia’s major fundraising event. Project scope includes printed materials, event posters, and digital presentation formats. More here.

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.

Portage la Prairie, Manitoba

Circle recently designed a Tetra Pak for Gaya,™ brand organic Noni juice (for our client, PROVALT Life Sciences in Montreal), the first of a line of nutraceutical beverages promoting a healthy and holistic lifestyle. Tetra Paks comprise unique aseptic paper-board packaging that consists of 3 separate recyclable layers—an inner plastic layer, a foil layer, and the outer paper-board layer. Canadians have been familiar with their use for years as juice boxes, but more recently the Tetra Pak is being applied to a diverse selection of food products, from soups to fine wine. Our resident digital production specialist took a trip out to GPAP (Great Plains Aseptic Packaging), in Portage La Prairie for the inaugural run of Gaya™ Noni juice and to witness how the Tetra Pak filling and packaging lines work. GPAP is Manitoba’s only facility equipped to fill the highly sought-after Tetra Paks.

The reason for the recent upswing in the use of boxed liquids can be attributed to several unique features of the Tetra Pak, most of which translate into savings in shipping and storage. Their compact design allows for a more effective use of space, as does their light weight when compared to glass. Furthermore, the aseptic package allows the product to ship without refrigeration which provides for a significant energy savings. This also allows the product to sit on the shelf beside other dry goods without concern of the product going bad—this particular feature transfers energy savings on to the retailer as well.

However, is that where the environmental and cost benefits of the Tetra Pak end? A quick call to Winnipeg Water and Waste confirmed that this city is currently not equipped to recycle Tetra Paks. Though these unique packages do have great potential to pass along their “green” attributes to the end-user, there are currently not a lot of recycling facilities in Canada (with the exception of Ontario) that are equipped to recycle Tetra Paks. As a result, the actual recycling record to date is somewhat discouraging.

We’re committed to helping our clients find more sustainable solutions on a day-to-day basis, and are still optimistic that in time—with public demand—the recycling situation will continue to improve. It is interesting to consider how Tetra Pak’s existing “green benefits” hold significant potential to contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gases… particularly with effective implementation of more comprehensive recycling programs.

actionSHIFT international is a simple initiative that collects and sends used computers from Canada to Nicaragua. Begun as an outreach pilot program in 2006 by volunteers from Evangel Chapel in Winnipeg, in collaboration with Centro Cristiano Emmanual in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua, the initiative is now focused on sending full container-loads of reconditioned computers (approximately 800 at a time) to Central America.

Circle recently took on actionSHIFT as a pro bono project, creating the initiative’s name, designing a visual identity, writing texts, and developing initial communication tools. More information is available at www.actionshift.ca

Winnipeg, Canada

Adrian Shum, a graphic designer at Circle, took home a trophy in the semi-contact middleweight Kyokushin Karate category this weekend. Adrian, who trains with Winnipeg’s Guardian Dojo, was one of approximately 30 competitors participating in this first-ever Kyokushin Knockdown Tournament to be held in the prairies.

Kyokushin is a style of stand-up, full contact karate, founded in 1964 by Masutatsu Oyama (大山倍達). Kyokushinkai is Japanese for “the society of the ultimate truth.” 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. Its full contact style has gained wide international appeal, with more than 10 million practioners worldwide.

Link to the Guardian Dojo

Menlo Park, California

The May/June 2006 (#344) issue of Communication Arts magazine features an in-depth article entitled “Cuba Si! Life and design on the embargoed archipelago” written by Circle’s founder and principal, Robert L. Peters. The piece explores Cuba’s cultural and political realities in relation to visual communication, and is accompanied by a selection of graphic design spanning the 47-year span since the Cuban Revolution (many works never before seen outside of Cuba).

Peters has visited Cuba several times in recent years (as co-organizer and chair of the 2001 Havana Design Week held in the Che Guevara Memorial Hall [in conjunction with his board role with the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda)], and several subsequent visits re: design advocacy and preparation for the Icograda World Design Congress to be held in October 2007). In this regard he worked closely with professional Cuban colleagues from the PROGRÁFICA Committee in preparing the feature article, drawing on numerous studio visits as well as one-on-one interviews with designers working both within state organizations and independently.

Peters has been contributing articles to Communication Arts magazine since 1995 and has previously written for CA on design and design events in Russia, Portugal, Uruguay, Australia, Korea, Japan, Brazil, and China. Copies of CA issue #344 are available at book stores and major news outlets around the world and may be purchased online from the Communication Arts website.

Download a pdf-version of the “Cuba Si!” feature article (“About Cuban Design”) here.

Described as ”a cheeky magazine” by the Winnipeg Free Press and ”your story of experiments with truth,” by the publisher, ‘Geez’ is a new magazine with the mandate to ”untangle the narrative of faith from the fundamentalists, pious self-helpers and religio-profiteers.” It aims to ”explore the point at which word, action and image intersect and then ignite” and to become ”a camp set up in the outback of the spiritual commons, a bustling spot for the over-churched, out-churched, un-churched and maybe even the un-churchable, a location just beyond boring bitterness, a place for wannabe contemplatives, front-line world-changers and restless cranks, (and) a place where the moon shines quiet, instinct runs mythic and belief rides a bike (or at least sits on the couch entertaining the possibility).”

Robert L. Peters, who is serving the non-profit and ad-free Geez in an advisory role, has been pleased with the courage and vision shown by founder/publisher Aiden Enns (formerly managing editor of ‘Adbusters’) and editor Will Braun: ”Geez defines itself as ‘holy mischief in an age of fast faith,’ and I firmly believe that its time is ripe.”

Geez has been garnering positive reviews in a variety of media. Maclean’s magazine’s 9 January 2006 issue features a spread from Geez’ inaugural issue (including a poster by Peters from the ”Lest We Forget: Hiroshima & Nagasaki” series) and notes that ”Geez may be an indication that Christianity, or at least some form of it, is becoming cool again.”

For more information, visit geezmagazine.org

Whistler, British Columbia

Canada Post today issued a philatelic tribute to Youth Sports, in celebration of October as Stamp Collecting Month. Designed and illustrated by Circle, the four domestic rate commemorative stamps feature a skate-boarder, snow-boarder, mountain biker and wall climber, respectively. Available at post offices across the country, this unique issue (4 million stamps) will be sold in a booklet of eight interlocking, kiss-cut, self-adhesive stamps printed in seven lithographic colours. A limited edition Official First Day Cover (souvenir envelope with a date-of-issue cancellation) will be of special interest for collectors.

”These stamps, with their colourful and action-packed designs, are sure to appeal to young Canadians,” said the Honourable John McCallum, Minister responsible for Canada Post. ”In this, the International Year of Sport and Physical Education, I hope that these stamps will encourage kids to look at the benefits of being involved with sports and with stamp collecting.”

As quoted in Canada Post’s news release, Circle’s Robert L. Peters explains: ”The stamps reflect the excitement found in these sports. Their major appeal for youth is their ‘counter-culture’ and non-conformist stance. Each sport is associated with ‘attitude’ that is expressed through distinct fashions, colours, and graphics. It was this aspect that we detailed with the dramatic, angled presentation and related colours. Illustrated with exaggerated perspective, the stamps work well in combination and also on their own.”

”The stamps ‘push the boundaries’ of philately a little, in keeping with the sports depicted and the targeted audience.” Peters explains: ”In line with the four sports’ counter-culture origins and somewhat unorthodox cachet, the stamps’ visual vocabulary reflects a youthful penchant for comic-book heroes and a modern vernacular style heavily influenced by Japanese animé. Metallic silver detailing (on sports equipment, etc.) sharpens the visual impact even more, setting off the bright, vivid colours.”

An article in the October 2005 issue of Canada’s Stamp Details magazine quotes Alain Leduc, Manager of Stamp Design and Production at Canada Post: ”These stamps represent the excitement, the attitudes and the risks involved in these sports. This new issue has been specially created to be attractive to young people, and we think the style will draw their interest.” The article continues: ”The design itself breaks new ground for Canada Post, because of the unusual orientation of the self-adhesive stamps on the four-stamp pane. The images work together to create a dramatic effect that reflects the vigour of the four sports; at the same time, each stamp retains the visual energy when it stands alone on an envelope.”

Circle has previously designed commemorative stamps for the RCMP’s 125th Anniversary (including the award-winning RCMP 125th Anniversary Collector’s Set), the 1999 Pan American Games, Canada’s historic role in banning Land Mines (for Canada Post’s Millennium Collection), the 2001 Christmas issue, and earlier this year, the popular Fishing Flies series. Circle’s work has received widespread recognition, has appeared in publications worldwide, and has won numerous national and international awards.

Additional information about Canadian stamps can be found in the Newsroom section of Canada Post’s website, and a downloadable high-resolution photo of the Youth stamps is in the Newsroom’s Photo Centre. Stamps and Official First Day Covers will be available at participating post offices, can be ordered online by following the links at Canada Post’s website www.canadapost.ca or by mail-order from the National Philatelic Centre. From Canada and the USA call toll-free: 1 800 565 4362 and from other countries call: +1 902 863 6550.

For further information from Canada Post, contact:
Cindy Daoust, Ottawa, Ontario
T +1 613 734 4258
cindy.daoust@canadapost.ca

Canada Post News Release

A quote from a GDC Listserv web posting by Robert L. Peters graces the cover of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada’s innovative 2004/05 annual report. The “We Connect” theme reflects the powerful role of the Society in linking designers across Canada. Design and concept of the annual report (which uses Listserv discussion issues as the interest bed in the first 110 pages) is by SamataMason of Vancouver.