GRAPHIC DESIGNERS OF CANADA: A TRANSFORMATIVE MARK FOR A NATIONAL SOCIETY.

The GDC mark stands for nation-wide community and is inspired by the bold geometry of the Canadian flag. The reverse triangle in the final character suggests movement, speaks to design process, and how the profession of graphic design is responsible and accountable for delivering impactful, visual solutions and creative communications.

An additional mark was also developed for the Country’s professional designation: Certified Graphic Designer.

In collaboration with John Ngan. Acknowledgements: Matthew Warburton, Brenda Sanderson, Darren Carcary, Mike Cober, Melanie MacDonald, Jasper Johns, Kai Oberhauser - Photo credit for maple leaf image

Solution
  • Brand Identity
  • Brand Innovation
  • Graphic Systems
Synopsis

The Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) is Canada’s national professional graphic design association and the national certifying body. After a Canada-wide RFP process, Dennis Boyle and John Ngan were selected to design the association’s new brand platform.

With close to 50 years tied to the previous logomark, and requiring to nationally represent the profession of graphic design and its members, the new mark would require a carefully thought-out vision and execution. A bold and compelling mark was developed and presented to the discerning Client. The GDC mark stands for nation-wide community, and is inspired by the bold geometry of the Canadian flag. The reverse triangle in the final character of the mark is suggestive of movement, the design process, and how graphic design is the industry responsible for developing visual solutions and creative communications.

A new mark was also developed for the Country’s professional designation: Certified Graphic Designer. (CGD is currently in the the early stages of potentially being adopted by other countries as an international designation for Graphic Design)

Applied Arts Magazine – Applied Arts Wire
GDC brand mark and article published online — 2014

Testimonial

On behalf of the Graphic Designers of Canada, thank you for your extraordinary work with the new GDC identity. Designing an identity for a 50 plus year old organization is a monumental task. Doing so for an organization whose purpose is to represent graphic designers across Canada, is an even larger challenge. Despite all this and other unanticipated challenges along the way, the development and results were both strategic and considered. We are very pleased with the outcome.

Melanie McDonald, Executive Director
Graphic Designers of Canada