Op Art Modernist case study, Burton Kramer

Most well known for his iconic, geometric, and order-based mark used for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Burton Kramers’ work spans just over five decades, two continents, and too many design trends to count. Despite such a large breadth of time designing, Mr. Kramer has remained a seminal figure in Optical Art, modernist theory, and logic-based reasoning applied to design solutions. And then there is the beauty of his work, which rips... Read More

Mi’kmaq legend

For the past few months I’ve really been enjoying a book by Ella Elizabeth Clark called Indian Legends of Canada. It was printed by McClelland and Stewart Limited in 1960, and reprinted in 1981, my birth year. I’m pretty sure new works wouldn’t include the word “Indian” in the title, they’d probably be more sensitive and use something like Native, Aboriginal, or First People’s. Regardless, the book is full... Read More

Iqaluit cultural mural

Looks like Alexa Hatanaka, Patrick Thompson, and Jonathon Cruz took 9 days painting something incredible way up in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada recently outside the Qikiqtani General Hospital. I cannot believe the amount of detail shown here, and the cultural significance of the subjects. It’s so enthralling and intricate, I would love to be on a project like this. Associated with the project is this awesome firm based in Iqaluit called Nuschool.... Read More

The locals are winning

It’s safe to say you’re on Flickr. Most of us are, but do you geotag your photos? I started to, then I realized it was pretty high maintenance (at least for me). Well if you’ve taken a photo in a major city in the last year and geotagged it, it’s likely that one of these blue or red dots is yours. Eric Fisher took it a step further, however, by organizing the photos into local vs. tourist photographs. The blue dots represent... Read More

Stan Rogers

Stan Rogers wasn’t born in the Maritimes but it’s fair to say that they claim him. Early in his life he spent summers and formative years in Nova Scotia which greatly influenced his musical career and point of view on the world, singing epic love songs to the life, myth, and grandeur of a life at sea. The influence of the maritime tradition is held by many Canadians, regardless of their proximity to the sea, which can be seen on the Canadian... Read More

Canadian luggage tags & decals

Grabbing some fresh mountain air and incredible landscapes is usually enough. Coming home with luggage tags and decals only makes it more incredible. These socialists know how to make a take-away! Most people are familiar with the Chateau at Lake Louise, it’s such a huge icon of the Northwest. On this side of the country, however, most people have never seen or heard of Chateau Frontenac. It’s the worlds most photographed hotel and is... Read More

H.M.C.S. Vancouver

I LOVE Canada. I will not hold it in anymore. I have Canadian pride. You guys are awesome. Great politics, you take care of the least of yours, you elect aboriginal peoples & immigrants into leadership, you have an incredible landscape far more epic than ours, and you still have territories and forts. So imagine my delight when I saw Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Vancouver parked near the studio, in the brown waters of the Willamette! My... Read More

Aboriginal typeface

In doing some research for a school project I discovered the Canadian province of Nunavut has created its own typeface! Interesting, I’m totally intrigued. It’s called Pigiarniq. The latin portion of the alphabet is quite lovely, and then the Aboriginal portion is just incredible. So it’s basically a geometry class, to check out their phonetics. Tiro Typeworks took care of the design and also have another version available called... Read More

On task: Yellowknife, NWT

On New Year’s Eve I was sitting in Astoria, Oregon staring at this licence plate from the Northwest Territories, Canada over the best chowder I have ever put in my mouth. I’d seen it as a child, as an adult I was captivated. The shape of the plate completely captures my imagination. I want to drive by Polar bears! I want this plate on a big blue (electric) truck that carries huskies, firewood, and things! Some of what is coming out of... Read More