Four Corners: Multiculturalism in Canadian graphic design

The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts is pleased to present the symposium and workshop Four Corners: Multiculturalism in Canadian graphic design

Canadian Design has greatly benefited from the rich knowledge and cultural uniqueness of immigrant designers from abroad, so as to make Canada their home. Fostered by government-funded programs in the ’60s, the arts in general and design in particular, these designers produced rich and unique solutions informed by their international traditions. How has this development continued?

In looking at design agencies, studios and design colleges, you will find a rich tapestry of international designers. While many designers today are certainly passionate about their work, it is harder to find such unique contributions as were created by the design pioneers of the ’60s. Does this have to do with design becoming a strategic tool to add business value that follows marketing mandates, replacing intuition, passion and the joy of experimentation? Does the instant distribution of something new kill the avant-garde spirit in its infancy? Since design is everywhere today and not a specialty anymore, will time, financial pressure and the unknown impact of AI suffocate creation? However, despite the ubiquity of design, you will still find unique and stubbornly persistent design excellence.

In this symposium we will present four designers who all began their careers in different countries but chose Canada, specifically Toronto, as the new home in which to continue their creative explorations. Each has contributed significantly to design excellence in Canada and will present their unique story, education and work as well as discuss the challenges they faced in emigrating to Canada.

Location:

Goethe-Institut Toronto 100 University Avenue, 2nd floor, Toronto, ON M5J 1V6

Speakers:

• Kyung Park has been oscillating between east and west cultures his entire life. Currently, he is in Toronto where he shares his views and perspectives about culture through design, teaching and sharing.
• With roots in Iran and experience in Toronto, Majid Abbasi’s work bridges Middle Eastern visual traditions with contemporary Canadian design, offering insights into the integration of cultural motifs.
• Stüssy Tschudin was born in Switzerland but found his interest in design here, in Canada. He started Forge Media, an award winning creative studio that focuses on interaction and human experience.
• Udo Schliemann’s expertise in identity development and signage design reflects how modernist European aesthetics have shaped Canadian design while opening opportunities for reinterpretation in a diverse cultural context.

Further building on these narratives, we offer two hands-on workshops to delve deeper into the richness of cultural expression by introducing Hangul (Korean) and Arabic (Persian, Aramaic) typography as a way of discussing the diversity of cultures through (visual) language.

Hosted by RCA/ARC

Schedule

Symposium: Wednesday, June 18, 6 – 9 pm

• Each speaker delivers a 20 min presentation • Followed by 15 min Q&A

Workshop: Saturday, June 21, 12 - 4 pm

• Kyung Park: Hangul Typography Workshop (4 hours)

• Majid Abbasi: Perso-Arabic Typography Workshop (4 hours)

Tickets

Symposium Wednesday, June 18, 6 – 9 pm
• Student/RCA member: $10.00
• General admission: $15.00
(100 seats available)

Workshop Saturday June 21, 12 - 4 pm
• Student/RCA member: $30.00
• General admission: $40.00
(15 seats available per workshop)

Symposium and Workshop at Goethe-Institut Toronto 100 University Avenue, 2nd floor, Toronto, ON M5J 1V6

Symposium: Wednesday, June 18, 6 – 9 pm Workshops in Hangul and Arabic Script: Saturday, June 21, 12 pm