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2018 So(cial) Good Design Award Judges

Non-Profit, Client Initiated Category

 

Andy Chen

Partner at Isometric Studio, New York, NY

Andy studied sociology at Princeton University, where he was awarded the Pyne Honor Prize, the university’s highest general undergraduate distinction. He studied graphic design at RISD, where he received his MFA as a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. Andy started his career at Pentagram, where he worked on the rebranding of Bausch + Lomb with partner Paula Scher. As a Fulbright Scholar at the Royal College of Art, he conducted ethnographic research on aging, sexuality and social stigma. Andy is a contributor to Design Observer, Design Taxi and Open Manifesto. He has spoken at international conferences including Design Indaba, the London Design Festival, the XVIII International AIDS Conference, DesignThinkers and the University of Chicago Medical Conference

Will Hum RGD

Principal & Creative Director at Clear Space, Toronto, ON

Will is a Principal and Co-Founder of Clear Space, where he leads the strategic vision and creative direction for the firm. For more than 20 years, he has shaped the identities and communications for some of Canada’s most notable organizations, garnering several awards along the way. After graduating from OCA (before the D), Will worked for a variety of studios including a stint with Burton Kramer, Bhandari & Plater and Ove Design before starting his own firm. Will is known for helping brands make a lasting impact through informed, creative clarity. At Clear Space, Will collaborates with open-minded nonprofits, start-ups and businesses in various sectors to creatively express their brand image.

Jenny Rhodenizer

Marketing & Communications Director at Toronto Botanical Gardens, Toronto, ON

Jenny is a trend seeker and creative thinker who has a knack for delivering the maximum impact on a shoestring budget. She has worked in the charitable sector for over 25 years, leading the branding, public relations and marketing efforts at the Toronto Botanical Garden since 2002. Jenny tweets like a bird and creates buzz in the media, inspiring Torontonians to make a greater connection with nature. Her recent work has focused on building visually compelling stories for the gardens while forging strategic partnerships and creating fun, engaging events for the public. Jenny is a graduate of the Fine Arts program at the University of Guelph.

Cai Sepulis RGD

Partner at Touque Ltd., Guelph, ON

A freelance designer/illustrator with over 15 years under her belt, Cai’s work has been used in various national campaigns including work for HotDocs, Second Cup, Nordstrom, Loblaws, Brickworks Ciderhouse and a handful of microbreweries. Most recently she joined forces to partner in her new start-up, Toque Ltd. – a branding and publishing studio which creates Toque Magazine – a regional lookbook focussing on the Guelph, KitchenerWaterloo and Hamilton region

Amanda Maslany CGD

Creative Director + Designer, Maslany Creative Victoria, BC

With a career spanning 20+ years and a passion for typography, publication design and branding, Amanda has earned a reputation for creating distinctive brands, an outstanding sense of typography and a sharp eye for detail. Amanda has worked in design studios, agencies and currently as the principal at Maslany Creative, working with recognized brands across Canada, including corporations, public service departments, leading schools and universities, arts and cultural organizations and highly visible nonprofits. Amanda has participated as GDC’s National Corporate Secretary, South Saskatchewan Representative, Interim Vancouver Island Representative and Design Cares volunteer. Amanda is a graduate of the Alberta College of Art + Design in Calgary.

For Profit, Client Initiated Category

Julian Brown RGD

Owner & Creative Director, ON THE CHASE! Toronto, ON

Julian is the designer and entrepreneur behind the motion design studio ON THE CHASE!. Just under ten years young, OTC! has won international awards and collaborated with diverse clients ranging from retailer Shoppers Drug Mart and consulting giant Deloitte, to video game maker Ubisoft and charity WWF Canada. His videos have garnered millions of views and he has been profiled in design magazines as a rising young talent. A proud member of RGD, Julian is a past-VP on the RGD Board of Directors and an avid speaker and design advocate. He is a graduate of the York/Sheridan Design Degree program, a world traveller and, most recently, a proud and terrified father.

Wade Convay

Creative Lead, Interactive, Google San Francisco, CA

At Google, Wade helps guide some of the next great experiences, builds tools to inspire others and helps to unify the brand. Previously, he was an executive creative director and VP of Product Innovation at R/GA working on the Nike+ ecosystem of products. He also helped brands such as Converse, Fossil, Louis Vuitton, Samsung, Toyota, Walmart and Zagat. Before heading west, Wade helped launch the R/GA Techstars Connected Devices Accelerator working closely with the start-ups Alvio, Grove Labs and Hammerhead. He was also a faculty member at the School of Visual Arts in New York and helped build the interactive department from two instructors to over 30. Wade studied Design and Advertising at Conestoga College before earning his B.F.A. in Graphic Design from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

John DeWolf RGD

Vice President, Form:Media Dartmouth, NS

John works in various disciplines including print, interactive, broadcast, exhibition and experiential graphic design. Trained in graphic and interior design, he views system, program, story, service and experience as integral to his interdisciplinary approach to design. Early in his career, he worked on developing software to help people plan for retirement, rethinking the Census 2000 and American Community Survey questionnaires for the US Bureau of the Census and developing a multi-modal signage program for the City of Seattle transportation network. Since that time, John has taught in Washington, Winnipeg and Halifax. He has served as Director of Design for the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Corcoran College of Art and Design, and worked for Parks Canada.

Anne Donohoe

Chief Marketing Officer, MEC Vancouver, BC

At MEC, Anne is responsible for marketing, communications, community investment and brand engagement strategies. She supports the ongoing evolution of the iconic MEC brand, extending MEC’s unique retail offering to a growing number of members and inspiring Canadians to lead active lifestyles outside. She has over 20 years of experience in marketing communications, starting at Harlequin Enterprises, where she became passionate about direct to consumer marketing and e-commerce. Anne joined INTRAWEST to develop their customer relationship marketing capabilities across North America, and then moved to Singapore where she worked with Interbrand as the Director of Brand Strategy for South East Asia.

Government Initiated Category

Sonja Banic

Manager, Culture Services, Culture Division City of Mississauga Mississauga, ON

Sonja has a passion for telling stories. It was no surprise she studied Journalism and built her marcom career on writing and sharing stories. She joined the City of Mississauga in 1998, becoming the Manager of Corporate Communications in 1999, and then into her current role of Manager, Culture Services in 2015. Sonja held similar positions at: Pafco – a Division of Allstate Insurance in Toronto; the Learning Experience in Los Angeles; the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. She started her storytelling career as a freelance reporter filing stories for various publications including the Toronto Star. She has won several industry awards including the IABC Gold Quill, which she received for her work on the City of Mississauga’s Communications Master Plan.

Christopher Brands RGD Emeritus

Chris has had fulfilling careers in various education, fine art and graphic design environments and has been an RGD member since the organization’s inception in 1996. His graphic design experience culminated within the unique in-house graphic design departments of the former North York Public Library, the City of Toronto Public Library and finally with the City of Toronto. He retired in 2014 from positions as Supervisor, Design Services (Corporate Identity Program) and Project Manager, Corporate Identity & Branding for the City of Toronto. Chris currently applies much of his artistic time to personal projects that blend his expertise in drawing, painting, graphic design and photography.

Kim Pickett CGD

Principal & Creative Director at KIMBO Design, Vancouver, BC 

Kim’s creative expertise guides the development of innovative branding campaigns and visual identities for clients like the Governments of BC and Saskatchewan. She is frequently recognized for her design and business achievements, including for Best Website/UX Design at the BIV Western Canada Marketing Awards for work with Move Up Prince George campaign. KIMBO Design ranked #1 on Business in Vancouver’s Biggest Design Agencies, and #71 on the PROFIT 500 list of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies.

Designer Driven Category

Deborah Adler

President, Adler Design New York, NY

Deborah is a designer, inventor and entrepreneur. Her work is guided by the belief that meaningful innovation requires a deep understanding of the people who will use what she creates and the changing world that surrounds them. Prior to launching her design and branding firm, Adler Design, she partnered with Target to develop the ClearRx prescription packaging system. In 2017 Adler teamed up with CVS to design ScriptPath, which now makes it easier for millions of patients to take their medication. Always at the core of her work is the understanding that design can make a positive difference in people’s lives. She believes that empathy is the most important ingredient in great design and that a change in behaviour is the most important outcome

Ian Grais CGD

Founder & National Creative Director, Rethink Canada Vancouver, BC

Ian was born and raised in Western Canada. He studied Economics at the University of British Columbia then Advertising and Design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, prior to founding Rethink in 1999. Rethink was recently awarded Silver for Canadian Design Agency of the Year by Strategy. At Rethink, Ian directs a wide range of projects encompassing design, interactive, installation, advertising and social. Ian has been ranked by Strategy as the number one art director and the number one creative director in Canada numerous times.

Katie Maasik

Senior Designer, Saje Natural Wellness Vancouver, BC

Katie is a native Vancouverite who flew East to earn her design degree at NSCADU in Halifax, where she found an evolving love for typography, lettering and branding. She has lived in New York, studied art history in Europe and travelled to Australia, the US and Japan. Notable experience includes Condé Naste, W Magazine, The Vancouver Canucks, Aveda, Hangar18, Imagine1day, Rogers Publishing, Subplot Design, Lululemon, Good Inc, Woodlot, Telus and Saje Natural Wellness, with a couple of awards under her belt. When she’s not designing you can find her wandering the woods, hiding in quiet spaces or walking with her head in the clouds, daydreaming up new ideas.

Nico Taus RGD

Partner & Creative Director, Studio123 Sudbury, ON

At Studio123, Nico guides the creative process and works to deliver high quality creative that achieves results. He lives and breathes entrepreneurship, having started his first design agency at 20. He is a recipient of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Northern Ontario Business and is also a co-recipient of a Legacy Award from the Canadian Regional Design Awards (Redgees). He is a graduate of the Graphic Design program at Cambrian College and is proudly bilingual. His engagement in the national design community is demonstrated by his position on the Programs Committee for RGD and his involvement in the creation of the Sudbury Design Society.

Student Category

Lauren Wickware

Graphic Design & Art Direction, Lauren Wickware Design Hamilton, ON

Lauren partners with cultural institutions to create a broad range of materials with a focus on publication design. She is passionate about creating work that has longevity, extending the life and expanding the reach of a text, event or exhibition by creating highly tactile and tangible objects. Lauren’s portfolio includes projects for the Aga Khan Museum, ACTRA National, the Art Gallery of Ontario and RBC Royal Bank of Canada. Her work has been recognized by ADCC, the Alcuin Society, the Ontario Association of Art Galleries and Applied Arts. A graduate of OCAD and Parsons The New School for Design, Lauren cultivates the next generation of designers as a faculty member of the Interdisciplinary Design Strategy and Graphic Design Programs at George Brown College’s School of Design.