Arts & Culture Winners

Judge's Pick

Quartier des Spectacles Campaign by Compagnie et Cie in Montréal, Canada (Client: Partenariat du Quartier des spectacles)

“With this Quartier des Spectacles campaign, I sense the unity of all of Montreal’s entertainers during the tough period of the pandemic. The colourless graphics are minimal but effective, with the contrasting red beating heart in each performer symbolizing their common desire to perform and engage with audiences now and into the future.”

—Tomomi Sayuda

As a central player in Montreal’s cultural scene, the Quartier des Spectacles Partnership launched a campaign to show its support for those affected by the shut-downs of arts and culture programming during the COVID-19 pandemic, sending a positive message to artists and celebrating the importance of their contributions. As cultural spaces begin to reopen, the next phase of the campaign amplifies artists’ voices and their desire to reunite with the public. Portraits of 23 artists and mosaics celebrating a diverse range of talents and disciplines showcase the excitement around upcoming opportunities to reconnect. The campaign became a social movement driven by the #culturevivante hashtag, with more than 30 businesses and organizations showing their support and solidarity.

Judges' Pick

Islamic Art & Material Culture Collaborative Identity by Mustaali Raj in Vancouver, Canada (Client: University of Toronto)

“The intersection of meanings represented by IAMCC’s new identity is brilliant. The use of the Khatam/Khatim symbol is respectful to the Islamic faith, arts and culture. The nod to the city of Toronto is a delight, and the visual identity is well-executed on all applications.” 

— Xandr Sutjiadi RGD

To present Toronto as a global destination for Islamic art and material culture, the visual identity for the IAMCC leveraged the city’s reputation as a diverse world leader. As the formalization of shared institutional capacity between academia and cultural institutions (University of Toronto, the ROM, and the Aga Khan Museum), the IAMCC required a design concept that would help elevate new ways of thinking with eye-catching visuals. Inspired by the iconic Islamic motif of the Khatam (8-pointed star), the final design represents the highest virtues in Islamic culture: learning, community, faith, and love of beauty. The logo draws upon and combines two unique strategic elements: the subject (Islamic art and material culture) and the place (Toronto) featuring the outline of Toronto’s own CN Tower within its core.

The Fruit Machine Poster by Chargefield in Toronto, Canada (Client: SandBay Entertainment)

The Fruit Machine is a documentary that examines the witch-hunt of homosexual public servants and military personnel in Canada from the 1950s through the early 1990s. The movie poster concept reflects the message of the film with the image of a destructive machine with a photo passing through it. The visual image of a paper shredder represents the idea of erasing the contributions of these individuals. The poster was enthusiastically received by the filmmakers and was used to garner interest for screenings on various television networks in Canada and abroad, raising awareness of important, little-known Canadian events affecting the LGBT community

Read Up Awareness Campaign by Ramp Communications in Toronto, Canada (Client: Literary Press Group)

Literary Press Group required an awareness campaign to connect readers with Canadian independent publishers to help support the growth of Canadian literary culture amid the market domination of big-box stores and online bookseller penetration. Using arresting origami crafted from the pages of books, the campaign highlights the range of unique experiences books can elicit with the words “Inspire, Awaken, Challenge and Provoke”. Targeted imagery reinforces the unique value that independent publishers bring to the literary world. The initial campaign was extended to be applied across book bags, bookmarks and counter displays based on the positive response from publishers and readers.

Out on Screen: Organization and Festival Website by Co-Effect Creative in Toronto, Canada

Out On Screen curates films that illuminate transformative moments in the lives of queer, trans, and Two Spirit people, convening meaningful dialogue to catalyze change locally and globally. By unifying the organization’s varied initiatives into one home, the updated website tells a cohesive story, improving brand recognition and driving fundraising efforts. The elevated online presence also helped deliver virtual experiences as an increasing number of audience members shifted from in-person to online engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Audience surveys, working sessions with staff and sector reviews of related organizations informed the creation of a dynamic, accessible and easy to manage website that reflects the relevancy, energy and notoriety of this long-standing organization.

Native New York Exhibit by C&G Partners in New York, United States (Client: Smithsonian Institution – National Museum of the American Indian)

"Native New York” is a long-term exhibition with special emphasis on reaching local students with content to meet NY State curriculum standards. The exhibit is a walk-in graphic novel that follows a 400-mile path across five centuries. Custom illustrations were commissioned from Native graphic novel creators, paired with hands-on touchable elements drawn from each story. Illustrations cover traditional craft, the myth of the “purchase” of Manhattan, and the intricacies of the 17th-century fur-trade economy. The “trail markers” at each exhibit carry the title of the location depicted, both the official modern one and the actual Native name of the site. The exhibition has received favourable reviews and has received a Graphic Design USA Design Award.