Student Winners

Judges' Pick

My Name, My History Campaign by Kathrin Teh Student RGD in Vancouver, Canada (Capilano University; Instructor: Tom Duguid)

"With campaigns that strive to make a social impact, the more specific not only the cause, but the intended audience, the better. This campaign really stands out to me, not only for its beautiful visuals, but its ability to speak directly to the people it aims to impact. Congrats on an excellent project!"

—Matthew Manos

This campaign is designed to encourage more Indigenous people to embrace and reclaim their traditional names and function as a platform for individuals to share their stories and spark change in government laws regarding the naming process in Canada. Bus shelter posters were chosen for the execution as an effective channel for reaching the general public, along with a guerilla marketing campaign to help drive traffic via social media. The concept uses the design of a “hello my name is” sticker, with handwritten names adding a personal touch. The campaign is aimed toward Canadians who are unaware of the erasure of Indigenous names and the stories behind them. Familiar imagery combined with an intriguing message helps capture the public’s attention.

Judges' Pick

Bloc Finance Branding by Annika McFarlane Student RGD, Rocio Palomar Rubisco Student RGD, Coralie Mayer Student RGD in Vancouver, Canada (Capilano University; Instructor: Christina Lee Kim Koon)

"Whether a supporter

of blockchain technology or not, this design identifies a very specific issue that newcomers face and proposes a unique solution. Fresh thinking and attention to detail wins the day.” 

—Wendy Gray RGD

BLOC is a digital wallet that allows undocumented immigrants to budget, save, and make payments and peer- to-peer transactions from any location. As a UN-backed resource, it also provides direct access to humanitarian financial aid. Each screen within the app is designed with the users' needs in mind and includes language translation and currency exchange features. BLOC’s service is centered around accessibility: Valid ID from any country is accepted to create an account, and the structured, high contrast interface makes for a painless navigation experience. BLOC opens the door to higher socioeconomic standing and a smoother integration into a new home

Shifting Minds Collective Branding by Riley Ryan Rose Park Student RGD in Surrey, Canada (Wilson School of Design; Instructor: John Belisle)

The corporate branding and visual identity for a streamlined hub for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training required design that would be simple and clear to avoid detracting from the organization’s content. Clear key messages achieve direct communication for the cause: “Shift Your Paradigm”, “Do Better, Be Better”, “When Community Calls, Answer.” The design achieves a balance between a playful tone and a serious message, using branded colours and an illustrative approach to balance type and imagery. Promotional wearables are designed to be purchased by supporters to drive revenue for the organization, with pins featuring pronouns to inspire inclusivity during workplace events. A transit advertising campaign uses minimal, eye-catching design for people to read quickly during their commute.

Welcoming Embrace Campaign by Mikaela Johnson Student RGD in Vancouver, Canada (Capilano University; Instructors: Tom Duguid & Lisa Boersma)

To help provide a stable support system for newcomers to Canada within the most vulnerable time of their transition to Canada (the first 6-12 months), “Welcoming Embrace” connects individuals with mentorship and community resources. Beginning with touchpoints at the YVR airport, newcomers receive care packages delivered to their door the next day. These care packages contain items sponsored by Canadian companies. A booklet in the care package uses illustrations to avoid language barriers and prompts users to download an app, which evaluates individuals to be paired up with relevant mentorship groups. The app also features opportunities to connect with local community groups for social activities and networking. This personalized process uplifts newcomers and builds a strong foundation for their new life in Canada from day one.

Revolv: Product Traceability App by Joyce Chan Student RGD in Vancouver, Canada (Capilano University; Instructor: Judy Snaydon)

To teach consumers about the social and environmental impact of their purchases, the Revolv app invites users to scan a product’s barcode to see a list of impacts including carbon emission, sustainability sourcing, fair labor and supply chain traceability. The app is intended to help people align their purchases with their values and to challenge brands to work towards more transparency in their production chains, to keep both business and customers accountable and reduce future economic, environmental and social costs. When a product does not align with the user’s values, the detail page provides information to help that user identify alternative recommendations. The visual system uses a photo collage to achieve a vibrant, human-focused impact.

Days Without Campaign by Atrin Yazdani-Biuki Student RGD in Vancouver, Canada (Capilano University; Instructors: Vida Jurcic RGD & Patrick Cotter)

This campaign is designed to highlight how living on the streets looks and feels, using everyday objects to illustrate the significance of their absence from people’s lives. The use of tallies creates a trapped feeling and conveys a sense of urgency. Personal photography taken in some of the most vulnerable alleyways in Downtown Vancouver show the real conditions in which people are living in. In addition to direct mail and bus shelter posters, the campaign uses newspaper advertising and stickers placed on objects throughout the city to reach viewers on a personal level through every touchpoint. By raising awareness of the problem of homelessness, the goal of the campaign is to encourage people to donate time and money to make a difference, and increase awareness for Lookout Society.

móytel - Indigenous Language Learning App by Marko Jones Student RGD in Vancouver, Canada (Capilano University)

“móytel” translates to “help each other” in Halq’eméylem, which represents the goal of the project. The language learning app for Indigenous teens starts with basic words to encourage engagement. An additional feature displays the regions where each Indigenous language is spoken and invites users to view languages spoken in their location. Visually displaying the borders of each language helps represent the complexity and connection of the different regions. The fingerprint is a symbol representing the discovery of one’s identity and culture, combined with the location symbol to reflect that each language has a home.