(CONNECTING CD COMMUNITIES]

Communication Designers Association (CDA) 
is a non-profit organization that connects the 
world’s largest CD communities.

CDA DESIGN INSPIRATION:
PAUL ROWAN, UMBRA CO-FOUNDER

May 31, 2012 - Toronto
The Toronto chapter of Communication Designers Association (CDA) presents an inspiring talk by Paul Rowan, Co-founder of Umbra. Paul (who... began his career as a graphic designer) co-founded Umbra 32 years ago with his friend and colleague, Les Mandelbaum. His mission as VP, Inspiration, is to collaborate with young designers around the world turning their product ideas into reality.

All registered CDA Toronto members/volunteers have been emailed an Eventbrite invitation to this event.

CDA ZURICH PRESENTS DYNAMIC DESIGN:
A TALK BY ALAIN LECLERC VON BONIN

May 3, 2012 - Zurich, Switzerland: The Zurich Chapter of Communications Designers Association (CDA) hosted a presentation by Alain Leclerc von Bonin. Alain is an independent designer who works at the intersection of design and technology. From his studio in Zurich (VisualContext), he applies his distinctive approach to a wide range of communication and cultural projects. See the video of his presentation below ...


Question & answer session with Alain Leclerc von Bonin: https://vimeo.com/41656131
Slides: http://www.slideshare.net/CDAZURICH/communicationdesignersorg-cda-zh-talk

Sponsors: International Branding Association (IBA)  | Neidhart + Schön Group  |  Passionate

CDA Celebrates World Communication Design Day!

Icograda has invited members and all interested parties to organize public events to promote World Communication Design Day on April 27th, 2012. Originally launched in 1991 as World Graphics Day by Icograda, this is the first year it will be celebrated under its new name. This aligns with Icograda’s recent name change from The International Council of Graphic Design Associations to the International Council of Communication Design.

As an organization dedicated to advancing communication design, Communication Designers Association (CDA) is proud to support this initiative by organizing chapter events globally on Friday, April 27 starting at 6:30pm: Toronto - The Ballroom, 145 John Street, 2nd Floor | Zurich - Atelier Bar, Talacker 16 | New York - Wined Up, 913 Broadway | London - The Angel, 3-5 Islington High Street | All events open to the public (free admission - cash bar)

Remembering Don Watt
Donald George Watt 1936-2009: the brand* designer who changed the way we shop
*Loblaws, No Name, President’s Choice, Nestle, Walmart, Home Depot, Metro

November 3 - 17, 2011
Monday - Friday: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Free admission

School of Design
George Brown College
230 Richmond St. East

Facebook event page

Don Watt information:
DW+Partners
Toronto Star Article
Strategy Magazine Article
Applied Arts Article
Globe and Mail Obituary
CDOT Facebook Page

CDA
HONOURS
DESIGN
PIONEERS
FRITZ
GOTTSCHALK
ZURICH
STUART
ASH
TORONTO

The Zurich and Toronto chapters of Communication Designers Association (CDA) jointly honoured design pioneers Fritz Gottschalk at Museum Bellerive, Zurich and Stuart Ash at OCAD University, Toronto (founders of Gottschalk+Ash International). In addition to an exhibit showcasing 45 years of G+A design excellence, a 44-page publication was launched to mark the occasion.

More info: Facebook Page

Thank you to all the CDA volunteers/sponsors who helped make this event possible, especially Barbara Staub of CDA Zurich and Errol Saldanha of CDA Toronto.

Sponsors: Aisle One | Anstey Book Binding | Campari | Carlsberg
C.J. Graphics | Create Imaging | Domtar | Entro Communications | FS Parker
International Branding Association (IBA) | Michael Mahovlich Photography
Neidhart + Schön Group | OCAD University | Passionate | REBRAND
Saldanha Inc. | Specialties Graphic Finishers | Staub Communication Design
Unisource Canada | UV Studio

Video of Fritz Gottschalk presentation in Zurich 



Video of Stuart Ash presentation in Toronto 

CDA Announces Innovative Membership Concept

Introducing the first professional design association to accept volunteer hours in lieu of monetary annual membership fees ...

8 HOURS = CDA MEMBERSHIP

As an incentive for member participation, Communication Designers Association (CDA) allows qualified communication designers to essentially ‘work off’ their membership dues through a minimum donation of 8 hours (per year) of community service for their local CDA chapter.

Community service includes: volunteer work for CDA i.e. advancing our discipline, attending events, helping fellow designers/students and generally staying active within your local CDA chapter ...

 Join now >

Inside OCAD University’s New Visual Identity

Please join the Toronto chapter of Communication Designers Association (CDA) for an ‘inside look’ at OCAD University’s new visual identity by Bruce Mau Design (presentation by Chris Braden & Michael Dudek) http://www2.ocad.ca/visualidentity/

Thursday, June 2, 2011
6:30pm - 10:30pm

FREE CDA member-only event (invitation sent via email)
Become a member: http://www.communicationdesigners.org/p/membership.html

CDA Zurich Hosts First Event

Please join the Zurich chapter of Communication Designers Association (CDA) for an insightful talk about branding (multiple/individual) by Donovan Gregory and Reto Gehrig of Designer’s Club www.designersclub.ch

Thursday, May 5, 2011 (event video above)
7:00pm - 10:00pm

FREE admission (space is limited)
RSVP: Eventbrite online ticket confirmation number required

CDA Zurich members are offered priority tickets (invitation details to be sent via email). Non-members, please join our Facebook page for information on remaining tickets (also free).

Event Sponsor: Antalis  |  Video: Reto Kuhn  |  Photography: Passionate 
Organizer: Barbara Staub

CDA Toronto Presents Blok Talk

Please join the Toronto chapter of Communication Designers Association (CDA) for The Awe Of Getting Lost, an inspiring talk by Vanessa Eckstein, Creative Director/Principal of Blok Design, which has recently re-opened in Toronto after eight years in Mexico City. SEE: http://www.blokdesign.com/

Having lived and worked in Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, New York, Mexico City and Toronto, Vanessa will share her unique global perspective.

Thursday, April 7, 2011
6:30pm - 10:30pm

FREE admission (space is limited)
RSVP: Eventbrite online ticket confirmation number required

CDA Toronto members are offered priority tickets (invitation details to be sent via email). Non-members, please join our Facebook page for information on remaining tickets (also free).

Sponsor: Colour Innovations Inc.
Contributors: Andy Chiang, Doreen Colonello, Errol Saldanha, Jen-Chi Lee, Justin Morris, Patricia Kleeberg

CDOT rebrands as CDA

We are pleased to announce that after operating as Communication Designers of Toronto since 2007, CDOT will duplicate its modern association model in other major international design cities. To facilitate this expansion, the organization has rebranded to Communication Designers Association (CDA).

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Now a global non-profit association, CDA’s mission is to connect the world’s largest communication design communities. The Toronto sub-brand is now CDA Toronto and subsequent chapters: CDA London, CDA New York, CDA Tokyo and CDA Zurich will launch in 2011.

Thank you to the many volunteers who have helped us reach this point.

Errol Saldanha, Founder
Communication Designers Association (CDA)
http://www.communicationdesigners.org/

James Wilson in Overdrive

Join CDA Toronto (formerly CDOT) for an inspiring presentation by James Wilson, Founder/Principal of Overdrive Design on Thursday, November 4 at 6:30pm

  
Overdrive (Design Limited) is a full service design firm incorporated in 1986. The Toronto-based firm specializes in two specific areas – integrated visual identity and interactive mandates encompassing start-ups, museum and heritage projects, donor recognition, touch-screen interactive, user experience and user interface design.

Thursday, November 4,  6:30pm - 10:30pm
Art Square Gallery (across from the AGO)
334 Dundas West, Toronto

FREE Admission - Space is limited

The Communication Design of Gilbert Li

Please join Communication Designers of Toronto (CDOT) for an informal presentation by Gilbert Li.

As Principal of The Office of Gilbert Li, his studio has developed an extensive portfolio of work. From groundbreaking books to trendsetting packaging, his work has received accolades from the most prestigious international design organizations and publications.

Thursday, August 5,  6:30pm - 10:30pm
Art Square Gallery (across from the AGO)
334 Dundas West, Toronto

FREE Admission - Space is limited (No 'maybes' please)

Firm RSVP required by August 3rd to:
info[at]communicationdesigners[dot]org

Remembering Don Watt

A celebration + retrospective of a design pioneer
April 22-25, 2010

Ontario College of Art & Design, Great Hall
100 McCaul Street, Toronto

Exhibit Hours
Thursday, April 22, 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Friday, April 23, 7:30 am - 10:00 pm
Saturday, April 24, 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday, April 25, 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Free Admission

Facebook

Don Watt Info
DW+Partners
DW+Partners Articles
Applied Arts Article
Globe and Mail Obituary
CDOT Facebook Page

Design Pioneer Don Watt Passes Away at 73

Donald George Watt (b.1936) passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on December 23, 2009. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Don attended Luther College there, and moved to Toronto in the mid-1950’s to attend the Ontario College of Art. Recognized as a Canadian icon in our industry, Don worked with major retailers all over the world. He developed some of the world’s most recognizable brands: Loblaws, President's Choice, No Name, Nestle, Wal-Mart Super Centres, Sam's Choice and Home Depot to name a few. One of Don’s proudest achievements occurred in 1965 when his design was personally chosen by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson to design the new Canadian Flag.

Don was a design visionary with a brilliant mind. He changed how people shopped around the world. Despite his success, his feet were firmly planted on the ground and he always had lots of time for everyone, no matter their walk in life. He could have lived and worked anywhere in the world, but he preferred to stay in Canada, a country he loved and often said, where he preferred to have his children raised.

Don Watt was truly a design pioneer and a mentor to me. He was an early supporter of Communication Designers of Toronto (CDOT) and I am glad that we were able to recognize him last April with a CDOT Honourary Membership. - Errol Saldanha

(above text edited from official obituary)

Toronto Star Article

Type designer Rod McDonald looks at the life and work of Carl Dair (1912-1967) – one of the most complex and contradictory figures in the history of Canadian communication design ...

Friday November 6, 2009
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Art Square Gallery (across from the AGO)
334 Dundas West, Toronto, ON
FREE Admission - Cash Bar

CDOT celebrate! Event

On April 3rd, we celebrated the people who have helped us reach this stage: volunteers, new members and the Design Pioneers ...

CDOT Honourary Memberships were awarded to: Stuart Ash, Ernst Barenscher, Stan Bevington, Carl Brett, John Capon, Jim Donoahue, Louis Fishauf, Georges Haroutiun, Hans Kleefeld, Rod McDonald, Frank Newfeld, Ken Rodmell, David Shaw, Tiit Telmet, Ralph Tibbles and Don Watt.

Local design work was shown from: 52 Pick-up, AmoebaCorp, Bruce Mau Design, Clear Space, Compass360, DW+Partners, Evoke Solutions, Gottschalk+Ash, Hahn Smith, Ove Design, Overdrive, Oxygen, Q30, Soapbox, Sputnik, Underline, Up and Viva + Co.

Event photos: http://www.designedgecanada.ca/image-galleries/cdot-awards-honourary-memberships-to-canadian-design-greats

Sponsors:
Saldanha Inc.
Unisource Canada Inc.
Flash Reproductions
Swipe Books on Advertising & Design
EastDell Estates
Steam Whistle Brewing
Umbra Ltd.

CDOT at DesignThinkers 2008

In tandem with the return of the CDOT Design Pioneers Exhibit in October, CDOT hosted 2 successful interactive sessions at RGD Ontario’s DesignThinkers 2008 conference on October 29 in Toronto.

The first session discussed how Canadian design evolved and was told by some of the design pioneers themselves. Panel Participants:

Louis Fishauf - Art Director, Toronto Life Magazine
Burton Kramer - Artist
Laurie Lewis - Editor & Art Director, Vista Magazine
Frank Newfeld - Designer/Illustrator/ Educator (retired) & Author
Will Novosedlik - Founding Partner, Chemistry (Moderator)

For the second session, emerging designers joined in to discuss the future of our discipline. Panel Participants:

Alan Krpan - Creative Director, Riordon Design
Chris Landry - Student, OCAD & Designer, Overdrive Design
Gary Ludwig - Creative Director, Interbrand Canada
Will Novosedlik - Founding Partner, Chemistry (Moderator)
Keith Rushton - OCAD Professor, Chair of Graphic Design, Faculty of Design, Chair, Academic Council at OCAD
James Wilson - Principal, Overdrive Design

Thank you to the above panelists, RGD Ontario and the CDOT Team (Katie Babcock, Rebecca Caswell, Elissa Gallai, Keira Enneson, Nick Milward, Errol Saldanha and Randy Van Gerwen) for making these sessions possible.

On Friday, November 28, CDOT hosted a gathering to celebrate Frank Newfeld's historic design work and his new book Drawing on Type. Guests enjoyed viewing past work such as the original ROM logo and famous publications like Alligator Pie. Frank also read a humorous excerpt from his book describing how he first started working in Canada.

Held at Swipe Books on Advertising and Design, the venue provided the perfect setting for people to meet Frank, have a book signed and to meet other pioneers such as Frank Gibson and Stan Bevington.

Drawing on Type is the fascinating life-story of one of Canada’s most accomplished book publishing figures: Frank Newfeld, designer/illustrator/educator (retired) and author.
Frank who? ... “Anyone who, in the last fifty years, has read a Canadian children’s book, gone to school, read a text-book, studied at university, read a novel, browsed a magazine, attended an art exhibition, purchased an exhibition catalogue, reviewed an annual report, attended art school, trained as a graphic designer, looked at a coffee table book or read Canadian history – all of you know something about the work of Frank Newfeld: for Frank Newfeld is everywhere in the world of Canadian books.” – Randall Speller



CDOT Team
Katie Babcock, Rebecca Caswell, Keira Enneson, Nick Milward, Errol Saldanha, Randy Van Gerwen

Contributors
Cheryl Dipede, Tim Inkster, Yivgeni Matoussov, David Michaelides, Justin Morris, Rod Roodenburg (GDC), Randall Speller (AGO), Michelle Walker, Matt Warburton (GDC)


Sponsors
DT Print Solutions Inc.
The Porcupine’s Quill Inc.
Saldanha Inc.
Swipe Books on Advertising & Design
Thompson Print Management

CDOT Design Pioneers Exhibit

If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development. – Aristotle

Honouring Toronto’s Communication Design Pioneers




CDOT is proud to announce that its inaugural event in March 2008, CDOT Design Pioneers Exhibit, was an overwhelming success. With attendance of three hundred plus guests, the opening night was a notable event gathering designers from across generations. The opening event and week-long exhibit recognized local veteran designers who helped define a design discipline and some of Canada’s most recognizable brands.

Located at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), the exhibit featured the design work of Stuart Ash, Hans Kleefeld, Burton Kramer, Laurie Lewis, Clair Stewart, Don Watt and many others for the first time.



Above: Not only was it a rare opportunity to view their work, it was also a unique opportunity to meet some of the pioneers in person such as Ernst Barencher, Don Watt, Ralph Tibbles, Jim Donahue, Louis Fishauf, Hans Kleefeld, Burton Kramer and Stuart Ash. An introduction was given by William Thorsell, Director & CEO of the Royal Ontario Museum.

This is only the first of a series of CDOT events. Our organization will continue to host accessible events that will have a substantial impact on the local design community. As its first event, it was appropriate for CDOT to recognize Toronto’s past designers, because as the tagline of the exhibit suggests, “If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development.” – Aristotle

Thanks to all who made the event a success:

CDOT Team
Katie Babcock, Darryl Bank, Brian Donnelly, Elissa Gallai, Errol Saldanha, Randy Van Gerwen, Justin Young

Sponsors
Applied Arts Inc.
Aquent
Colour Innovations Inc.
Creative Niche Inc.
Gottschalk+Ash International
Ontario College of Art & Design
Saldanha Inc.
Steam Whistle Brewing
Thompson Print Management
Umbra Ltd.
Unisource Canada Inc.