Cafe ad

A black and white ad for the local news paper ad promoting the Bank Cafe's Italian night menu.

Chocolarte

A sign we did 4 years ago. I never took a photo of it until I came across it and grabbed one with an iphone on the 24th.

I designed a sign that visually fit the broad facia while respecting the integrity of their established logo. The dimensional slats buffer the tight rectangle of the logo panel to the elongated facia while creating interest and harmony in such a large empty space.

With the gold leafed ends the sign resembles an understated decadent chocolate bar.

Snow storm

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When Life seems chaotic and stormy, a run in stormy weather can bring comfort.

A sketch of the descent into the village of Creemore after a 14km run.

Pictures with Santa

Variation on a theme

A previously designed logo for moyaboya that evolved into a business card design. an evolving design, similar to the store it represents.

The darkened part of the logo was repeated in the design below.

A taste of Christmas

A Point of purchase sign for the Bank Cafe to promote it's highly addictive Pudding.

Created on Adobe illustrator

The ad was created in the brand of the Bank Cafe as a well established part of Creemore's historical fabric. (early rural Ontario).

The style of the Bank's advertising is archetypal of a time that seemed simple and values where wholesome and honest. Promising trust and comfort.

The top panel casually glides over the illustration of the cake reflecting the lines of the melted toffee, lending a sense of ease and guiding the eye down the ad.

the colour palate has an orange undertone throughout, bestowing an overall warm glow to the ad.

Free Christmas Pudding

An ad for the bank cafe extending an invitation to a holiday treat.

Variation

After meeting with the artist, a little tweak to the colours to make it more vibrant and fresh while staying grounded.

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Logo and business card

A word-mark designed for a local artist.

Using natural mediums, Jordan creates exquisitely simple and grounded pieces.

The organic signature lettering reflects the organic, earthy quality of the artists work.

Since Jordan's work is created from the center out, the ancient Druid swirl symbol (for life) seemed like a natural.

Christmas in Creemore

A Couple of applications for the Creemore Christmas logo.

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Creemore snow globe

I got a little carried away today creating an image for Creemore's BIA (Business Improvement Association) It's for the well being of our business community, so it was for a good cause.

Still I'm a bit leery of donating my services towards community causes - it's been my experience that no good deed goes unpunished.

Our charming village always reminds me of a snow globe in the winter, so it was a natural choice. The image of Creemore inside the ball was inspired by our village logo created by John Wiggins.

Interior decorator logo

A logo from a few posts back, part of the moving target exercise.

The attempt was to impart the thought process and creative inspiration (light bulb)

Running under the light of the moon

A sketch from the experience

As my addiction to running grows so does my passion for night runnning

Sign Design

Here is a hanging double sided sign for Moyaboya in Creemore.

The sign was designed to be almost completely fabricated using a CNC Router.

The design elements sculpts light and shadow with varied layers of projected mount shapes adding interest and dimension without distracting from the logo . The white on white background colour supplies a buffer and adds a subtle, light, fresh, warm glow to the overall image.

Happy Halloween!

Teddy Bears Daycare made their way down Main Street this morning Trick-or-Treating as Lions, Peacocks and Super Heros, getting the jump on some Halloween sugar intake.

They excitedly called out "Happy Halloween" some with just the abbreviated version.

So endearing ...too bad they grow and become teenagers

Running at night

I purchased some night running gear (head light and Reflective vest) recently and went out for my first night run. It took the joy of the activity to another level. The experience of running on winding country roads flanked by still dark forests under light of moon on a crisp fall evening was pure escapism. It was another world.

I used to think running was for only for the select few, after an experience like this I think we were designed for it.

Creemore Springs Calgary ad

Before

After

A refurbished ad initially created by Molson's creative. I was hired to make the ad more engaging and align with the brewery's brand.

Moyaboya

Moyaboya is Croatian for "my colour".

It's a new distinctive decor retail store in Creemore that will feature classic pieces with a european funk. A fresh approach to interior design with an eclectic play of shapes and finishes that embrace colour.

Halloween at the Bank

Playground Donor Plaque

A design for the new Creemore playground to honor the donations that helped make it possible.

The criteria was for a simple design that wasn't too costly or obtrusive. A design that was light and playful.

The lines, shapes and colours reflect the organic form of the slide and surrounding trees. The colours were borrowed from the bark and the contrasting colours of the playground equipment. The flowing lines and circles could be interpreted as balloons and the overall shape as an expecting mom.

It was an effortless piece - a good creative litmus test.

The principal shape was laser cut by Prototier and the laser etched stainless steel plaque by Laserwerks with metal fabrication by Iron Butterfly.

It was one of the last pieces assembled in my studio

A partnership

This logo revision to the initial design was a result from a nudge from the client. The main element which was explained in the previous post was well received by the client, however wanted the compass to be filled out in it's entirety.

This request pushed the design into a better place and created a more comprehensive image to represent their firm.

Pint Night

An in pub promo poster for creemore springs beer, created in Illustrator.

Creemore Springs goes to Oktoberest

A design for promoting Creemore Springs Brewery Bottled product at Kitcheners Oktoberfest.

A clean take on a traditional beer for a traditional event.

A moving target

Raison d'être

A sophisticated but playful logo. Classic elements created and gestured into a fresh distinctive moving form, reflecting more of an attitude than a specific style. The flowing organic elegant shape of the flourish contrasts nicely against the fitted structured typestyle, creating a pleasing visual balance while providing an understated strength.

The soft light warm colours impart a calm and a light sensitive touch.

This logo is an arrangement of squares arranged to play off one another creating similar shapes and proportions including the initials LT. The entire balanced design creates a downward diagonal movement allowing the viewers eye easily to the business name. A simple shape of a square made interesting and engaging, presenting a crisp confident marketing image.


The design process begins with listening. It's the foundation to building a criteria to develop an honest image for the client. In turn communicating their authentic values and connecting with their desired market.

On very rare occasions, the client's mindset shifts from the initial consultation to the finished design. This was one of those occasions.

This client described the philosophical cornerstone of her decorating business as "helping people to live more beautifully". She desired a sophisticated and distinctive image that reflected her own eclectic tastes. Her work appeared to be a classic, quiet and subtle form, with arrangements of vignettes accented with natural elements.

When presented with the logo (bellow) she said it looked like a logo for a house painter or magician ..(?) The logo would be fitting for some one with blonde hair, lots of jewelry and big boobs ..(??)

I was informed at this time she detested organic lines and the colour blue and was all about linear shapes with hard edges. She did however love the organic shiatsu logo (below).

I decided to reload with the new "hard and linear" criteria wich was turned down as "not up to standard".

Did I miss? ...Was there ever a target. ....(?)

Farming in the city

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This design was created for Farm Start, a agricultural facility in Metro Toronto on traditional farm land. I used the vernacular of the historical barn on the property as the inspiration for the sign design and gently played with it's traditional architectural elements. A grounding in tradition with a bit of the unconventional, like the facility it represents.

The colours and materials will lend a earthy tactile quality to the sign. The rocks will further ground the design by giving it a visual ballast. The hand piled stone will communicate the connective tradition of working the land by hand. Wild flowers could be planted in amongst the stones complimenting the subtle colour of the sign and creating movement against its static form.

The overall sign is simple yet interesting, a subtle play with shadows and textures. However, it's the decorative top that will bring the sign to life.

This design will harmonize with the gentle quality of the farm's natural entrance while having a strong presence.

Attack of the Killer Bees

Since the beginning of September Creemore has been inundated with bees. They're sluggish and docile but nasty. They're flying in from the country side and swarming the village, indiscriminately stinging young and old. Anything with a bit of sugar in it... well they're like bees on honey.

I made the mistake of mentioning that haven't been stung since I was eight years old. Two hours later I was in the hospital having a stinger removed from the back of my throat. ...I should have known better. One of the more painful experiences I have had in awhile.

I spent the rest of the day in a codeine induced stupor. It made for interesting conversation.

law office logo

After a rest and a pause I'm getting back to work.

A logo I just finished awaiting a response from the client.

This is the raison d'etré that was included with the design package.

The brand identity criteria for the Ross Firm was to project a timeless yet contemporary, professional, established, confident image that is strong and grounded.

Research revealed Goderich ( in particular where the firm is located ) was historically the judicial centre for Huron County, with it’s courthouse in the hub of Goderich’s town center, it’s eight principal roads radiate out in an ordered symmetry emulating the points of a compass.

Not only is the compass design of historical and geographical relevance, it’s a an iconic archetype symbolizing unwavering guidance and reliance in a unfamiliar environment, tried and true. It seemed a natural symbol to represent the firm’s values and mission.

The compass design is a clean contemporary presentation complimenting the classic romanesque type. The angle of the compass needle is mirrored by the angle of the stacked type forming a pyramid, imparting a sense of stability and strength.

The colours are natural, warm and grounded, lending an approachable quality to the brand.

The challenge was to create a design that was fresh and classic, avoiding cliché imagery. The image will project the firm’s message in full colour or black and white from a small format to large. Instantly discernible at a glance, it will be an effective, relevant, tireless marketing tool for years to come.

As a side note, the colour palate in the logo is similar to the historical building that is home to The Ross Firm. It's a small subtle cue that will not be lost on the local market.

Business Card Design

A logo and business card design for a business is typically represented by lotus flowers and ying /yang symbols.

Shiatsu and acpuncture I discovered is about creating a balance in the body and unblocking the body's flow of energy. I also discovered the philosophy of chinese medicine is to treat the root, treat the body.

The concept for the logo was inspired from this philosophy of treating the root for a healthy leaf. The proportion of the leaves to the roots are balanced and the overall gesture represents a gentle flow of energy between the two. The whole image cradles the name/type lending an overall sense of well being. The colours are natural warm and grounded

To Run or not to Run

I lay in bed on a Sunday morning looking across the room at my abandoned running shoes debating if I should remain glued to the bed or muster up the energy to go for a run.

It's been a exhausting few weeks packing up my studio and 29 years of signcrafting.

It wasn't as much the physical demand, as it was the letting go. Each tool was so familiar to me. Over the decades and thousands of hours of use they had become extensions of my hands, companions in honing the craft and overcoming the welcomed challenges that came through the studio. It was like saying goodbye to old friends.

Still, it feels good to turn the page and move on, to face new challenges and head into the unknown. I guess letting go is just part of the process.