Grads show off their stuff

York/Sheridan Joint Program in Design’s class of 2005 are show-offs in the best sense of the word. They’ll be showcasing their talents April 10-14 in their graduation exhibition, titled SH(2005)W, at the Steam Whistle Brewery in downtown Toronto.


Selecting the best work from their portfolios over the past year, these up-and-coming designers are presenting their unique creative vision through a wide range of projects: visual identity and branding, environmental graphics, book designs, programming and exhibitions, and product development.


Right: Work by Jen Clark


SH(2005)W is a superb, highly professional showcase of student achievement – beautiful designs, skillfully rendered, and presented in a dynamic exhibition,” says York design Professor Wendy Wong.


Combining creative and technical skills, the projects offer truly exciting, thoughtful design solutions at the leading edge of innovation. Poised on the threshold of their professional careers, these young designers will soon be shaping the world around us and how we perceive it.


The students collectively conceptualized the theme of the show and designed the promotional Web site for the show, (www.show2005.ca), which evolved from a class assignment to develop a new font.


The entertaining, interactive Web site contains a four-piece Scrabble board and a diverse collection of 60 Scrabble pieces comprising the letters S-H-O-W in a variety of fresh typefaces created by the students. They include everything from a touch of baroque typography to contemporary fonts with an exuberance of angles, curves and variations on thick and thin.


Left: Work by Alain Parizeau created in the course: Time-based Communication (motion graphics)


When a Scrabble piece representing one of the students is placed over its corresponding letter on the Scrabble board, an image from the designer’s portfolio appears, along with a personalized note revealing the human face behind the typeface.


The public is invited to SH(2005)W-up on April 11 and 12, from 11am to 9pm, or April 13 and April 14, from 11am to 4pm. April 10 is family night for the grads, with opening remarks at 6:30pm. The industry gala takes place Thursday, April 13, from 6:30 to 9pm with opening remarks at 7pm.


The exhibition will be on view in The Roundhouse of the Steam Whistle Brewery, located at 255 Bremner Blvd. (at Rees St.) just south of the CN Tower. Admission is free.


This article was submitted to YFile by Mary-Lou Schagena, publicist, Faculty of Fine Arts.