This summer, BC Ferries launched a new Dessert Bar in their Pacific Buffet and asked me to create a series of posters, banners, screens, web ads and buffet signage to promote the new onboard calorie-fest. It was a lot of fun working on the project but I have to admit having to work very hard to not run out and satisfy daily chocolate cravings; it’s not easy looking a photos of mouth-watering chocolate all day and writing enticing copy without falling prey to a few serious lustings for dessert!

I’m sure the new branding didn’t hurt, either

(Another client, Saanich Dental Group, took third place in the “Best place to improve your smile” – Congratulations!)

I’m very proud to have been a part of this exciting and valuable program both for 2009 and 2010. If you’re not familiar with the program: each summer, naturalists onboard BC Ferries’ main route sailings give presentations on the beautiful and diverse  Gulf Islands National Park Reserve ecosystem that you’re sailing through. These presentations are engaging and educational and great for all ages.

Each year, public feedback is overwhelmingly positive, with both visitors and locals reporting both increased conservation-oriented mindset and behavioural changes as a result of participating in the program. It’s not only a fantastic public service; it’s great branding for Ferries and Parks Canada.

I designed a series of murals (different configurations for different vessels) that form a backdrop to the presentations and extend the program beyond the presentations, highlighting some of the amazing flora and fauna found in this rich and delicate ecosystem. Each mural integrates images with maps of the region, showing locations of some of the many important species and habitats found in the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve and the areas BC Ferries sails through.

Check it out in my portfolio section and make sure you look for them the next time you sail between the mainland and Vancouver Island.

I came back to Victoria reinvigorated and inspired to make changes in my own design practice – and that’s the best thing I could possibly have gotten out of attending. A big thank-you to all the organizers & volunteers.

Now, when’s the next one?!

Last item left: Spyder monitor calibration/profiling tool

First generation, but still a solid and dependable tool for getting accurate and reliable colour on your monitor – and a necessity if you want to soft-proof output on different print devices, presses etc. $60

If you’re interested in any of these items (or know someone else who might be), please contact me.

Up next is a Point-of-Purchase display unit…

We used my dining room table for the most part. The exception to this was a some jackets that required a crazy assemblage of plywood and bedsheets to present properly.

After looking at the price of proper studio lighting, I went to Canadian Tire and picked up $35 worth of work lights, which did the trick just fine. I splurged on a 28″ Cameron Digital Photo Box which definitely made the small object photography a lot easier as it evens out the lighting nicely and eliminates most of the hot spots and glare. There were still some challenging items (silver-plated bowls and spoons), but the box really made a difference. It also packs down flat so it’s easy to store. If you’re thinking of setting up a little DIY studio, I’d recommend it.

Now comes the really labour-intensive part: retouching and extracting the objects from their backgrounds.