Design Awards Judges 2021

We have some knockout creative heavyweights ready, willing and able to select the 2021 Design Awards winners this spring.

Instead of just posting their names and titles, we thought we'd share a little background on our judges so you can get to know the talented-types your work will go before.  

Enjoy! 

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Richard Colbourne, Executive Creative Director at Addison in New York

I'm currently obsessed with “the curiosity gap” in photography. #curiositygap

 

John Devereaux, Creative Director at Perfect Day in St. John's

My biggest source of creative inspiration is my colleagues. They are smart, thoughtful, and fun, and Perfect Day would not be possible without them.

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is work on an idea, not the software to create that idea. 

I think the secret to my success is not using industry speak. 

I'm currently obsessed with my thinning hair.

 

Rafael Esquer, CEO & Creative Director at Alfalfa Studio, New York

My biggest source of creative inspiration is literature and New York.

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is to work on personal projects.

Something most people who work with me don't know is that I collect first edition books.

My favourite way to unwind from work is playing with Sabah, my rescued cat.

I think the secret to my success is discipline.

I'm currently obsessed with creating iconic maps of my favorite places in the world.

 

Julie Gélinas*, Creative Director, Design at Ogilvy in Montreal

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is … Be open, learn how to take critique, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – it’s the easiest way to stifle your creativity.

I'm currently obsessed with … fonts from Pangram Pangram (shop local!)

^{*Photo: Luc Brissette}

Marie-Pier Gilbert, Associate Creative Director – Design at lg2 Montreal

My favourite way to unwind from work is Run, wine, book.
I mostly buy wine for their well-designed labels.

Carol Hung, Designer at john st., Toronto

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is ...Have fun, try new things and keep exploring.

I think the secret to my success is ... Finding out what my strength is, leverage it and continually learn from other people with different talents.

My favourite way to unwind from work is ...My second creative outlet is cooking and baking.

 

Rasna Jaswal, Design Director in Toronto

I'm currently obsessed with @leowalkinparis as an artist. I am mesmerized by the grace, strength and the patience within his work.

 

Jake Lim, Creative Director, Design at Rethink in Toronto

My biggest source of creative inspiration is ... Memes.

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is ... The pen is mightier than the computer.

Something most people who work with me don't know is ... I love rom com's.

My favourite way to unwind from work is ... Pups. Pottery. Parks. Plants. Brainstorming words that start with P.

I think the secret to my success is ... Chameleonism.

I'm currently obsessed with ... Adobe XD animation.

 

 

Stéphane Monnet, President & Creative Director at Monnet Design in Toronto

My favourite way to unwind from work is to go for long walks with my dog Henry. The aim is always to relax, but I will often see something that sparks an idea and gets me thinking about work again. I might see a font used on an old sign and get excited to take a picture or start sketching in my notebook. As most designers will know, having an eye for detail and design is sometimes a curse – the world is full of design problems to solve!

 

Fidel Peña, Co-Founder, Creative Director at Underline Studio in Toronto

My biggest source of creative inspiration is …Reading and finding new beautiful visual work — design or art. Maybe looking out at the window helps too, especially if there are birds flying around it.

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is …Practice, practice, practice.

Something most people who work with me don't know is …I really don't know, I open my mouth way too much!

My favourite way to unwind from work is …Reading, cooking and hanging out with family and friends.

I think the secret to my success is …Knowing that my success is not mine at all, but the result of many people, influences and privileges that I had no part of. Whatever success is, and what I have achieved, is certainly not mine, it has been given to me to do something useful for other people.

I'm currently obsessed with …A few writers such as Javier Cercas, Christopher Lasch, Cristina Rivera Garza, Mahmoud Darwish, Roberto Lovato and many more.

 

Berkeley Poole, Creative Director at Whitman Emorson in Toronto

My IG handle: @boygirl 

My one piece of advice to the next generation of female creatives is … Own that baddie energy & know your worth  

Question the patriarchal understanding of power in the workplace - one centred around ego, self-interests & scarcity mentality. When we exhibit more compassion, vulnerability & kindness, there is a massive cultural shift. Imposter syndrome melts away allowing creativity and inspiration to flow. This is what operating from a place of true power looks like.

 

Nick Richards, Founder, Executive Creative Director at Will in Vancouver

My biggest source of creative inspiration is ... of course, travel and the team at Will.

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is ... stay obsessed with improving the idea and don't get lost in the craft too early in the process.

Something most people who work with me don't know is ... I once beat Muhammad Ali in a fight (ok, so it was an 11-year-old Muhammad Ali and it was in a judo bout, but it is a fact all the same).

My favourite way to unwind from work is ...  to experience and discuss the world through the amazing mind of my 9-year-old daughter. 

I think the secret to my success is ... knowing the best solutions are born when you don't care who takes the credit.

I'm currently obsessed with ... writing the perfect witty response to this question.

 

Kim Ridgewell, Creative Director, Designer at One Twenty Three West in Vancouver

My biggest source of creative inspiration ARE... Art Galleries, museums, hotel lobbies and people watching. I'm definitely missing these things these days. 

Something most people who work with me don't know is …I’ve had my license for a few decades, but I only started driving in the past five years. It’s scary as heck.

My favourite way to unwind from work is …Crib and a martini (at some point recently I turned into my grandmother).

I think the secret to my success is …Being surrounded by others that elevated me and believed in me and gave me the space to be me. (And a lot of hard work!)

 

Ugo Varin Lachapelle, Creative Director, Partner at Caserne in Montreal

My biggest source of creative inspiration is ... sports.

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is ... learn the basics.

Something most people who work with me don't know is ... I can't stand a dirty keyboard, and I may have cleaned some of my coworker's when they were too gross.

My favourite way to unwind from work is ... spending time with my family.

I think the secret to my success is ... surrounding myself with the bests.

I'm currently obsessed with ... Aimé Léon Doré.

 

Greg Washington, Executive Creative Director at Myodetox in Toronto

My biggest source of creative inspiration is the work of other creatives.

My one piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is to expose yourself to as much of the world as possible – creative or otherwise.

Something most people who work with me don't know is that I'm a huge Trekkie.

My favourite way to unwind from work is to play with my daughter, play basketball with friends, or go running.

I think the secret to my success is finding common themes amidst seemingly disparate things.

I'm currently obsessed with my newborn daughter.

 

Barbara Woolley, Principal at Hambly & Woolley in Toronto

My biggest source of creative inspiration comes from 20th c. fine artists like Robert Motherwell, Ellsworth Kelly and Barbara Hepworth.

One piece of advice to the next generation of creatives is to remain humble.

Something most people who work with me don’t know is that I was originally going to U of T to study English before I was convinced by one of the high school teachers to try art school.

My favourite way to unwind from work is to go for a ride (on my horse).

I think the secret to my success is listening well.

I am currently obsessed with the work of American designer, Alvin Lustig. I love his rebus compositions.

DON'T FORGET!  The final deadline to submit work to the 2021 Design Awards competitions is March 5, 2021