CHAU Product Shoot
Chris Chan, Definium Design spent a wonderful day with Maria Huynh, owner of CHAU Veggiexpress and Clinton Hussey, photographer of www.clintonhussey.com. The one still took a fair amount of care and preparation with food stylist and consultant, Murray Bancroft (photo above) and took notice of Clinton Hussey tweaking the lighting to ‘just right’. Great people to work with!
The product shoot is for a new installation at the CHAU Veggiexpress on Victoria Drive and we’ll be adding in our Definium touch to make the photography work within the CHAU space. Stay tuned!
Budget Rent-A-Car BC
We are pleased to announce the latest addition to our list of clients, Budget Rent-A-Car BC. Budget Rent-A-Car BC is the official operator of the national Budget brand in British Columbia and Yukon, Canada. With over 80 locations in B.C. and a fleet size of approximately 7000 vehicles, it was exciting to apply our design methodology to a brand of this size and that’s well over 50 years old. Our recent project with them includes a new website and a visual language unique to Budget serving British Columbia.
The idea behind the website was the merger of a leisure experience and the allure of the cars & trucks themselves. The primary navigation plays off the body styling of car, with its shine, dimples and grooves. Adding to the personality of the site, the typeface we’ve selected gives off a modernized easy-going vibe. To stage each vehicle, we used a mix and match strategy that creates a playful semi-reality composition. Overall, the design is comprised of simple shapes and subtle gradations, staying consistent with the iconic Budget logo.
Visit www.budgetbc.com or www.budgetbctruck.com
Next time you need to rent a car or moving truck, be sure to consider Budget – Tell them their website sent you! *Wink*
Novus Community Channel
Acquainted with Novus Entertainment Inc. back in 2006, it’s been some time since we’ve work them and we were very excited to produce this banner system for them in 2011. The banner was designed with a consistent header and footer and a swap of the body elements would re-purpose the banner for their most current promotion.
Richmond Endodontic Centre
Working closely in 2011 with Dr. Joel Fransen and his team at the Richmond Endodontic Centre, Definium Design helped to expand the Centre’s visual language. The centre seeking to elevate their brand presentation, we first assessed their existing logo and decided that their logo didn’t require a redesign but just a slight re-positioning of the elements. The ideologies of the brand were already present in the logo and our role was to further that first step. Our result is the introduction of a signature graphic (found along the sides), an enhanced gradient blue, a unique type choice and a very rigid layout.
The centre, opened in late 2010 provides the highest standard of modern endodontic care in a comfortable and advanced environment. You can visit their website that we’re currently finalizing.
YTS 2011 Press Conference
Chris Chan and Kevin Mak, Definium Design
Some photos of Chris speaking at this year’s TD Youth Talent Showdown press conference. Fortunately, the event was scheduled earlier in the day before the rain! Chris had a lot fun doing it! You can read more about what he said here. (Some photos of this year’s sponsors and their reps below)
TD Bank Group
SHAW Cable Systems G.P.
MCL Motor Cars
YTS 2011 Design
This year marks our 6th installment in crafting the artwork for the annual Youth Talent Showdown in Vancouver Chinatown. In the 5 years we’ve been working with the VCBIA, there’s been a lot of positive change for the neighborhood.
We believe that this year is yet another opportunity to further change and move forward, so we wanted to put the Chinese back into the artwork with hopes of reaching out to a new audience and attracting a diverse range of talent and performers.
As this is the year of the rabbit in the Chinese calendar, we believe the rabbit should take centre stage in the design. The last 2 YTS’s has been a dance format and this year YTS has switched back to a multi talent show where you don’t know exactly what performances are going to take place. It is this thought that drives the concept for this year’s poster.
The idea is a play off Alice in Wonderland where you chase this rabbit down the rabbit hole and it’ll lead you to this place of magical performance. We wanted a design less rational and more imaginative and theatrical. Hence you don’t see a typical rabbit. The main features of this rabbit is its boxed head and top hat but clearly it’s a rabbit because of it’s ears and body.
As YTS is a competition, we’ve included some fun elements such as the ‘target’ tail and boxing gloves. The rabbit is faced forward but looking back at you as it’s ready to go, but be warned that if you should catch him, he might pack a punch.
The colors we’ve selected reflect the traditional Chinese black ink and subtle red – included is the Chinese character for longevity and a hanging Chinese decoration off his ruler.
As Van Van has his brush, we felt that this rabbit should have something similar in idea and that is his ruler. It’s a symbol of measurement and if you’re going to perform, the rabbit is going to judge you. Plus, the ruler in a lot of cultures is an icon of discipline, if you don’t behave so well, you’re going to get a lesson.
Lastly, the type treatment we’ve applied for the ‘Youth Talent Showdown’ mimics a pop up circus sign – if you can imagine a desert with it’s circus tents and elephants and this big light flashing sign that just says ‘come on down’. There’s the twirl and swirl of the lines, as if you’re falling down the rabbit hole. All in all, this year’s poster design is meant to be fun.
Not to forget! Our shout out to Jennifer Duong for her amazing illustration contribution to this project. We couldn’t have pulled it off so successfully without her!
I’ hope to see you all at this years TD Youth Talent Show!
CHAU Veggie Express Opens
Congratulations to Maria and her family for bringing the CHAU brand to Victoria Drive. We immediately paid a visit when we heard the kitchen was up and cooking! Once inside, the place felt crisp with a wood communal dining table right down the middle. It’s cafeteria style with a numbered and photo menu that you order at the counter. Right away we noticed the metal frame for the chalk board menu with the track lighting, together with the iteration of her signature rooster graphic, the place has a trendy touch. (photo below) Though we didn’t participate in any of the interior design considerations, we enjoyed working with Maria on expanding the CHAU logo, signage and her new label design. (above) – We wish her all the best with this exciting endeavour! CHAU Veggie Express Open! 5052 Victoria Drive, Vancouver. Check it out!
Keefer Spring Menus
Heres’s a little behind the scenes with the crafting of the Keefer Bar’s menu. Chinese calligraphy rice paper, purchased in Vancouver Chinatown is cut to size. The graphics and type treatment are then printed with an aged effect. After printing, each menu is sorted and trimmed to it’s final size and folded inwards. (above) The menu’s are binded on the right hand side which requires the user to flip the pages with their left hand – a subtle intention of the ‘East’ experience. Lastly, each menu is treated, giving the paper a coarse texture and a vintage presentation. (below) Check em out at the Keefer Bar in Vancouver Chinatown! Their cocktails are truly unique.
A Fresh Tendency
Our own fresh typemark to bring in the new year! Join us on Facebook if you haven’t already!
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