Thanks to all the amazing organizations I worked with in 2022! They included: Art on the Street which was live and back in action after 2 years of being online. The Guelph Community Foundation who are critical in supporting our community throughout the pandemic. The Guelph Jazz Festival which was also back with an even bigger line-up than the year before. The United Way of Guelph Wellington Dufferin which offered more ways to give through The Social Good Collective. And finally a big thanks to our new studio dog Hazel who turned 2 in November of 2022. She is settling in nicely to her role and always gives a friendly nudge when it’s time to take a break!
Radical Recovery
Earlier this month, United Way Guelph launched Radical Recovery, a campaign which strives to build back an even stronger community than before the pandemic. Working with the United Way, Studio HD branded and designed the campaign which asserts that we cannot simply “return to normal,” but must fuel change to help build a stronger community that supports all of us.
Radical Recovery launch in the media: Guelph Today • Toronto Star • Global News
Looking back on 2020
It’s annual report season again. 2020 was a tough year for many, but also a year of resilience and ingenuity.
For the Rogers Group of Funds’ annual report, we acknowledged that 2020 was both challenging and transformative. We showcased Canadian television and film productions that made a big impact by asking important questions like: What can a pandemic teach us about conservation? How do old stereotypes still affect Black women? Whose version of truth shapes history? When does technology go too far? What does it take to ignite global climate action? Download a pdf of the report
Impact of COVID-19 in our community
With The Guelph Community Foundation, Toward Common Ground, and their partners, I’m working on a Vital Focus series about the impact of COVID-19 in Guelph and Wellington County. The series makes recommendations on how to address secondary pandemic effects on food insecurity, alcohol and substance abuse, and more. View the briefs on the Toward Common Ground website.
In memory of a great DoG
I’m a member of the Designers of Guelph or DoGs as we sometimes call ourselves. We’re a loose affiliation of graphic designers based in Guelph and you can find out more about us at designersofguelph.ca. Sadly, I lost a real dog this month. Farley was both our beloved family dog and my studio mate for the last 12 years. Those of you who work from home (and there are many more of you now) know this is a very important role. He was always there as I worked through the day and by association, he was a DoG too. He’d always let me know when it was time to take a break—so important when you work for yourself. Here’s to Farley (2008-2020), a freelancer’s best friend! Everyone who knew him knew he was a great dog and we will miss him.
Farley
(A freelancer’s best friend, 2008-2020)
Annual report design: Guelph Community Foundation
Earlier this summer, I designed the Guelph Community Foundation’s 2019 Annual Report. The Foundation brings together donors and charities to build community vitality. In 2019, they created 10 new funds and, in 2020, they announced $345,510 in funding to 21 local charities to help vulnerable populations affected by COVID-19. Find out more about the Foundation and the great work they do. Download their annual report and visit their website. (Photo of Heffernan Bridge on cover by Jan Douma.)
Annual report
The Guelph Community Foundation