College digital media students design logos for Western Gateway Trade and Logistics Corridor

By Greg Bobinec on December 23, 2020.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDgbobinec@lethbridgeherald.com

Lethbridge College’s Digital Communications and Media (DCM) program students recently helped build the visual identity through a logo design challenge for Canada’s Western Gateway Trade and Logistics Corridor.
Students were given the opportunity to create a logo and pitch their designs to the stakeholders as part of the competitive process. Canada’s Western Gateway chose elements of designs from two students, Cole Cyre and Colton Won, and the organization will work with the students to create the final product.
“We are extremely pleased at the successful result of the collaboration between Canada’s Western Gateway and the design students at Lethbridge College in creating our new logo,” says Martin Ebel, Economic Development Officer, Lethbridge County, in a news release.
“It provides strong visual representation of what Canada’s Western Gateway will be — a trade and transportation corridor that will support and enhance the economic opportunities in southern Alberta.”
Students were provided with an action brief and a copy of Canada’s Western Gateway’s strategic plan, and then tasked with creating a logo and visual identity that helps identify the organization.
“We would like to thank the Lethbridge College Digital Graphics class, led by Martina Emard, for all the work that they did on the logo for Canada’s Western Gateway Trade and Logistics Corridor,” says Mayor Peggy Losey, Town of Milk River. “The thoughtful work by the students was very well done. Bravo to all the students involved. Canada’s Western Gateway is an exciting venture that will provide economic opportunities to all our communities along the corridor.”
The process of designing a logo and presenting it to the organization matches the circumstances that students will face once they graduate and begin their careers. Involving students in work-integrated learning opportunities is largely beneficial to their learning and readiness for the industry.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve collaborated with local non-profit organizations to create marketing materials,” says Emard.
“We’re very fortunate that the Canada’s Western Gateway group reached out to us with the challenge to create the logo.
“Not only do the students get to experience interpreting the organization’s vision into a visual identity, they learn how to effectively pitch and defend their decisions to a client.”
Won’s logo featured a maple leaf which opens in the middle like a gateway and comes to a “W” point at the base of the stem. Canada’s Western Gateway chose to blend Won’s logo with Cyre’s wordmark, which features an interlocking C, W and G.
“I realized I needed to think about this logo design more abstractly,” says Won, second-year student from Lethbridge. “The emphasis placed on Canada was the inspiration that led to my shift in focus to create a more symbolic design that not only reflects Canada, but also a metaphorical interpretation of the Western Gateway project. Overall, I think this experience has been a good opportunity to help me grow as a designer and has taught me that, like anything else in life, you just have to keep trying until you get it right.”
Won and Cyre were awarded prizes for each of their designs, while all the students in the class received gift cards for their participation. Both Won and Cyre will be involved in the process of finalizing the logo.
“I spent a lot of time and energy on the icon portion of my logo, so much that when I finished I realized the typeface needed to have some attention as well, and I am glad I did,” says Cyre, second-year student from Lethbridge. “I plan to have my own filmmaking business, based in southern Alberta, with a focus on exacting real change in my home province, and hopefully home country. This will help with my future career because I was able to show my expertise helped a project like Canada’s Western Gateway exact positive change in my province, which in turn proves that I am serious about my mission.”
Canada’s Western Gateway has eight key stakeholders and more than 20 potential partners.
The corridor is essential for moving goods through road, rail and air transportation, and is also home to warehouses, storage areas, distribution centres, offices, trucking and other shipping services. Lethbridge College’s DCM program prepares students for any media environment, teaching skills in journalism, corporate communications, radio, video, photography and graphic production to recognize industry needs.

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