WorkGraphic Design

DesignThinkers: Branding for Canada’s largest annual conference for the design industry

For seventeen whole months, Toronto-based full service agency Overdrive completely immersed itself in creating the campaign and branding for Canada's largest design event – DesignThinkers 2015, run by the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD).

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Comprehensive DesignThinkers 2015 branding system displaying red and white collateral including folders, t-shirt, tote bag, business cards, envelopes and promotional materials arranged on grey surface

With the entire team working around the clock, the project included everything from concept and logo design to brochure, postcard, t-shirt and signage – bringing to life the entire visual identity for the annual festival.

Using the theme of "Converge, Inspire and Transform" – it focused on the speakers, attendees, points of data and layers of information to add cues to the final look and feel. Forming the central basis of the identity was an 8' acrylic sculpture representing a giant speaker made out of the idea of different people with different backgrounds, opinions and skills coming together in one location, at one point in time, that would be memorable.

To translate the concept on different applications and formats, different materials, papers and print techniques were used throughout the campaign. Here is just a sample of what Overdrive crafted to add creative flair to the whole conference. Discover more at www.overdrivedesign.com.

Four DesignThinkers 2015 conference badge lanyards featuring speaker portraits and data visualisations in red, white and pink colour schemes
Bright red tote bag and matching accessories featuring geometric patterns and "Converge, Inspire, Transform" text for DesignThinkers 2015 conference branding
Red and white t-shirt with white dotted pattern arranged in vertical lines, featuring a label tag attached to the sleeve
Overdrive's DesignThinkers 2015 conference branding materials displayed as unfolded spreads showing red cover design and interior pages with typography and information layouts
DesignThinkers 2015 branding campaign materials including red poster, brochure, smaller card and badge designs arranged on grey background
White brochure with red geometric shapes and scattered black dots, accompanied by stacked red paper samples for DesignThinkers 2015
Open magazine spread showing DesignThinkers brochure with red and orange dots arranged in a scattered pattern across the white pages
Coral-red square poster for DesignThinkers 2015 featuring scattered black dots and vertical lines representing converging voices and data points
Stack of red printed materials with "Converge. Inspire. Transform" text repeated across the layered pages
DesignThinkers 2015 conference brochure with bright orange cover featuring white dots arranged in an abstract pattern, displayed with stack of brochures behind it
Abstract red poster for DesignThinkers 2015 with white dot and line patterns representing converging people and data points on a pink-bordered layout
Spread of DesignThinkers 2015 brochure pages featuring red and pink covers, portrait photographs, text layouts and dotted graphic elements on grey background
Stack of DesignThinkers 2015 brochures with coral red covers featuring white dotted pattern and typography design
Spiral-bound notebooks with orange and black covers featuring pixelated speaker designs from the DesignThinkers 2015 branding campaign by Overdrive
Spiral-bound brochure for DesignThinkers 2015 open to show a bold red cover and interior page with architectural photography and typography
DesignThinkers 2015 conference brochure with red and white spiral-bound cover featuring a portrait split design and a pen placed beside it
Spiral-bound brochures and printed materials for DesignThinkers 2015 conference displayed at angles, featuring red and black covers with typography and photography
The entrance to Sony Centre for the Performing Arts decorated with DesignThinkers 2015 branding, featuring illuminated geometric patterns on the ceiling and red sculptural elements flanking the doorway
Sony Centre for the Performing Arts entrance hall bathed in red lighting with symmetrical staircases, digital screens and a large sculptural speaker installation for DesignThinkers 2015
Interior of DesignThinkers 2015 venue featuring an eight-foot acrylic speaker sculpture with glowing red ceiling panels and signage for the Centre for the Performing Arts
Glowing orange and red neon lines representing data streams and digital information converging at angles against a dark background
Abstract digital illustration of orange and grey geometric shapes radiating outward from a central point, representing data convergence and connection
Close-up detail of the DesignThinkers giant acrylic speaker sculpture showing layered geometric forms in grey and red with metallic accents
Close-up of layered red and mauve strips with textured black material visible between them, part of the DesignThinkers 2015 branding campaign
DesignThinkers 2015 branding campaign featuring an 8-foot acrylic speaker sculpture made of layered materials representing converging voices and ideas
Abstract speaker sculpture made of layered strips in black, white, orange and natural wood tones, representing diverse voices converging for DesignThinkers 2015
DesignThinkers 2015 venue interior with red lighting, multiple levels, escalators and crowds of attendees gathered throughout the space
Woman speaking into a microphone at DesignThinkers 2015 conference, with an oversized acrylic speaker sculpture visible behind her
Packed auditorium of DesignThinkers 2015 conference attendees facing an illuminated stage with a large sculptural speaker installation and red vertical banners
Speaker standing at a podium on stage during DesignThinkers 2015 conference, with a large screen displaying imagery behind him and purple-lit panels flanking the stage
A man with long hair and beard speaks at a podium branded with DesignThinkers 2015 Conference logo, with a screen displaying a waterfront cityscape behind him
Exhibition wall displaying hanging panels with portrait photographs and red information cards suspended from black metal rods, illuminated by recessed ceiling lights
Signage for DesignThinkers 2015 conference displaying "Bookstore & Booth Signings" text with an orange circular logo at the entrance to a venue space
Interior signage directing visitors to Strategy Sessions at St. Lawrence Centre, with an orange circular graphic element on the wall
Storefront exterior of DesignThinkers venue featuring red cylindrical columns with white text, dark wooden cladding, and a digital display window showing abstract orange lines
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