Let’s hear it for Sheri Craig. The publisher (and also, at times, the editor) of Canadian Interiors from 1993 to 2007, Craig not only brought the magazine confidently into the 21st century, but also left a lasting legacy: the Best of Canada Design Competition. “In the beginning, there was a small idea that kept growing,” Craig editorialized in the May/June 1998 issue, showcasing the winners of the very first Best of Canada awards. “It started off as a concept to help Canadian designers market their work internationally. A special magazine issue to promote Canadian design was proposed. Then a competition was suggested to select interesting products and projects.”
Best of Canada is still going strong -as is Craig, who, we’re happy to say, continues to organize the competition. “It would be hard to walk away from the satisfaction of seeing all the great work being done across this country, the relationships formed over the years with many creative people, and the rush at deadline time when Fed Ex, Purolator and UPS line up with submissions at the door,” she says. Her extensive report, showcasing this year’s 27 winners (21 projects and 6 products), begins on page 31.
Let’s hear it for Canadian Interiors, as well. At the Kenneth R. Wilson Awards last month, we came away with a Silver award for Best Issue. That same issue -September/October 2007 -was a Top Five finalist for Best Art Direction of a Complete Issue; and a feature story within it (“In the Pink,” on Umbra’s first retail store) won a Top Five mention for Best Art Direction of an Opening Spread of Complete Feature.
At the National Magazine Awards a few nights later, September/October 2007 took home an Honourable Mention for Art Direction for an Entire Issue.
As well, the Advertising & Design Club of Canada has awarded another story in the September/October 2007 issue (“The Ultimate Task,” about the evolution of the task chair), in the category Art Direction, Single Magazine Article. Finally, Applied Arts has awarded a story in our January/February 2008 issue (“It’s a Slice,” on an unusual Quebec City residence), in the category Magazine Page or Spread Design -Single.
Managing editor Erin Donnelly and I would like to say to art director Scott Christie and the gang at Pylon, “You’re the best.”
Michael Totzke [email protected]