August 26, 2008

OSHAWA, Ont. – Laurie Lafrance, a Durham College professor in the School of Media, Art & Design, was honoured recently, when she was chosen to illustrate a postage stamp for Canada Post. The stamp, Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was selected from dozens of submissions and has been in circulation since its release on July 18.

Lafrance, who has been teaching Drawing courses in the Foundations in Art and Design and Multimedia Design programs at the college for five years, also works as a freelance illustrator and was commissioned by q30 design, a design consultancy firm to create the unique image.

“Being chosen to create an illustration that would represent Canada was a true honour,” said Lafrance. “To me, a stamp is precious. The fact that it’s so tiny, so accessible and so Canadian is what makes it truly special. The hardest part was not being able to show or tell anyone about it until the release date. I was almost ready to burst for five months!”

Earlier this year, Canada Post commissioned numerous design firms to submit concepts for an Olympic-themed stamp. From the dozens of ideas presented, q30 design was selected, and Lafrance was chosen to create the final image.

Lafrance worked alongside Karen Henricks, a graphic designer with q30 design, in implementing a concept that would best reflect both the Canadian athletes and Chinese culture. Focusing on the original concept of a Canadian athlete running with a flag, Lafrance used gestural, Chinese-brush drawing as the basis for her illustration.

While designing the stamp, Lafrance stayed true to Henricks’ original vision, ensuring that the design conveyed movement and exhilaration. Lafrance’s intent was to create a proud Canadian athlete that was strong and muscular, holding a windswept flag.

“Laurie is an excellent example of the wonderfully talented professors our students learn from on a daily basis,” said Robin Pereira, dean of the Durham College School of Media, Art & Design. “Our professors bring extensive experience to the classroom and by sharing their background and experiences our students are motivated to excel in their studies and find great careers upon graduation.”

This is the second time in Lafrance’s career that she has been commissioned to design a nationally-circulated stamp. In 1991, her design was chosen for a commemorative Canada Day stamp. In addition to developing images for Canada Post, Lafrance has also created works for the Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

After graduating from Medicine Hat College with a diploma in Visual Communications in 1980, Lafrance graduated in 1984 from the Ontario College of Art and Design with a diploma in Communications and Design with a specialization in Illustration. Upon graduation, she became a freelance illustrator, and joined Durham College as a professor in 2003.

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About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of part-time and continuing education courses, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for more than 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of 95.6 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

Media contact:
Michelle Roebuck
Communications and Marketing
905.721.2000 ext. 2197
michelle.roebuck@durhamcollege.ca

 

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