TMichael Blain of Waterloo, a third-year student in the Graphic Design program of Conestoga College, has been chosen international grand prize winner of the second annual Design Against Fur poster competition.
The competition attracted more than 2,000 entries from design student at colleges, universities and art institutes. He wins a prize of 5,000 euros (about $6,800 Canadian), plus a trip to Budapest to receive his prize plus attend the unveiling of his poster. Blain previously won $1,000 for earning first prize in the Canadian national competition. He leaves for Budapest on November 5, and the unveiling ceremonies (and related activities) occur on November 8-9.
The competition is sponsored by the Fur Free Alliance, an international coalition of more than 30 leading humane and conservation organizations that are opposed to the killing of animals for the production of fur and fur-trimmed apparel.
The theme of the 2004 contest was creation of a poster depicting opposition to the use of fur trim. The contest was open to post-secondary students in the fields of art, advertising, marketing, communications, multimedia studies and graphic design.
Blain created and submitted his design for Canadian judging in the spring of 2004. The Canadian competition was sponsored by the Global Action Network, a national, non-profit organization dedicated to environmental awareness and action. There were more than 100 Canadian entries, which were judged by a panel of outstanding design professionals. Second place went to an entry from York University, third place to an entry from College Sulette of Montreal.
In all, the contest attracted entries from 19 European and North American nations. The international judging involved five regional winners. The Conestoga entry represented Canada. Other finalists came from James Madison University (United States), Griffith University Queensland College of Art (Australia and Asia Pacific), London's Central St. Martins College of Art (United Kingdom and Ireland) and the Hungarian University of Craft and Design (Europe and International).
A Waterloo resident, Michael Blain graduated in 1999 from Waterloo Collegiate Institute. In addition to his studies at Conestoga, he operates his own freelance design business.
CONTACT: Matt Miller, 519-748-5220, ext. 3431, mmiller@conestogac.on.ca
NOTE TO MEDIA:
To arrange for an interview and/or photographs of Michael
Blain before his departure for Budapest, contact Matt Miller
of the Graphic Design faculty.
To view and download a copy of the winning poster, go to www.infurmation.com/daf/daf2004/daf04ca/4design.html
.
The home page of the Fur Free Alliance is at www.infurmation.com