Design the New Logo of the Metal Arts Guild of Canada

Metal Arts Guild of Canada

We're an artist-led national organization for the metal arts and design community.

We've been around since 1946 -- one of the oldest continuing arts organizations in Canada. Our members include: jewellers, sculptors and designers; knifemakers and blacksmiths; teachers, students and collectors.

We launch design competitions and juried exhibitions, run workshops, have a strong on-line presence and publish a quarterly, full-colour magazine for our members.

Check out our website: http://www.metalartsguild.ca

The word ‘guild’ can mean a lot of things: a professional association (like the medieval craft guilds); a group for mutual education and support; a body for setting and upholding standards of excellence. As a 21st century guild, MAGC continues these traditions, AND takes them on-line: portfolios, instructional videos, Q&As and artist profiles – all generated and posted by us, for us.

MAGC is not a service-provider. We are a focal point: a prism that gathers the creative energy generated by our members, and reflects it back to the Canadian metal arts community. We are passionate about nurturing a distinct national perspective within the global design community.

We are proud of our history, but we are looking to the future. Our logo should reflect that. It should be subtle, but should be clearly seen from across an exhibition hall floor. We use the Interstate font for our magazine, because it is readable, modern and flexible (all those weights!). This may give you a clue to the feeling we are going for...

Whichever logo type you decide to design, please avoid clichés (no anvils or hammers -- not everyone uses them, anyway). Instead, consider the following ideas associated with metal:

• Qualities: hard/flexible, precious/utilitarian, enduring/recyclable

• Techniques: forming, stamping, casting, grinding, sharpening, polishing; sketching, maquettes and modeling; CAD design and rapid prototyping

• Culture: ancient/modern, traditional/innovative, artistic/functional, simple/high-tech