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Sean Carter reposted thisSean Carter reposted thisWe’re BC-based and we love the community we work and live in. That’s why we’re proud to be a Living Wage Employer, meaning that we prioritize paying our team a wage that makes living in our incredible home a little bit easier.
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Sean Carter shared thisI'm riding in support of the Rotary Club of Vancouver's Hearing Foundation along with Tavis Yeung / Carter Hales Design Lab Inc. and pedaling with some extra purpose, because more than 400,000+ BC residents are living with hearing loss. For over 40 years, this Foundation has been quietly (pun intended) changing lives: they funded Canada's first-ever Cochlear Implant surgery back in 1982, and have since completed 770+ surgeries and committed $6 million to revolutionize hearing care for children and adults. We are riding a little over 100k with multiple laps of Stanley Park. If you can spare a few dollars, every bit helps restore the sounds of life. https://lnkd.in/g3Eb348z
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Sean Carter shared thisThankfully I have a design career to fall back on now that my Duathlon gig is up for the season. Felt fantastic representing 🇨🇦. I wasn’t the fastest but I did the race with everything I had. Come to think about it, I’m not even the fastest in our own office, right Tavis Yeung?Sean Carter shared thisDesign by Day, Duathlon by Weekend — Go Sean! Our usual Monday morning meetings, like many of yours, start with the typical “what did you get up to this weekend?” Although our founder and design director Sean Carter is humble about everything other than design, we had to share on his behalf a little humble brag. Because on Saturday, Sean was over in Pontevedra, Spain competing as a member of Team Canada 🍁 for the 2025 World Duathlon Championships. Yes, that’s right, just a casual run-bike-run through a town in Spain cheered on by thousands of people - including the loudest cheerleaders his family - while doing only his second duathlon ever. If you follow along you may know Sean has been a little busy this year with opening the new SMoMA CHDL headquarters which includes our office space and his own art. So he maybe hasn’t had as much time to train as he would like. But we’ve seen his hard work pay off as his bikes (n+1 if you know, you know) are often parked at the office. And at a time where what it means to be Canadian is a critical topic, Sean proved what it means is to take up a new sport, take on a new challenge with determination and wear the maple leaf proudly, even if he did wish he could have designed the uniform himself. Don’t worry Sean, there’s always next year. Congrats from the team at Carter Hales! cc Tavis Yeung Stuart Freer Andrew Schick Jenny Duncan Sherry Jang #teamcanada
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Sean Carter shared thisI've been in training. Getting into fighting shape. Attempting to take down AI once and for all.Sean Carter shared thisWe’ve officially moved into our new Strathcona SMoMA HQ and now we’re inviting our creative community to join us for our first summer event series, Artist vs AI, on May 28th. In a battle for domination of studio title rights, our principal Sean Carter will defend how a designer's craft brings a human aspect that cannot be replicated by AI while Carter Hales newcomer Tavis Yeung “you can’t spell Tavis without AI” will argue how AI gives you a critical edge that a human - or Godzilla & King Kong for that matter - simply can’t compete with. Join us for some creative conversations, reconnect with other industry folks and put your bets on who will win the first battle of this series. Spoiler alert: if you saw the King Kong vs Godzilla 2021 film, you might have an idea of how this battle ends...although we asked Chat GPT and they're calling the odds pretty even, advantage Godzilla. But we always like an underdog, or in this case, a giant ape. More details https://lnkd.in/gJA-Ukva and RSVP to Jenny Duncan Jenny@carterhales.com
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Sean Carter shared thisBig team announcement. No, we are not promoting our studio dog to Director of Client Cuddles. Welcome Jenny Duncan to Carter Hales Design Lab Inc. Clip in go for a spin with us.
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Sean Carter shared thisWe’re excited to be hosting some design & technology innovation events this Summer in our new space. Stay tuned for more.Sean Carter shared thisIt's no surprise that we applied design thinking to our new space - but ever wondered why thoughtful environments matter to everyone, not just us designers? Here's a few more pics of our new Carter Hales Design Lab space, captured brilliantly by Ed White. Those modular couches aren't just for show. That product wall isn't just eye - and real - candy. And the art isn't chosen randomly from Amazon prime days (more on that soon and the artist behind it all). This summer, we're opening up our new home in Strathcona to show how brand innovation thrives when minds meet in spaces that welcome and inspire, rather than the sterile confines of beige-walled meeting rooms. No boring boardrooms. No more predictable white-boards. Just real conversations about design, brand strategy, and digital innovation. Doors, minds, and coffee machine—all open. Stay tuned for an invitation in the coming weeks or drop a comment below if you're craving creativity and caffeine sooner!☕ #BrandStrategy #Innovation #CarterHalesDesignLab
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Sean Carter shared this5 years ago I was this 🤏close to becoming a D-list celebrity. A reality tv show about the graphic design business? Have a look and a hearty laugh.Sean Carter shared thisLEAKED TV show reveals all Carter Hales Design Labs' creative SECRETS. Click below for teaser, or get the FULL story at: https://lnkd.in/gWvn2JqP #Bard on the Beach
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Sean Carter shared thisWe are so grateful to have spent more than a year working on such a meaningful event with an amazing and talented team. Truly Unconquerable. Jenny Duncan, Robyn McVicker, Dennis Dong & Nao OkamuraSean Carter shared thisDesigning for unconquerable spirit. Honored to put these extraordinary athletes and their journeys center-stage. https://lnkd.in/gpgtjnik #Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025
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Sean Carter shared thisOver the last year, I’ve played the role of general contractor, tradesperson, janitor and building code navigator. Can’t tell you how relieved I am that our new Strathcona studio and art gallery is open. It’s not completely dialed in but it’s getting closer. The best part? Getting to hang out with such an inspiring and fun team in person, with the energy and opportunity to create amazing work together. It definitely feels like Christmas morning to me. Drop in for an espresso or flat white and a catch up.Sean Carter shared thisAfter 1798 days of working remotely we have finally moved into our new studio in Strathcona. It’s kind of funny how well we all adapted to working remotely back then but as time has passed we really started to miss the comraderie and creativity we create when in the same space. There’s more of us on the team that aren’t in this photo but that’s kind of the beauty of having a variety of options on how and where we create for our clients - something that was missing until today. Please pop in to say, “Hi!!” and grab yourself an espresso. Can’t wait to see you in person.
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Sean Carter liked thisSean Carter liked thisYear 2 of CHDL’s annual adult sports day demonstrated a range of mediocre to incredible displays of athleticism. From the egg and spoon wheelbarrow race, to chubby bunny and a game so chaotic and unphotogenic we dare not show the photos, safe to say it was a success. Taking recommendations for winter sports day, next.
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Sean Carter liked thisSean Carter liked thisI'm excited to share that I'm moving into a new role at TransLink as Director of Activation for the Broadway Subway Project. The Broadway Subway is our region's next major transit expansion, and I'm thrilled to play a role in bringing this important project into service. It's an exciting opportunity to support the Province, BCRTC, and our many partners while continuing to keep customers at the centre of the work. This move feels a little like the end of an era for me, personally. After more than 20 years in Brand, Marketing and Customer Experience - including the last six years leading an incredible team - I'm stepping away from a department that has been my professional home for most of my career. Looking back, I've been fortunate to contribute to many of the region's major transportation service and infrastructure launches over the past two decades. From the Golden Ears Bridge and Canada Line to Compass and the Evergreen Extension, I've had the privilege of helping connect customers with vital services and infrastructure. To my colleagues, past and present, thank you. The talented people in this organization continue to do amazing work every day, and I've been fortunate to learn from and work alongside so many of you. Thank you, Kevin B. Quinn, Jr., for your leadership and support. Tasia Balding and Gordon Zhou, MBA, D.Eng. (Ph.D.), PMP, P.Eng., P.E., I'm looking forward to working with you, the teams at BCRTC and TI Corp, and many others as we bring this project across the finish line. Excited for this next chapter!
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Sean Carter liked thisSean Carter liked thisWe're honored to share that Paxson Fay has been named one of the largest women-owned companies in Washington State by the Puget Sound Business Journal. We’re so grateful for our talented team and clients who believe in the power of creative, strategic storytelling to uplift great design shaping our built environment. Congratulations to all the other women-owned businesses recognized! See the full list: https://lnkd.in/eREtKidJ
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Sean Carter reacted on thisSean Carter reacted on thisFridays are for fierce competition. Our World Cup pool is going strong and today, we celebrated our teams with an international smorgasbord. Some team members showed a little more initiative than others in their potluck picks. But the happiest team member is the one without a pool pick. Peanut.
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Sean Carter liked thisSean Carter - I'll take most of the blame for it taking so long, but hey - we've been kinda busy 😋Sean Carter liked thisGood news, the experiment worked and we've been busy. Bad news, it took us over a year to launch our own website. Better news, you can read more about it in Sean's Second Spin: https://lnkd.in/g73kF3pQ
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Sean Carter liked thisSean Carter liked thisProud to share that Paxson Fay has been named to the Puget Sound Business Journal's Largest Women-Owned Companies in Washington State list, ranked #54. Tessa Franchini and I started this company because we believed a boutique agency could do specialized, strategic work at the highest level, and that women-owned businesses in our industry deserved a seat at that table. This recognition reflects the clients who trust us and the team that shows up for them every day. Thank you to PSBJ for shining a light on women-led businesses across Washington. Congratulations to all the other companies on this list! Special shout-out to other female leaders in our local industry at JPC Architects, Skyline Tile & Marble, Inc., Weber Thompson, Jennifer West Showroom, Nip Tuck Remodeling, and AmyWorks. See the full list here: https://bit.ly/4voe0Wu
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Dave Amos
One of the things I enjoy most about identity design is finding ways to embed multiple layers of meaning into a single mark. For Shelby Watch Co., a Canadian watch brand, I wanted the logo to do more than simply display the company's initial. The final mark combines three ideas: • A custom "S" monogram representing the Shelby name. • A subtle reference to the internationally recognized Diver Down flag through the red diagonal bands and negative space. • A directional form inspired by the navigation markers and instrument indicators found on professional tool watches. The outer shape was designed to feel strong and engineered almost like a watch component itself rather than a traditional logo. What I love most is how the mark changes when applied to the product. On the dial, it begins to function like an instrument marker, reinforcing the precision and purpose-driven nature of the watch. The best identity systems don't just identify a brand they become part of the product experience. Swipe to see how the logo was applied across the watch collection. #LogoDesign #BrandIdentity #WatchDesign #IndustrialDesign #GraphicDesign #Branding #CreativeDirection #CanadianDesign
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Daniela Pilossof
RFPs, SPEC WORK & THE COST OF SKIPPING UNDERSTANDING Remember about a year ago, when following advocacy from the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) the City of Toronto removed spec work requirements from its design RFPs? It was an important acknowledgment that design is a process, not just an output. (https://lnkd.in/ggvH5PVh) And yet, since then, I’ve encountered multiple new requests for spec work, from highly regarded organizations, and even from within the design industry itself! At the same time, I’ve worked on numerous RFP responses that ask teams to pre-solve complex strategic and design challenges with limited insight: unclear intent, vague constraints, unknown budgets, and little to no opportunity for dialogue. We’re asked to imagine, design, and cost solutions largely based on guesswork. I BELIEVE THIS SERVES NO ONE WELL – the client doesn’t receive the depth of thinking they deserve; the design team is pushed into premature certainty; and the project’s potential is quietly diminished before it even begins. We wouldn’t ask a doctor to prescribe treatment without first understanding the patient – asking questions, investigating context, and building trust. Design is no different. Strong outcomes come from discovery and dialogue, not speculative answers to undefined questions. This isn’t a procurement quirk. It’s a structural problem. One that drains creative energy, rewards compliance over insight, and encourages teams to compete on the quantity of unpaid effort rather than the quality of thinking. THERE MUST BE A BETTER WAY. What if we qualify teams on experience, approach, and values — not ideas. What if we introduce paid discovery or scoping phases before creative asks. What if budgets and success criteria are shared transparently from onset. What if we create space for real conversation, not just document submission. This is precisely what I strive to enable at DēPerla Design: a place where clients come first for dialogue, discovery, and collaboration — where understanding the problem is valued as highly as solving it, and where trust and clarity set the foundation for meaningful work. I know this is a complex topic… so I’m curious — what have your experiences been? Have you seen RFPs done well, is this process done better elsewhere, what can we learn? #DesignLeadership #DesignProcess #DesignEthics #CreativePractice
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