As three graduates of Dawson College's graphic design program (2005), Robert, Michael and Daniel enjoy working in the field applying themselves as full-time designers or doing freelance projects.

The program was a wonderful way of taking a general love of design and helping each of us determine which style and media we like to use when we create because we had an opportunity to try most all of them at Dawson.

As well as working in the field they are all as well continuing their studies at the university level in full-time graphic design at UQAM or part-time web design studies at Concordia university.

We all met and became friend's four years ago while learning about graphic design and have kept close and remained friends even while pursuing our individual projects.

Ruth Farrugia graduated from Dawson’s Graphic Design Program in 2000. Since then, she has been working in the public sector as an in-house designer, which has allowed her to gain experience in a large variety of projects, mostly in marketing cultural and artistic events. She also owns and operates a one-woman design studio by the name of Fishtank Communications. Although print is her main love, she also designs for the web when the opportunity arises. A big believer in supporting the community, she is delighted to be a part of Design 'n' Dash.

Art has been my passion for as long as I could remember. However, it was the moment that I started my education at Dawson that my passion for art was combined with a passion for design. I have spent my whole life creating art and now am fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to play for a living. I’ve been working for a company called Belgo Lux Inc for 3.5 yrs. In this time I have been so lucky to be given the opportunity to build their design department from scratch. I now hold the position of art director and have one person working under me. The wonderful thing about this company is that I get to touch every aspect of design. I manage and direct photo-shoots, create original product developments, design print advertisements, create new and efficient ways to package our products, branding, catalogue designs, web design and countless other items that need to be done. Because working 40hrs is not enough :), I decided to push myself further and start up a design studio on the side called offset design. The experiences have been amazing so far, and I can only hope that it will continue to grow.

Rekha Patel, 2003 Grad.
After graduating from Dawson College, I continued my studies at UQAM and have just graduated this spring. I got interested in Graphic Design working temporarily as a desktop publisher. The creative aspect of graphic design sparked my interest and inspired me to further pursue my studies at Dawson College and then at UQAM. Presently, I am a part-time freelancer for a non-profit organization.

Salma Belhaffaf
After graduating from Dawson in 2003, I continued my studies at UQAM and obtained my bachelor's degree last spring.

Nadia Uson is a practising graphic designer in the CD and DVD industry. She graduated from Dawson College in 2005 with a degree in graphic design, and was selected within the top 10 for her graduating vernissage poster. Prior to her degree she studied in Design for the Theatre at Condordia University in Montreal. She also holds a degree in Fine Arts.

"Graphic design is the paradise of individuality, eccentricity, heresy, abnormality, hobbies and humors."
George Santayana

I have always been passionate about art and design. As a younger child I constantly drew, constructed, cut and manipulated every bit of paper I could find. In my high-school years, I had always been involved in extra-curricular activities (creating posters and programs for all the school’s events), which helped influence my decision to go on and study Set & Theatre Design at John Abbott College. Later I gained valuable experience in label and packaging design and helped launch numerous products in the frozen foods sector. As a business entrepreneur myself (mocomedia), I felt the need to further develop my skills by acquiring a technical degree in graphic design at Dawson College.  Now approaching my second year in the program, I fully appreciate the diverse technical and creative challenges that accompany this field.  Being part of this learning environment allows me to grow as an artist and it allows me to acquire the complimentary tools I will need to attain my professional goals.

"Its all in the details." Graduated in 2004, I am currently exploring the field of graphic design and enjoying everything it has to offer. I opened my own business and through it I am always looking for new challenges and interesting projects. There is never a dull day in our world of design!

Homer and Monia will be working as a team during the design marathon. They both graduated from Dawson in 2004.

Homer went to work for Standard Life as a Graphic Designer. What he lacks for in age he made up with pure talent. The corporate world was astonished again and again by Homer’s fresh new ideas and creativity. In 2005, he was awarded the Benefits Canada Communications Award in design and print strategy for "Hudson Bay’s Company (HBC) Retirement Kit". He is currently a Multimedia Specialist and is completing his BAC in Graphic Design at UQAM.

Monia is the event coordinator of the Design 'n’ Dash, and believed in the event so much that she is participating. Monia took an in house graphic design position after graduation that allowed her to build the department from the ground up. This position enabled her to wear many different hats, among them art director, photographer, graphic designer, and marketing assistant. While completing her BCOMM in Marketing at Concordia she went into business for herself. She is now the owner of Red Paint Design (www.redpaintdesign.com) a graphic design studio that caters to personal and corporate events.

Suana Verelst was born in Antwerp (Belgium) and grew up in a town called Kortrijk, close to the French border in Belgium. In 1984, she emigrated to Montreal. After receiving degrees at Concordia University in fine arts and art history and a degree in graphic design at Dawson College in Montreal and receiving some awards for her work, she realized that she wanted to combine her love for drawing, painting, sculpting, etching, bookmaking, computer graphics, and experimenting with materials and textures into one. Since 2001, she has worked as an children's book illustrator and graphic designer. She has been working with children's book related publishers in Quebec, Belgium , Switzerland and the US.

Ellen Daley
Graduated in Graphic Design, and then worked for a year as freelance designer. In 2003 she began working at centre TYPO as an Account Manager and in September of 2006 she joined The Corlab Group. She is now enjoying her role as Project Manager.

Grace Agostino
“Grace is a recent graduate of Dawson College’s Graphic Design program. She enjoys drawing, reading and going out.“

Pascal Blouin
Graduated in Photography, and worked as a professional photographer since 2000.  He has been working for The Corlab Group for the last three years and has since decided to return to school in Infographie.

Since graduating from Dawson College, Stefanie Sosiak has been honing a refreshing , unique approach as a graphic designer with a strong background in illustration and a keen sense of aesthetics. Throughout her residency at the respected communications firm Kelly+Aylen and her present employment with the thriving marketing agency Sychowski Communications, Stefanie has been establishing herself as an exciting, talented and promising designer.

Both graduates of the 2000 class of Graphic Design at Dawson, Oscar and Marcin work in the field of web design. Oscar works at Sextans as well as a freelance designer (oquay.com), and Marcin is the owner of LABOITE (laboite.ca).

2006 graduate Monica is a theatre technician, a graphic designer, and
an illustrator, who is currently seeking a way to combine all three.

Being a fresh new graduate of the Graphic Design Program here at Dawson College, I am pleased to be a part of ALO’s Design & Dash event. Throughout my 3 years at Dawson, I have been able to be exposed to a vast amount of design techniques which have aided in the development of my existing design style. Moreover, it has helped to push my style beyond its creative limits.

I have an immense passion for solving challenging design problems, and take great pride in my work. As somewhat of a perfectionist, I take my work seriously and never settle for second best. I consider presentation to be of vital importance in design and remain persistent in achieving my desired goal. My experiences working with large and small groups has helped me to learn patience, open-mindedness, and understanding towards others. Coming out of school I’m anxious and am looking forward to what may come in the future for me in the graphic design industry.

I graduated the graphic design program at dawson college and went into the animation program at sheridan college in oakville ontario. Since then I have gained experience in the industry in broadcast design and animation, and currently am working as a character animator for an animated TV series. As much as I love animation graphic design still is and always will be a part of me and my career, it is a game of balance and diversity.

Tamisha Harris
After a brief internship at Parasuco Inc., Tamisha continued her studies in Computation Arts at Concordia University. She presently works in the Marketing and Communications department, at the National Film Board of Canada, as a graphic designer. In her spare time, she continues to freelance for it offers her opportunity to let ideas flow and delve deeper into her imagination. Tamisha is eager, along with her team-mates, to participate in this creative challenge that is giving back to the community!

Ailiza Coronel
After graduating from Dawson, I began my career working for a design firm downtown. Over 3 years of growth with still much to learn, I am presently working within the Marketing Department of Laura Canada. I enjoy working on a few side contract here and there whenever time allows it. And since I have missed school so much, I have also decided to further my studies in Computation Arts at ConcordiaU. What else? Oh! I also started taking Flamenco lessons! I discovered a new passion to add to my heart!