VIDEO PORTRAITS
George Haroutiun
Video clips © CCCA &
Erin Hayes 2006
Note: some videos may take 15-30 seconds to preload before playing.
Why magazine Design?
George explains why magazine design appeals to him.
Unlike corporate design, magazines require fewer stages
of approvals, a smaller team of contributors
and allow for continual improvement.
running time: 01:19
start
|

|
Canadian talent
Frustrated with the lack of confidence in Canadian design talent
and baffled by the perception that
Canadian designers are not
capable of handling large projects, George insists that great
artistic talent
exists in Canada. As a native of Lebanon, only
coming to Canada in 1969, George talks from experience.
He has seen the work of Europeans and Americans and
contends that there is no difference in the quality
of work
produced or competency of the designers.
running time: 01:4
start
|

|
Applied Arts: Representing talent across Canada
Though they are sometimes accused of being "Toronto-centric",
George claims considerable effort
is exerted to ensure that each
issue of Applied Arts represents the work of Canadians coast
to coast.
running time: 01:43
start
|

|
Magazine Mediocrity
Working in magazine design for over 30 years, George says
he has seen a change in the way magazines
are produced.
When he started the emphasis was on expressing the personality
of the magazine and appealing
to a specific reader. According to
George, today magazines seem to be designed with the sole
purpose
of looking "pretty". The result has been a homogenizing
effect. While the overall quality of some
magazines has gone up,
few have maintained any distinctive qualities.
running time: 02:35
start
|

|
The return to "thinking"
George comments on the computer revolution. While there are
a group of students working in the profession
who were educated
with very little attention to developing problem solving skills and
a great deal of
focus on technological understanding, he feels
certain that a more balanced education is emerging. "The
need
for originality will come back", he says. And already, he insists,
he can see a move to more "basic
communications".
running time: 01:4
start
|

|
Copyright ©1997, 2006, Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art. All rights reserved.
|
|