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.