Congratulations to Marko Jones (IDEA Grad 2023) for winning the 2021 student RGD Design de Plume Award for Indigenous Design with “Moytel”, Indigenous Language Learning App. This project was part of Tom Duguid's IDES 244 Cross-Platform Design.

“Moytel was designed to reconnect Indigenous teens to their culture and languages. Eagle illustration by Todd Baker and frog illustration by Glen Rabena.” writes Marko.

Check out this award-winning student illustration and design project!

Creative brief

Create a communication design piece to teach/inform Canadians about an aspect of reconciliation (based on one of the 94 calls to action in the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation report).

Logo rationale

Allowing Indigenous youth to speak and understand their native tongue, gives them a sense of identity which is why I decided to use the fingerprint symbol as a way to express the idea of discovery of ones identity and culture. I combined the idea of identity with the idea of home. The location icon is influenced in the logo to represent the apps feature of allowing users to select a language based on the region. The final logo connects the idea of identity and location by using key parts of each icon, which also brings visual interest to the design.

Why I decided to focus on language?

Language is our primary form of communication which is why it's so hard to preserve a culture's identity without a way to communicate with future generations.

Judges

• Tony Romito, Founder of Atiigo Media Inc. in Iqaluit, Nunavut

• Jennica Robinson Provisional RGD, Senior Graphic Designer at Design de Plume in Sudbury, ON

• Mark Rutledge RGD, CGD, Lead Designer at Animikii, Inc. & National President of the Graphic Designers of Canada

• Katie Wilhelm RGD, Indigenous Graphic Designer & Marketing Consultant in London, ON

About The RGD

Through the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (the RGD), Canadian designers exchange ideas, educate and inspire, set professional standards and build a strong, supportive community dedicated to advocating for the value of design.

Representing over 4,100 design professionals, including firm owners, freelancers, managers, educators and students, the RGD was created in 1996 by an Act of the Ontario Legislature (Bill Pr 56) and is the only graphic design association in North America to have this type of legislation.

The Certified RGD designation is a signal of quality and competence to the profession, public and government. Successful candidates have met a rigorous set of standards that includes documented levels of relevant, professional education and experience as well as competence in the areas of business, design principles, research, accessible design and ethics demonstrated through the successful completion of the RGD’s certification process.

Our vision is for a graphic design profession that is broadly valued for its contribution to life, commerce and society.