Meet our alumni
Cameron McNab - Graphic Design & Foundation of Design
Original program: Graphic Design & Foundation of Design
Alumni Information
School: LaSalle College Vancouver
Grad Year: 2010
Program of Study: Graphic Design & Foundation of Design
Degree: Diploma
Employment/Professional Information
Company Name: COSSETTE
Location: Vancouver
Job Title: Art Director
Primary Responsibilities: Art Direction, Graphic Design, Web Design.
Describe a Typical Work Day:
A typical day is a mix of meetings, brainstorming sessions, sketching or designing at my desk.
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
I’m proud to have landed my job at Cossette. It can be difficult to break into the advertising/design industry, and I feel pretty lucky to do something that never feels like work. I was also awarded the 2012 Bronze Medal in the Globe & Mail Young Lions National Advertising Competition.
What are your creative inspirations or influences? Who are your heroes?
First, Paul Rand (IBM, NeXT, Westinghouse, UPS, etc.) for his brand identity work and his strong opinions on the process of designing for clients. And second, Dieter Rams (Braun, etc.) for his brilliantly minimal design aesthetic.
What do you enjoy the most about your career?
I really enjoy the variety of projects and the challenge of working on something new all the time. At any given moment I will be working on five to eight different projects for a variety of clients. It keeps things interesting.
How did your education at LaSalle College Vancouver help prepare you for your career?
The program at LaSalle College Vancouver was perfect for what I needed, in that I wanted the best training in the shortest amount of time. The focus on time management and solid technical skills really gave me an edge for my current job. If you can’t keep up with the pace and hit deadlines, you won’t be long in this industry.
What advice do you have for people beginning their careers in your profession?
Work hard and always go the extra mile on projects. People notice when you put in more than you were asked to do. Be a perfectionist. Continue to learn new things.
Your profession is constantly evolving, from the technology you use to new career opportunities that didn’t exist five years ago. What trends do you see on the horizon that will affect how you do your job or your profession at-large?
It’s an obvious one, but things are going digital. I can’t wait for the day when you never have to deal with printing and the way things change from screen to paper. There is a level of precision you can achieve with screen design that just isn’t possible with print design. Even as far as the way we work, we will likely be sharing concepts or designs on tablet computers and smart surfaces, instead of stacks of paper. It will be unbelievably helpful to the flow of things. Winner of 2012 Globe & Mail Young Lions - Bronze Award.