AC grad’s new coin media round-up

Posted on Thursday, July 25th, 2019

Canada shaped Coin

Algonquin College Graphic Design graduate, Alisha Giroux, has designed the first Canada-shaped coin, which was recently issued by the Royal Canadian Mint. Here is what Alisha had to say about her experience with illustration and design, and how Algonquin College helped give her the tools she needed to succeed.

Q: How does it feel to have designed the first-ever Canada-shaped coin?

A: A little bit surreal and I have to say it’s been a pretty big honour. Initially, the design was sort of how I perceive the country. It was a design I had done for myself. Having always seen the various islands and contours of the provinces I can usually spot something that’s shaped like an animal. Executing a design that was done for myself, and having the Mint kindle to the idea, and offer to put it on an official piece of Canadian currency was a surreal and very exciting opportunity.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the design?

A: The inspiration was how I see things and how I perceive the country. I have a huge passion for Canadiana and especially Canada’s wildlife. When I went out to make this design, I did my best to fit as many official animals as I could. For me, that is something our country values — nature and wildlife. So I married it with graphic design experience that I got from Algonquin College. When it came to putting it together, initially, it was a full colour illustration. When Canada 150 came around, I was inspired to adapt that into a unique, new design. I wanted to design it into a black and red letter press print — a type of speciality printing mostly done by hand.

Q: How long did it take you to create/design the original idea?

A: The original full colour illustration took me about one day. I picked at it for two to three days to complete it after work, but in total it maybe took eight to nine hours. The final letter press print for the Mint was an additional five to six hours to refine it down to two colours.

Q: What has the media attention been like?

A: A little bit overwhelming. It was completely unexpected. I was mostly just excited to get this design out there. Algonquin College had contacted me, then CBC, CTV, and CNN reached out. It was a full week of interviews and phone calls so it has been a little overwhelming, but I’m trying my best to enjoy it. It’s been a lot of fun!

Q: What was your favourite memory from your time at Algonquin College?

A: I attended the Graphic Design program and in our second year, collectively as a group, we went to New York City. We were exposed to a grandeur world of graphic design, and it was so wonderfully inspiring to see the potential of what we were learning about, and where we could go. I have many fond memories of the course, but that one is definitely a highlight.

I’ve always had a passion for illustration, but Graphic Design at Algonquin College gave me the chops and experience I needed to pursue my career that I’ve been doing for over 10 years, as an art director and graphic designer. And my boss is one of my old professors from school, Robert Smith.

Q: What piece of advice would you give to someone in the Graphic Design program at Algonquin?

A: Pursue your passion. Graphic Design can teach you how to see design and execute what’s in your head, but at the end of the day it’s really about passion. If it’s Motion Graphics, Typography, Illustration, whatever drives you, do that thing. If you specialize in something in particular, people will seek you out for that. Find that kernel of what keeps you going. The second piece of advice I have is to put your stuff out there—on Etsy, on Twitter— and eventually someone will find you! Do lots of stuff on the side and put as much out there as you can.

Q: What piece of advice would you offer to aspiring artists?

A: I would also say to diversify. Constantly (be) dabbling in different styles and aesthetics. The more you explore the stronger your work will be.

 

 

Giroux was mentioned in articles from CNN, CBC, and CTV.

Canada Shaped CoinCNN: Canada releases a Canada-shaped coin

“The map itself, with all its various islands and provincial shapes, often looked like animals to me growing up — Baffin Island, for example, looks like a dog on its back, and Newfoundland always resembled a dinosaur,” Giroux said.

To read the full article, click here.

Alisha GirouxCBC: Illustrator’s Canada-shaped coin draws from nature

Excerpt:

Giroux decided to design a two-colour version of her map for Canada’s 150th anniversary and posted it online, About a year ago, she received a call from the Mint, with an offer to have her design featured on a coin.

“I had a little cry, because it was immensely flattering, and surreal, and very special,” Giroux told Ottawa Morning.

Read the full story here.

Mint releases Canada-shaped $50 coinCTV: But will it fit in a vending machine? Mint releases Canada-shaped $50 coin

“The fact that the Munt was so interested in it that they wanted to turn it into a coin was so special,” said Giroux.

To read the full story, see here.

The coin has a face value of $50 and is available to purchase for $349. You can order it here.

(Photos by Daniela Chavez Ackermann)


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