Overview

During the summer of 2025, I worked a summer student job at Assiniboine College’s new makerspace, the Creative CoLab. My job responsibilities were varied, but all centered on learning about the space’s equipment and preparing for its grand opening in the upcoming fall.

One project I worked on during my time there was designing, printing, and installing a tabletop graphic for the space’s large conference table. During that summer, the CoLab was like a blank canvas, and since it was a creative space, decorating it with the work of creatives would both liven up the place and demonstrate what it was intended for.

The idea for the design was to create something promoting creativity, expansion, exploration, and nature.


The Challenge

The challenge here was to create something that was visually appealing, but not too distracting. The table this was to be used one was a large meeting/conference table, so a subtle design would be best.


Design Process

1. Inspiration and Ideation
As a starting point for this project, I was introduced to the work of Christi Belcourt, an artist specializing in environmental-themed pieces. Lots of her pieces feature organic, free-flowing shapes, which I took inspiration from.

The final piece would have to feature the logo, created by CoLab director Derek Ford, with an abstract pattern surrounding it.

I sketched out several ideas, experimenting with abstract patterns and shapes, and worked out a design that featured the CoLab logo with an abstract pattern flowing around it.

2. Digital iterations
With my sketch, I used Adobe Illustrator to turn the design into a vector, and experimented with multiple colour schemes.

3. Refinement
The final colour theme I chose was a dark blue. Acting on feedback I had received from Derek, I increased the size of the CoLab logo to make it stand out more among the abstract shapes.

4. Implementation
I printed out my design using the CoLab’s latex printer, laminated it, and installed it on the space’s table


Lessons Learned

-Practice working with preexisting brand assets (i.e. the CoLab logo)
-The workflow of seeing a project through from sketch to print
-How to apply vinyl graphics to curved surfaces


Conclusion

The final product was proudly displayed in the Creative CoLab, where it collected a lot of positive attention. Working on such a large printed piece was a new experience for me, and allowed me to expand my knowledge in print production while promoting the Creative CoLab’s vision.