User:Benkeenan/sandbox

Overview
Vanessa Eckstein is an Argentinian graphic designer and founder/creative director of Blok Design Studios. Eckstein and Blok are respected for their work and 'value legacy' philosophy installed in every project.

Biography
Eckstein was born in Buenos Aires and grew up under the military dictatorship of Jorge Rafael Videla, with working-class parents, which shaped her social and political perspective. Eckstein stated, "Our personal experiences insert themselves in our work - it shapes you."

Eckstein got her degree from the University of Buenos Aires before continuing studies at the ArtCenter Collage of Design for a master's in fine art in intercultural studies. Five years after completing her master's, Eckstein founded Blok Design, became a member of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) in 1998 and was a professor at OCAD University from 1999 - 2021. The following year she sat as Vice President of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), from January 2000 - January 2001.

Eckstein also has decades of volunteering work on D&AD's graphic design jury president, as a Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity design juror, on ADCC's advisory board member and on program advisory committees (PAC) for Applied Arts Media, OCAD University, George Brown College Continuing Education and Insitute Without Boundaries.

Blok Design Studio
Blok is made up of 6 designers (including Eckstein) and has moved location between Toronto, Mexico City and Berlin since it was founded. Eckstein named Blok after the 1924 avant-garde Polish magazine, Blok Journal. The publication is considered as the symbolic beginning of constructivism in Poland and initiated the Blok Group of Cubists, Constructivists and Suprematists (1924-1926) with a significant role in the radical avant-garde of the Polish interwar period. Eckstein stated in an interview with The Design Kids, “I have always been exhilarated by the periods in art where all preconceptions were challenged and at its core took on an active role in rethinking society.” As a result of her childhood, Eckstein developed a drive to create for society and belief that “design is a means of communicating, serving, being part of society.”

Notable Work
Eckstein has clients and a range of work through Blok, from wide-scale company branding and publications to product design and exhibitions.

Wayward Arts
Blok created an issue based on the theme of counterculture for the magazine. The studio teamed up with the cultural anthropologist who contributed an essay. Blok's edition of the Wayward Arts magazine displays what happens when art, politics, and design come together.

CEE
CEE worked with Blok to develop a new visual identity that would mark the organisation’s new national ambitions. The result is a logo that reflects CEE’s process of transforming and uplifting its students, to give voice to its beliefs and the students’ hopes and dreams.

The Civic
All of the chosen graphics and language nod to Toronto’s gilded past, borrowing from the turn of the century to create a playful conversation that hints at the gastronomic pleasures to come.

CSPG
Blok channels the necessary impact, immediacy and communicative clarity of political posters into CSPG’s visual identity. In their type-centric approach, disregarding proprietary imagery—often a critical component of political posters—it essentially takes a step back and functions as a frame for a variety of images and messages.

Quotes
"We collaborate with thinkers and creators, from all over the world, taking on projects that blend cultural awareness, our love of art, and our belief in humanity to advance society and business alike. We work across media and disciplines, including strategy, identity, product, packaging, editorial design, websites, digital experiences, exhibitions, and installations as well as art direction with a ferocious passion.""I have always been exhilarated by the periods in art where all preconceptions were challenged and at its core took on an active role in rethinking society. We are always working to embody that ourselves – to push and shift thought."

International Clients

 * Nike, Toronto & Mexico City
 * Pepsi, Mexico City
 * Nestlé, Mexico City
 * Miami Art Museum, Miami
 * Heineken, New York
 * Bank of Canada, Ottawa
 * Furlined, Los Angeles/London

And more.

Awards
Eckstein (and Blok) have had a plethora of awards and nominations for their work within the last three years, adding to a vast collection already.

2023

 * ADCC Gold Award - Kalach TAX won for Complete Book Design.
 * ADCC Bronze & Silver Awards - MOCA Toronto Award won Silver for Public Service Design, Ryuko won Bronze for Complete Design Program, and NU won Bronze for Brand Identity - New Brand.
 * Communication Arts Award - Ryuko won for food and drink design.
 * Strategy Magazine Awards Nomination - Blok Design was shortlisted for the 2023 Design Agency of the Year.

2022

 * ADCC Gold Award - MOCA GTA21 won for Complete Book Design.
 * ADCC Silver Award - Førs won for Packaging Design.
 * ADCC Bronze Award - GMM, Büro Klaus and Nienkämper were awarded for Logotype and Identity Design.
 * Communication Arts, Winners of the 2022 Design Competition - MOCA GTA21 and The Royal Hotelare won and appeared in the 2022 Design Annual.
 * Applied Arts Award, Best Entire Book Design - MOCA GTA21.

2021

 * Strategy Magazine Awards, 2021 Design Agency Of the Year Bronze Award - '2021 Design Agency Of the Year Bronze Award: The bravest shop on the Blok'.

Further Reading & Sources

 * Citizen Designer, Steven Heller & Veronique Vienne, originally published May 2003.
 * Design for the Real World, Victor Papanek, originally published 1971.