Faculty of Design
Graphic Design
Lucy Chen
Redesigning the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival
Graphic Design
2024
The Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival is a cultural non-profit event organized by the TCBA and held annually at Toronto Centre Island. Its goal is to promote multiculturalism by sharing the tradition of dragon boat racing with Canada’s diverse communities. Starting from humble beginnings, the festival is now in its 36th year and remains one of the most anticipated events in Toronto.While dragon boat racing is the main focus of the Event, I believe it could also encompass the Dragon Boat Festival holiday (Duan Wu Jie). This holiday is filled with history, symbolism, and traditions, providing an opportunity to showcase the richness of Chinese culture. It would not only educate non-Chinese individuals about the festival holiday but also benefit Chinese Canadians seeking to connect with their cultural roots (myself included).The brand’s visual style consists of two modular systems overlapping each other. Both systems are inspired by Chinese and Canadian designs. The graphics primarily feature the dragon and the five poisons: snake, toad, scorpion, centipede, and gecko. These creatures were traditionally associated with Duan Wu Jie and believed to cause illnesses. Customs such as wearing amulets with depictions of these creatures and hanging mugwort were believed to ward off evil. The brand's colors are inspired by the five-color silk threads that children wore for the same purpose. A dynamic logo system is created using the visual style, emphasizing the history and evolution of the Event.For the design process behind this project, click the link icon below.
Work by
Lucy Chen
Graphic Design
“Hi! I'm Lucy, a Chinese Canadian Graphic Designer based in Toronto (and online), with a versatile skill set covering branding, illustration, motion graphics, and UI/UX. I believe that great design...” [More]
Celebrate the work of OCAD U’s class of 2023/2024!