1) What have been the three biggest advantages to having your firm's logo design selected for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games?
It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of Canadian and Olympic history. We have a very talented team and it is nice to be recognized. John Furlong said: "I hope you realize that you now belong to a select group of world-class designers." In fact, [I was told] there are only six art directors alive that enjoy this title in the world. It is also a validation of our process. Every project we create follows the same steps, an understanding of communication needs, a historical review, definition of goals, and creating a connection between message and audience.

2) What have been the challenges?
One of the biggest challenges has been dealing with the frantic pace at which everything has happened. We have updated our website, expanded our marketing, and moved to a new office in a very short time. Planning for the future is difficult because this is such an unprecedented event. Although it is hard to gauge what the impact to the business will be on a day-to-day basis, we are keeping up with the changes.

3) How has the selection of your firm's design impacted your business bottom line?
It is too early to tell, but we expect that it will be significant. We have received interest from potential clients and are already getting busier. But we are not just waiting for the phone to ring. We are also stepping up our marketing activities to take advantage of all the coverage Rivera Design Group has received.

4) What have you learned from the process of submitting, and winning such a high profile graphic design contract?
We believe that great things can happen when you work really hard, and one day they do. It is nice to know that because of our solid design experience, we were able to excel at the branding development for the Vancouver Olympic Games regardless of size. Ultimately, we have learned the importance of competing on talent, not size.

5) What's next for Rivera Design?
We are in a growth face. We have been quite busy for a while and this award is the best thing that could have happened to support the next step for Rivera Design. We have just moved to a new larger office and look forward to many more happy clients. I have launched a new speaking series, entitled "Olympic Glory by Design". The focus is on the process around the 2010 Olympic Design, the link between communication and effective design, which is a challenges that all businesses face. We are contacting a wide variety of associations interested in booking the presentation. It's a very exciting time for all of us!

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Vancouver Sun
Jonathan Fowlie

Inspiration started in Stanley Park

The idea came almost right away. Ever since the 2010 Winter Olympic Games were granted to Vancouver, Elena Rivera MacGregor had been thinking how great it would be for her four-person design firm to have even just a small roll in designing the Olympic emblem. "I was hoping there would be some kind of a window to be part of the design of the logo," Rivera MacGregor said her small Yaletown studio on Friday.
"It's Probably going to go to the big wheels," she recalled thinking. "It's never going to come around to all the little people." To her surprise, Olympic organizers announced a national competition, opening the opportunity for anyone with design experience to submit a proposal.
The Vancouver-trained agency principal took to the project right away.
"I love competition, and especially this one, because I love a challenge," Rivera MacGregor said one day before the official launch of her winning emblem.
Her breakthrough creative moment came early. She had seen an inukshuk in Stanley Park and realized the representation of an Inuit icon could be a powerful symbol for Vancouver's winter games.
Still, she decided to conduct extensive research and try several different options.
Part of that research, she said, was placing all the previous Olympic logos chronologically on a chart, to see the progression and understand what would come next.
"Every time you put something at the end of a row it either fits or doesn't," she said.
"That's the touch of a master," she added, before stopping to laugh, almost as if to suggest it would be comical to think of herself as a master.
But that seems part of her personality, and part of her charm.
While not boastful, Rivera MacGregor is not shy to let people know she is good at what she does.
She hangs evidence of her accolades with pride in the foyer to her design office, and will shamelessly tell you why she is the best person to handle your annual report, newsletter of corporate identity.
"We're very good," she said matter-of-factly when asked about her company.

Vancouver Sun
Chuck Russell

Inukshuk picked as symbol of Olympics

The product of a national design competition, the Ilanaaq emblem was designed by the Yaletown-based design firm Rivera Design Group.
"It's been a great journey," said Elena Rivera MacGregor, principal of Rivera Design group.
"It's unreal, it's unbelievable and overwhelming," she added with a smile. "I don't think I could top this one."
It took nine judges almost two days to pick a winner, though by the end the decision was unanimous.
Asked about the emblem after the presentation, most people said they liked the simplicity of the design, the vibrant colours and especially the connection to Canadian heritage.
"In my business, we have a term called a home run and I'd like to congratulate Elena on hitting a home run," said Steve Mykolyn, creative director of design at Toronto's Taxi Advertising, and one of the judges who selected the design.
"I think it's very appropriate for the games," added Casey Hrynkow a designer with the Vancouver firm Herrainco Skipp Herrainco. "It's first nations, which is great, but it also has appropriate meaning in terms of welcoming and guiding and those kinds of things."
Paul Okalik, premier of the territory of Nunavut, said he too likes the design, and is touched it will be used as a logo for such a high-profile event.

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Globe and Mail

Vancouver 2010 selects traditional Inuit design

"There were only so many things that could represent the entire country," said Rivera MacGregor. "We researched it and we concluded the inukshuk was in fact one character that could pretty much tell the whole story.
"The value of the style and components of it, the colours, that's what took it over the top."
John Furlong, chief executive officer for the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee said the logo leaves an unmistakable impression.
"This is an emblem when you see it once you never forget it," said Mr. Furlong, after the logo was revealed to a small audience at GM Place in a glitzy one-hour television special broadcast live on CTV. "That's remarkable and important."
Most of the people leaving the ceremony seemed pleased with the logo. Scott Cumming, who wore a Team Canada hockey sweater, admitted to some early confusion.
"When we first saw it, it was 'what the heck is that,"' said Mr. Cumming, of Richmond, B.C. "It was like a bunch of Leggo blocks stacked up. "But when they explained it to us it was really cool. It has its arms wide open to accept the rest of the world.²
Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, called the logo warm and welcoming.
"I loved it immediately," Mr. Rogge said in a videotaped interview shown to the crowd.
Paul Okalik, premier of the territory of Nunavut, said using the inukshuk is special for his people.
"We don't have any Maple Leafs from where I come from," said Mr. Okalik. "This is very special.
"It shows a strength. Our inukshuk has been around a very long time. To be shown off to the rest of the world is very special for us."
"I think it is one of the warmest, most welcoming, friendliest emblems seen in the history of the Olympic Games," said Timo Lumme, the IOC's director of television and marketing services, who attended the ceremony.

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The Province
Damian Inwood

"When you see it, you won't forget it."

Furlong was in Berlin earlier this week and showed the new emblem to the International Olympic Committee's executive board.
"We got a very positive response," he said yesterday. "The reaction was the same one that we've had from everybody who has seen it which is, 'When you see it, you won't forget it.'"
"We challenged the designers to find us something that every Canadian would be proud of," said Furlong. "So wherever you live in the country, you'd look at it and feel you're part of it. We feel we've been given a fantastic result."
Furlong refused to say what the new logo will look like but joked, "I can tell you for sure it's not a great big maple leaf."