The Millennium Excellence Awards recognize, support and encourage talented Canadians who are pursuing post-secondary studies and who are making a significant contribution to their communities, demonstrate capacity for leadership, and are committed to academic achievement and innovation.

Le Programme de bourses d'excellence du millénaire reconnaît, appuie et encourage le talent des Canadiens qui entreprennent des études postsecondaires et qui contribuent à l'amélioration de leur communauté, font preuve de leadership, et visent l'excellence scolaire et l'innovation.

Design Objective / Objectif de conception

The challenge is to design a unique and memorable award certificate and presentation folder for the laureates of the Foundation's Millennium Excellence Award. The document should reflect the Foundation's key messages of recognizing and encouraging Canada's student achievers and tomorrow's leaders.

Le défi est de concevoir un certificat d'excellence et une chemise de présentation uniques et mémorables pour les lauréats des bourses d'études de millénaire de la Foundation. Le document doit refléter le mandat de la Foundation, qui consiste à reconnaître et encourager les étudiants qui font preuve de réussite scolaire et qui sont nos futurs dirigeants.

Judging / Les juges

The jurors selected the best design concept based on the following criteria:
  • ergonomics
  • presentation
  • features
  • structure/viability


    • Le jury ont choisi la meilleure étude conceptuelle selon les critères suivants:
  • l'ergononmie
  • la preséntation
  • les traits
  • la structure/viabilité

    • The Winning Entries / Entrées de gain

    Gold / Or

    Anna Sera Garcia
    Ontario College of Art and Design / Prof. Keith Rushton

    Silver / Argent

    Jonathan Margono
    Ontario College of Art and Design / Prof. Greg van Alstyne
    A Breakthrough



    "A Laureate is someone that's full of ideas, hopes, and is driven. In other words: an inspiration.

    I first designed the mood of the certificate. It has to be modern, confident, simple, and no-nonsense. After the mood was established, I looked through choices of imagery. I look through words and images that represent someone imaginative as well as innovative, such as "hero," "family," "trees," and "fort." Soon enough, I researched the word "break," and then "through," followed by "breakthrough," derived from being "innovative." Coincedentally, "breakthrough" is also a medium used to describe sunrays going through the clouds. These images were very mesmerizing, and inspiring that I knew I had found my starting point.

    After I'd established the mood and had a clear starting point, I began to look at ways to represent "breakthrough." I chose to have 3-D imagery, because of the way a 3-D program would react unexpectedly, as if it had its own emotions, giving the computer a human-like character. I began with the letters of "breakthrough"; I then manipulated each letter until they're unrecognizable anymore (a result from the computer reacting to my command). I then mould them to resemble sunrays going through a cloudy afternoon.

    The colour palette of orange was chosen not only to resemble sunrays, but also because of its meaning. It's a hopeful and inspiring colour. It is also a colour that's often associated with happiness and being active, traits that a Laureate possesses.

    I have also chosen to go with a white stock as certificate to contrast nicely with the colour orange on the images. The white theme will continue on as the folder, envelope, and of course, the mailing label."

    Bronze / Bronze

    May Solis
    University of Toronto and Sheridan College / Prof. Jay Wilson
    Illuminate



    "This certificate is designed to enlighten youth to aspire to achieve excellence so that they may brighten the paths of future generations.

    Based on the imagery of the celestial sky, this certificate is designed to be viewed from two different angles. From one angle, the certificate image appears to be a swarm of splendid colour. From another angle, the swarm of colour creates the beautiful, urban, celestial sky of Toronto.

    The design for my certificate is based on the imagery of the celestial sky. I chose this concept because success and personal achievement are associated with astronomical phenomena and stars are often associated with divinity and the heavens. Over the course of history, individuals have linked their success and triumphs as a "gift from the heavens." This concept of the celestial is the basis of my design for the Millennium Scholarship certificate.

    I decided to use the concept of the celestial sky because of its graphic quality. Images of stars are quite beautiful and colourful; it evokes a sense of awe similar to the feeling of being granted an award of the Millennium Scholarship's calibre.

    My design for the Millennium Scholarship certificate reflects the project's mandate of promoting student teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration because a single star alone doesn't create a beautiful celestial sky. Similarly, an individual person can't succeed without some help from colleagues and family. Furthermore, anyone can set out to shine as brightly as a star, to leave their mark for aspiring youth of future generations.

    My approach is unique because it touches on the science of astronomy and mythological associations to divinity, while remaining graphically beautiful and simple."

    Honorable Mention / Mention honorable

    Nelson Tai
    University of Toronto and Sheridan College / Prof. Jay Wilson
    Grow and Blossom



    "The concept of my certificate submission is that Canada is the root or foundation to growth and development. I chose this concept because the Millennium Excellence Award is about the development of future leaders. In my concept, I use the maple leaf, representing Canada, as the base of a tree and beautiful flowers grow from the 'maple leaf base', representing the student's growth and success through Canada's support. The branches continue onto the back of the certificate to symbolize the idea of growth beyond borders.

    The golden yellow colour is chosen as the main colour in the certificate to give a sense of energy and creativity. The envelope for the certificate uses a simplified pattern of the flower blossoms. Viewers would see the rest of the elements that helped blossom the flower when they see the cerrtificate inside.

    My approach is unique and shows the concept of development in a fresh and energetic way. The 'y' style of the certificate suits the audience of the award, as it targets young and innovative students."



    Please check back later for updates and images.

    2007 Design Exchange.