​Celebrating up-and-coming designers making their mark

​The Salazar Awards are presented annually by DesCan Vancouver and founding sponsor Metropolitan Fine Printers to talented and inspiring DesCan student members currently enrolled in design programs in BC.

​Established in 1985 by DesCan Vancouver (formerly GDC BC), the award was created in honour of Enrique Salazar. Mr. Salazar was one of the founding members of GDC BC and served as its national representative for two years. He was a partner in Salazar Graphics, and taught graphic design at Capilano College until his death in June of 1985. Students receive awards in four categories: Branding, Print, Interactive/UX/UI, and Video/Motion. Supported by MET Printers, $500 is awarded to the top student in each category.

​Guest Speaker

​Greg Durrell, F.DesCan, Principal
“From Symbols to Systems: The Power of Purposeful Design”

​Greg Durrell, born in 1983 in Toronto, Ontario, is the owner of Tomorrow — a Canadian design and branding studio dedicated to creating impactful brands, products, and films for purpose-driven organizations. Durrell’s design career began at the age of 16, and by 2001, he was a designer and art director at War Child Canada, where he discovered his passion for using design to drive positive change. He played a pivotal role in the design team for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and later co-led the award-winning rebrand of the Canadian Olympic Team with Ben Hulse.

​Durrell’s expertise extends to a deep understanding of Canada’s design history, which he showcased in his 2018 documentary, “Design Canada.” The film, which explores the influence of European-immigrant designers on Canada’s identity in the 1960s, received international acclaim and debuted at #1 on iTunes in the documentary category.

​Durrell’s work continues to define iconic institutions, with recent branding projects including the International Olympic Committee (2021), Mountain Equipment Company (2022), the Design Vancouver Festival (2024) and the Green Party of Canada (2025).