March 12, 2013 - 2:30am
By pooling their collective skills, a group of VIU alumni spanning four generations, have created the first ever VIU Alumni merchandise.
The T-shirts, which come in two different styles, were designed by Graphic Design alumna Sarita Mielke, who graduated in 2010, and Terence Fitzgerald, who graduated from the same program in 1992. Mielke and Fitzgerald then worked closely with Senini Graphics, owned by Brent Senini, who was in VIU’s Fine Arts program in 1975. He and his company’s head designer Neil Speirs, a 2013 graduate of VIU’s Graphic Design program, advised on colour choices and also printed the T-shirts.
“It was great to be able to work together on this project,” says Fitzgerald, “as it was an example of how alumni can network and support each other even once they’ve left VIU. I also appreciated working on a project that will allow alumni to remain connected to their collegiate experience and show their pride in being graduates of the university.”
Fitzgerald, a member of VIU’s Alumni Association Board, came up with a design concept and then approached Mielke’s company, Awarewolf Creative, to help finalize the design.
“Terence wanted the design to harken back to a quintessential varsity look, but still echo a clean and hip appearance so that it would appeal to today’s alumni,” says Mielke. “I also wanted alumni to feel good about what they were wearing, and proud of their former university.”
The team ended up developing two different designs – one with a classic look; the other with a more modern appeal. They then approached the team at Senini Graphics to discuss colour choice and printing options.
“We decided on a navy blue colour as it’s a classic look but also one of VIU’s colours,” said Senini. “Then we printed it using a technique called discharge printing, where the design is bleached out of the shirt, rather than printed on top. It makes for a cleaner, more interesting finish.”
The T-shirts are $20 and proceeds will go towards developing programs for alumni and scholarships and bursaries for current students. “The merchandise will also help build awareness of VIU’s Alumni Association and how the board is working to build a strong connected network of graduates,” says Fitzgerald.
For more information on purchasing an alumni T-shirt or on [VIU’s Alumni Association](http://www.viu.ca/alumni/alumniassociation.asp) contact VIU’s Alumni Relations office at alumni@viu.ca or 250.740.6215.
Tags: In the Community
