Project Title: IEF CANIE Awards
Client Name: Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation
Date: 2021-2023
Role: Project Manager, Graphic Designer
Context:
The CANIE Awards is an annual program orchestrated by the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF), designed to acknowledge and celebrate exceptional entrepreneurs demonstrating excellence in innovation, sustainability, social impact, community leadership, and business achievement. These prestigious awards shine a spotlight on the nation’s outstanding entrepreneurs, particularly those from equity-deserving communities.
Methods:
Prior to the commencement of the CANIE Awards, the team undertakes extensive preparations, crafting numerous graphics. These include the annual Awards logo, diverse social media promotional banners, and posts tailored for various social media channels. Essential awards text content, such as application questions, webpage information, FAQs, eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, is meticulously developed. The team also creates basic social media content designed for different stages of the program. Additionally, there is a focus on webpage updates to ensure the online presence is reflective of the event’s dynamics.
Once the CANIE Awards kick off, the team shifts into vigilant monitoring of backend data. This includes tracking webpage and social media channel statistics, along with keeping tabs on the number of applications in each category. The ongoing promotion strategy remains dynamic, adapting to the data received. For instance, if a particular category receives fewer applications, the team may strategically shift focus to Google/Meta Ads for that specific category. Alternatively, they might reach out via emails to related institutes to enhance program visibility.
Following the conclusion of the CANIE Awards, the team’s focus shifts to collaborating with an adjudication team. This collaboration involves the intricate process of selecting finalists and winners. The team guides these winners through the process of recording promotional videos. Winners are then contacted to receive cash awards and trophies. This phase necessitates extensive graphic material creation to effectively announce and promote the winning businesses.
Notably, the team also organizes national celebrations in person at selected cities. This element of the process demands the creation of additional graphics. These graphics serve dual purposes—both in the promotion of the events leading up to the celebration and in the visual elements presented during the events themselves.
Design Process:
The Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation (IEF), a national charity committed to supporting founders and innovators from racialized and/or equity-deserving groups, drives its design process based on a brand tone aligned with the foundation’s 12 theme colors, each representing different communities served. The initial steps involve creating an annual Awards logo and a generic theme image, alongside basic graphics for each award category, utilizing colors associated with each category.
Solutions:
Building upon the logo and graphics for each category, the team develops webpages and additional promotional materials. Throughout the awards process, various promotional assets are created based on the requirements of different program stages. This includes social media posts, Mailchimp emails to the audience, and printed materials for in-person events.
Results:
Over the past two years, I have served as the project manager and graphic designer for the CANIE Awards program, achieving significant success. We have garnered over 500 entrepreneurs applying for the program. In 2022, we awarded $70,000 in cash prizes to winners, and $40,000 in 2023. We have successfully hosted four in-person events and two virtual galas, contributing to the celebration of diverse and inspiring businesses across the nation.
Anna Ren 