Hello. Bonjour.
Deborah Clague, Creative Consultant / Designer / Owner, Oblada Creative
I've always found solace with a no.2 pencil and a piece of paper. Whether drawing rudimentary portraits of my family in grade school or writing poetry as a teen, these tools have acted as a conduit for me to express myself and share my creativity with the world.
Through practice and persistence, I’ve parlayed my craft into a career in the field of design. Over the past two decades, I've worked in both the private and public sectors in advertising and education, started a creative services boutique (Oblada Creative), and have had my work awarded, published and exhibited provincially, nationally and internationally. I now consider myself an idea architect and a visual engineer.
In addition to visual art, I also enjoy writing and use the journal on this site to record the narrative of my life.
The tools I use may have evolved from pencil and paper to instruments of the digital age, but the essence of honest expression has remained the same. I believe that art should be personal but share an experience that is universal.
I feel that the influential role of designers and writers has the ability to empower, leverage and revolutionize all by transforming the simple to the sublime. I am greatly inspired by my travels; street art and the gallery of the urban landscape influence everything I do.
To view selected pieces of my portfolio, please visit the following:
View more by visiting the “My World” tab at the top of this site.
Awards:
• 2024 CCAE Prix D'Excellence, Gold, Best Marketing/Communications Initiative (Saskatchewan Polytechnic, “Enhancing the Graduate Experience”). Role: art/creative direction and design.
• 2023 CCAE Prix D'Excellence, Gold, Best Creativity on a Shoestring Budget (Saskatchewan Polytechnic ). Role: art/creative direction and design.
• 2021 Graphis Gold Award, 2021 Protest Posters 2 ("Portrait of Vladimir Putin").
• 2020 Saskatchewan Polytechnic Above and Beyond award.
• 2019 LERN International Award for Exemplary Home Page (Saskatchewan Polytechnic Extension).
• 2019 RGD In-House Design Award of Distinction (Saskatchewan Polytechnic Indigenous Student Success Strategy “miyo wahkohtowin”).
• 2017 Saskatchewan Polytechnic Outstanding Service award.
• 2017 CCAE Prix D'Excellence, Silver, Best PR/Marketing/Communications Initiative (Saskatchewan Polytechnic Aboriginal Student Success campaign). Role: art/creative direction and design.
• 2016 Redgee Best in Region, Manitoba/Saskatchewan/Nunavut (Saskatchewan Polytechnic Viewbook 2017/18).
• 2016 Graphis Silver Award, Annual Report compilation (SIAST 2011-2012 Annual Report "Impact")
• 2015 Graphis Gold Award, 2016 Poster Annual ("Portrait of Vladimir Putin")
• 2015 Graphis Silver Award, 2016 Poster Annual ("Carpe Diem")
• 2015 Graphis Silver Award, 2016 Poster Annual ("Big Fish Haul")
• 2015 Redgee Award, Manitoba/Saskatchewan/Nunavut region (Saskatchewan Polytechnic Strategic Plan "Tomorrow in the Making"); best print marketing piece and honourable mention best overall design piece for the region.
• 2014 IABC Gold Quill Award of Excellence, Division 3: Communication Skills, Category 33: Publications (SIAST 2014-2015 Recruitment Viewbook, "Go!"). Role: art/creative direction and design.
• 2014 Graphis Merit Award, 2015 Poster Annual ("Let Them Eat Cake").
• 2013 UCDA Award of Excellence, Print (SIAST 2011-2012 Annual Report, "Impact").
• 2012 Elevators Award, Annual Report Under 10K (SIAST 2010-2011 Annual Report, "Driving Economic Growth").
• 2012 Sask ACE Award of Excellence for Communication Creative (SIAST "Life is Multiple Choice and We Have the Answer Key"). Role: creative direction.
Exhibits:
• DesignThinkers Conference, Toronto, Ontario. An exhibition of winning pieces from the RGD In-House Design Awards (2019).
• UCDA Design Show, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. An exhibition focusing on excellence in post-secondary design (2013).
• Peace Signs: Posters Of The Anti-War Movement. An international travelling art exhibit focusing on posters from the war in Iraq, uncensored, political and thought-provoking (2004).
• Little Pieces, New Wagner Gallery, Edwardsville, Illinois, USA. An art exhibition focusing on international contemporary design (2001).
Publications:
• Public Relations Writing: Strategies and Structures by Doug Newsom and Jim Haynes (2016). Case study of project featured.
• DesignEdge Canada (May/June 2015). Design work featured.
• What Happens in Vietnam…, Designer Magazine (Winter 2015). Authorship and photography for an article about deployment to Vietnam.
• Love Letter To Japan, Designer Magazine (Summer 2013). Authorship and photography for an article about finding creative inspiration in Tokyo.
• SIAST in Vietnam, Partners Magazine (Spring 2012). Photography.
• That Skating Rink in the Dark, Winnipeg Life Magazine (Winter 2004). Illustration.
• Peace Signs: The Anti-War Movement Illustrated by James Mann (Edition Olms Zurich, 2004). Design and illustration of several posters.
Other:
• Judge, education sector, RGD SoGood Awards (2020).