After an absence in last year’s competition, Industrial Brand teamed with Best Buy Canada Ltd. for Canstruction 09. After months of designing, planning and visiting to grocery stores, the design was finally executed over the two day build on April 25th and 26th. Based on this year’s theme: “From Caveman to Spaceman: Throughout History”, we decided to build a honeybee because of it’s importance to man and role in food chain. Integral to the world’s food production through pollination, honeybees have made their way into the news due to their recent decline in population. With this in mind we concluded that the honeybee best represented the event’s theme while communicating the message of hunger as a global problem.

After deciding on the bee, we drew up concepts for the structure keeping in major aspects of the figure right down to details such as the direction of the antennae. Working closely with David, our team architect, we developed a CAD rendering that would assist is in visualizing the bee both in preparation and during the weekend competition. Throughout the research and development process, the Best Buy and Industrial Brand employees scoured local grocery stores for in search of the perfect can for the bee’s various parts. What sounded like a simple process evolved into a detailed study in packaging and in the process we all have become experts on canned food.

On day one of the build, started work early to prepare the templates and collect the various sundries. Five hours, 30+ cardboard templates and 500 construction paper circles later, our team made their way down to the event the begin the build. The team arrived at 2:30 to the new Vancouver Convention Centre, where everyone was briefed on the details of the build and rules of the Canstruction. A collective sense of urgency soon over came all the participants as the build commenced at 3pm. We broke up into teams, working on different parts of the bee and the flower. It was an exciting time worked to build a solid foundation while all the teams work just as methodically, layering cans on to create their structures. At then end of day one the bee’s body and petals were complete. For the most part we were on time however the wings, and petals were proving to more time intensive than we expected.

Despite the aches and early start time, day two saw members from Industrial Brand and Best Buy cooperate like we had known each other for years to complete the build with 30 minutes to spare. With three crews working like clockwork, dedicated to completing the wings and leaves, a team of four worked on the body continuing their mastery of no-name tuna and bamboo shoots. By the end of the day everyone was exhausted and physically drained but buoyed by the feeling of accomplishment and a job well done. The bee was done, built out of tuna, bamboo shoots and coffee, using a combined total of 9,500 containers of food.

In a matter of 24 hours, 28 separate teams transformed palettes of canned food into spaceships, roller coasters and lovable cartoon characters. Part of the magic of this weekend was observing the combined efforts of the participants who were all creating these amazing in the name of battling hunger in the community. It was a big moment walking into the new Convention Center at the end of the competition and walking around the exhibition floor marveling at all the creativity and work put into each entry.

Canstruction runs from April 26 to May 3 at the new Convention Centre. Admission is by donation and proceeds go to support the Vancouver Food Bank. Hope to ‘bee’ seeing you there. Stay tuned to the Industrial Brand for the Canstruction 09 micro-site casestudy and build time lapse by our friend Todd Smith.

We would like to recognize the work that Janice Podmore, the Canstruction organizing committee and the Vancouver Food Bank for putting on this great event. A special thanks to Shafiq, Mike and the team from Best Buy Canada Ltd. for their gusto, elbow grease and unwavering support. Thanks to David, our team architect, who committed his evenings to working with us to develop a solid CAD model from which to work from. If not for his late hours working working with CAD, this would have been a very difficult build. Thanks also to Steph, Todd and Janeen who came early and stayed late to lend their support throughout the weekend. And finally thanks to the team at Industrial Brand who helped make my first Canstruction, a memorable and rewarding experience.

Photos from the build can be see in this Flickr group. Check out a time lapse of the build on YouTube here.

Well, we did it, again. The Industrial Brand/Legends Memorabilia “PicniCANtics” took top honours in this year’s Canstruction Vancouver for the third, THIRD, year in a row (2005 Award, 2006 Award). For those not in the know, Canstruction is an international design/build competition that benefits local food banks, brings together teams of architects, engineers, graphic artists and students to build amazing sculptures using only canned food and other non-perishables. This year, our sculpture contributed over 6,500 items to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank!

Admittedly, it was a close call this year since we were all super busy (and still are). Even so, for some reason the build seemed to go rather smoothly this year (thanks in large part to our architect team member David). Over the years we’ve been refining our approach and it seems there are a few things that seem to really make a difference when it comes time to judging. In the spirit of competition, here they are:

Clear, original and creative concept.
Clean and simple – big areas of solid colour and don’t try to create minute detail.
Play with scale – make small big and big small.
Make it emotive – in character or concept, play to the emotional buttons of the viewer.

Feedback from the judges actually cited the first two specifically as contributing factors for our win. I.e. for our interpretation of the theme, “Our Favourite Thing(s)”. Speaking of which, here’s what we wrote about our sculpture:

It is safe to say that everyone loves a picnic. What could be better than basking in the warmth of a carefree summer day with good friends and tasty fare?

But no one likes a picnic as much as its most common uninvited guest, the Ant. Upon that first whiff of fried chicken or potato salad escaping the picnic basket, you can be sure of these critters gathering their ranks and setting upon your serene afternoon with the regimented force of a small army. And, with the ability to carry over 10 to 20 times their own body weight, you would be wise to keep your babies well anchored. Let them take the watermelon instead. Even an ant deserves a decent meal.

We all do. That is why we support Canstruction. Let’s all help to put an end to hunger in the Lower Mainland.

We had a good mix of people this year, some veterans (this is Industrial Brand’s fifth year participating) and some first-timers. Thanks to everyone who took time from their busy schedules to participate.

We managed to shoot another time lapse video of our 14 hour build thanks to Todd Smith. We’ll post a fully produced version complete with catchy music soon. For more photos check out our Flickr group.
We’ll see how we do when the voting for People’s Choice is tabulated tomorrow. In the meantime, our Juror’s Favourite Award means we’ll go on to the International Award competition in May. Fingers crossed to bring home some honours there and boost the Vancouver competition’s reputation.

If you’d like to help, go to the Legends Memorabilia/Stargate Charity Auction and bid on some unique keepsakes from the popular TV show. This year, Stargate is even auctioning off two special VIP packages including rare behind the scenes tours of the sets and production studios. All proceeds go directly to the Food Bank.

Oh, and that image used above? It’s a detail of a concept sketch by team member and Architect, David Harding, based on this year’s theme “My Favourite Things”. Any idea what it could be?

Hot off taking top honours two years running we’re throwing out a challenge to all you Vancouver designers (and everyone else) to enter a team this year. Get your application in now to give yourself enough time to come up with a concept for this year’s theme, “My Favourite Things”.

Also this year it’s the engineers versus the architects as the APEGBC throws down the gauntlet to the AIBC to compete head to head at this, the 5th Annual Canstruction Vancouver at the Cruise Ship Terminal at Canada Place.

If you are interested, please get in touch with us here at Industrial Brand and we’ll give you the scoop and help you get started. Seriously.

Friday, January 20
Early Bird registration deadline

Friday, February 17
Canstruction® team entry deadline
Last day for teams to be included in the print program

Friday, March 3
Sculpture build starts
4:00 pm–10:00 pm
Cruise Ship Terminal, Canada Place

Saturday, March 4
Sculpture build continues
6:00 am–4:00 pm
Judging: 4:00 pm
Awards Party: 6:00 pm

Sunday, March 5 to Sunday March 12
Open to the public 10:00 am–6:00 pm

Sunday, March 12
De-canstruction
4:00 pm start