Since 1993, the principals of Calliope have worked across Canada on projects large & small. Our efforts have always leaned into great design and thoughtful storytelling based on solid market research.
Our clients have included major corporations such as TDBank, Sun Life, Aeroplan/Air Canada as well as government, environmental NGOs and our dear friends in the arts & culture sector.
We have virtually always produced work in both official languages for brand identity, print, websites, social, television, radio, magazines (including mag design), signage, environmental graphics, exhibitions and museum design.
A few examples of past work
BPI Mutual Funds | Toronto 1997 – 2000
The principals of Calliope, working under their previous company name SGCI, were the agency-of-record for the highly successful BPI Mutual Funds Company. We completely revamped their brand strategy; developed new marketing & promotional materials; ran national media campaigns and provided sales promotion support to participating mutual fund dealers & brokers. BPI was merged with CI Mutual Funds at a siginificant goodwill premium to the investors.
The Cape Jourimain Nature Centre | Bayfield, New Brunswick 1993-2003
One of our favourite projects of all time was the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre. This story began over a bottle of scotch shared with Paul Gilbert and then-Director of the Canadian Wildlife Service in Atlantic Canada.
Calliope was engaged to take over buildout of the museum after core construction. As the museum had no archives or interpretative resources, we developed the storyline and content in collaboration with subject matter experts and the community.
Calliope provided virtually all the photography, commissioned models & carvings, researched and collected artifacts, edited texts and sourced translation.
Calliope also designed interior structures, casework, lighting, furniture, interactive technology and all exhibition graphics.
CJ Entrance
The Nature Centre included a Visitor Centre (pictured above), A main Museum Building, lookouts, trails and other amenities.
CJ exhibit migration well
This interactive ‘well’ helps the visitor understand the migratory behaviours of the museum’s signature birds.
Signature Birds summary
A thematic thread for the permanent exhibition is the segmentation by each of the 12 ecosystems found at Cape Jourimain. Signature birds – one typical of each ecosystem carry the theme.
CJ Bridge Module
The exhibition included a series of subject matter anterooms. This one provides an indepth interpretation of The Northumberland Strait ecology.
CJ Dykes Display
The exhibition included a number of handmade models, over 50 award-winning life-sized bird carvings and many historical artifacts.
CJ Toilets panel
Small interpretative panels located inside and outside the site’s buildings provided interpretation on every aspect of the project’s unique characteristics.