About CICADA

 

what do we do?

At Cicada Design we help marketing agencies, developers, designers and institutions push new development proposals through approvals, design iterations, branding and communication strategies.

We specialize in creative direction and production of visualizations, videos, animations, print and interactive media for the architectural, planning, construction and real-estate industries.  We use cinematic techniques combining live video with computer animation, motion graphics and interactive tools, to deliver highly realistic representations, tell stories, and create experiences that are valuable and meaningful.


what do we make?

Ice District Rogers Arena, Edmonton

Our works of design communication are used for education, competitions and approvals, and can involve multiple aspects of our digital production services and creative consultation. The Ice District case study showcases the design and lifestyle of Canada’s largest mixed-use sports and entertainment district.

See Case Study

Our presentation material extends across media from single images, to full presentations incorporating video, animation, sound, music and motion graphic production, as well as interactive media and virtual reality that take experience and narrative further. Clairmont Heights was a project that utilized both video and a VR application to showcase a vision for a new community.

See Case Study

We design, direct and create communications media unique to each project. We are adept in creative direction and production by incorporating script writing, music and sound design, video shooting and editing along with animation and post-production in our repertoire of services. The 405 Colorado tower project in Austin, Texas incorporated extensive green screen and drone photography to support the storytelling in this video production.

See Case Study

Mattamy Cityscape Graphic, Calgary

We incorporate a strong integration of brand identity within our works, whether enhancing a visual identity that is existing to a project, or when we develop a visual brand strategy in-house. The youthful and vibrant identity of Mattamy’s Cityscape development in Calgary is conveyed through the animated branding graphics of this case study.

See Case Study

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creative direction

Story Development
Drone, Film & Green Screen Direction
Visual Identity
Concept Design

applications

Marketing & Branding Initiatives
Competitions
Public Relations & Design Approvals
Fundraising

industries

Advertising & Retail
Commercial & Residential Real Estate
Architecture, Planning & Design
Public & Private Institutions

WHO ARE WE?

We are communication design consultants. We are a trusted group of professionals dedicated to the creation of high-quality visual narratives. We use our skills as architects, artists, designers and directors to help you through the visual communication process.

We direct, design, and create expert visual media. We collaborate with people from different professional backgrounds and industries, and work on projects of varying scales. Please look at our demo reel to see the range of narrative techniques we use to make your story engaging and compelling.

Clients

We work in tandem with our clients whose input we embrace. Here is a partial list of our clients & collaborators:

Cicada Client List

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TESTIMONIALS

"We LOVE working with the whole gang at Cicada!!! Not only delightful to work with, their group brings unparalleled skills, creative focus and a real synergy to the editing process over and above the animated renderings that they are so well equipped at producing at an exceptionally high level.  And, most importantly, they deliver results and a remarkable final product through their collaboration and attention to detail. Congratulations on 15 years of “Team Cicada” knocking it out of the park!"

--Lara Banks, VP and Chief Marketing Officer, St. Michael's Foundation

"The ease at which Cicada can convey an idea to clients through photo realistic images that capture the imagination and inspiration of a design is a service that we appreciate in our work with Cicada.
The collaborative approach that Cicada brings through their design process through various media and mediums allows for an iterative development of a concept into a fully established design."

--James Rice, Architect and Senior Associate, Kasian

“Cicada Design produced a video for the partnership of cities advocating for the Two-way/All Day GO service on the Kitchener GO Line. They were very responsive and the video was produced with a short timeline, communicating the key messages, was attractive, convincing, being appreciated by the municipalities involved.”

--Heather MacDonald, Acting Executive Director, Planning Dept, City of Brampton

"Cicada has become our ‘go to’ firm for creating renderings that bring our architectural visions to life. Their process is transparent and collaborative, with practices such as providing milestone images at various stages that allow us to provide feedback and proceed to completion with confidence. Cicada’s team is cooperative, open to feedback, and produce renderings that exceed our expectations."

--David Pontarini, Hariri Pontarini Architects