The Community of Choice

Cicada was the primary consultant and producer of visual communication material for a new development in west toronto.

Cicada was engaged to guide the visualization of a new community through multiple stages of public engagement in coordination with Choice Properties and their diverse team of architects, urban designers and creative agencies.

Cicada was initially involved in the developer’s second public open house producing renderings and animation to describe the potential elements of the proposal to the community in an early design phase. In the third public open house, Cicada was once again a key team member to assist in community engagement. This included an immersive site tour video, a motion graphic transit and connection video, and high quality renderings featured in the Community Idea Centre that showcased the proposal to the public.

Location: Toronto, Canada
Client: Choice Properties REIT
Design Team: Hariri Pontarini Architects, Giannone Petricone Associates, Urban Strategies, Public Work, Lux 9
Summary: Video, motion graphic, rendering and helicopter photo shoot for public engagement and communication of proposed mixed-used development.

A Space for the Community

A community space was created to act as a place for public forum, and to communicate the underlying ideas for the areas redevelopment. Cicada Design was tasked with creating visualizations, graphics and animation to showcase the concepts for a new community without a final design. The proposal is to involve the community itself in shaping it and defining its goals. As such, the visualization of the community needed to embody these goals, including the community’s themes: connecting, learning, living, working, shopping, playing and thriving.

gaining perspective on urban development

Ultra high-resolution rendered images were developed specifically for use as super-graphic prints in the 3rd public engagement session and the project's website to highlight key features of the proposed development and the sense of community it will bring.

Stylization & Illustration

Alternative visual styles were developed for some imagery to communicate the vision of the project while noting it is a design in flux.

A watercolour style rendered image was developed to be the feature visualization of the community earlier in the public engagement process, located upon entry in the Idea Centre; the development's community space that showcases the ongoing transformations of the project.

Putting the place in motion

A motion graphic animation showcased the various modes of transportation and connections to and from the site. The project's brand and identity was integrated within all video productions to maintain consistency in the visual language and emphasize the central messaging to the community

Bloor Dundas Motion Graphic