A team of York University
students shared the spotlight with Canadian Space Agency
astronaut Steve MacLean, and York President and
Vice-Chancellor Lorna R. Marsden, as the designs for
MacLean’s personal patch and the patch to be worn by all
crew members of the next Space Shuttle mission were
unveiled today at York University.

The team of Graham Huber, Peter Hui and Gigi Lui are
third-year students in the York/Sheridan Joint Program in
Design. They were selected after MacLean, a York alumnus,
approached students enrolled in a summer design course
with the idea of designing both patches. The successful
team’s proposal was chosen from the student submissions.

Working closely with MacLean, the group fine-tuned their
designs to the specifications of the Canadian Space Agency
and NASA.

“We are extremely proud of the efforts of these outstanding
design students. It is a wonderful opportunity for these
talented designers to showcase their abilities, and is
testament to the quality of this unique program that
students are producing professional quality work for so
important a purpose,” said Marsden. “We are also grateful
to Steve MacLean, one of York’s most distinguished alumni,
who inspired these students as he has so many others.”

The York/Sheridan Joint Program in Design is an innovative,
four-year professional program offered jointly by the
Department of Design in the Faculty of Fine Arts at York
University and the Design Department in the School of
Animation, Arts and Design at Sheridan College. With more
than 30 years experience in teaching design, both York and
Sheridan are recognized leaders in visual communication,
information design, interactivity design and design
research. Drawing on the faculty expertise and outstanding
facilities of both institutions, the joint program
provides students with a comprehensive, intensive
education geared to real-world applications in professional
design practice.

“Beyond the obvious thrill of it, this project has given
me a chance to work collaboratively in a group and to learn
about the responsibilities and expectations involved when
working with a significant client,” noted Huber. Lui
added, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many
designers can say their work is going to outer space?”

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with these students on
this project,” MacLean said. “Any time you are able to
couple professionalism with such enthusiasm, you clearly
have a recipe for success.”

The next space flight, Mission STS-115/12A, is scheduled
for May 23, 2003.

Note: Images of both patches are available at
ftp://ftp.space.gc.ca/pub/communication/Transfer/sts115_patch/

Archived Webcast:

* RealPlayer
http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/special/shuttle_patch/space.ram

* Windows Media
http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/special/shuttle_patch/space.asx