Thank you…

John stands out among my professors at NSCAD. His teaching style was so engaging that four-hour classes felt short. I was captivated and attentive throughout every session. John expertly balanced the business and design aspects of his curriculum, giving special emphasis to accessibility in design. His numerous thought-provoking case studies offered deep insights into the journey from ideation to implementation. By the end of the semester, John had become an invaluable mentor and guide.

Giselle Hogg | Designer Gieselle Hogg studied with John while attending NSCAD University.

I had the privilege of participating in John's courses on Design Management and Design Studio 3 at NSCAD University. Through his instruction, I acquired some of the most beneficial and practical skills of my academic career. John didn't just teach the fundamentals of design business and exhibition design; he also emphasized strategies for enhancing accessibility and conducting informative industry research. Furthermore, he shared invaluable insights from his professional journey. His classes were meticulously structured, and I am deeply appreciative of his continual support and mentorship.

Leen Bakri | Interdisciplinary Leen Bakri studied with John while attending NSCAD University.

I had the amazing opportunity to receive mentorship from John through the Association of Registered Graphic Designers' Mentorship program.… I highly recommend his insight into career advancement along with his ability to share his skillset with other professionals in the field. John’s mentorship style is characterized by a perfect balance of encouragement and honest critique. It has empowered me to push my boundaries, think creatively, and strive for excellence in every project. John’s ability to seamlessly blend theoretical knowledge with practical insights has been a constant source of inspiration, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from someone with his level of expertise.

David Tauro | EGD Designer David Tauro was a mentee to John as part of the RGD’s mentorship program.

I had the pleasure of attending John's Design Management class at NSCAD University, where he imparted some of the most valuable and applicable skills I gained during my four years of study. John went beyond teaching the business of design; he also provided insightful lessons from his professional career experience. His classes were meticulously organized, and I am truly grateful for his ongoing support and guidance since graduating.

Lia Smith | Multi-disciplinary Graphic Designer Lia Smith studied with John when she attended NSCAD University.

John is a pillar in the Eastern Canada design community. Whether professionally designing experiences for the built and natural environment through his practice, Narrative Environments; teaching the next generation of designers at NSCAD University; or, writing thought-provoking articles on pressing design issues for international design periodicals—John brings a passion and curiosity for the field of design that you cannot help but be inspired by. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with John under a pro bono capacity and marvelled at his talent to bring people together and coordinate their efforts to create powerful change. He is a thoughtful collaborator, empathetic leader, and a masterful champion of the creative process. He will make the outcome of any project better by simply being part of the conversation.

Greg Dubeau | Greg and John teach at NSCAD University, and worked together on programs for the RGD.

John and my working relationship has spanned several decades and it has always been a pleasure to partner with John on interpretive and wayfinding projects. Unique vision, creative honesty and attention to detail are qualities rarely found in one person, but they are found in John and you can see that reflected in his amazing work.

Philip Prozenko | The President of AtlantexCreativeWorks has worked with John on countless projects while John was employed by numerous forms, including Narrative Environments Studio.

John has a dedication to his work that is unmatched. He is creative, educated, loyal and fiercely focused. It is a joy to watch John in his element and the outcome is always remarkable. Literally, people talk about John deWolf's designs.

Alison Moz | The Wayfinding Partner at eyecandy Signs, Alison and John collaborated on numerous award-winning projects, including their work for Lunenburg’s South Shore Regional Library.

I had a wonderful opportunity to work under John’s guidance at Form: Media. He was an amazing supervisor and was always there to support and listen. He was very encouraging and open to ideas. John is a great designer full of creative ideas and inspiration, and I have learnt a lot from him. I have been impressed by his attention to detail and his dedication to any project. His interpersonal and communication skills have always been commendable.

Sahisna Chitrakar | A graduate in Architecture and Urban Planning, Sahisna is currently a planning analyst for the City of Vancouver, a position she took on after Form:Media (now Fathom Studio) where she reported to with John.

John is a fantastic manager. While I worked under his guidance, I felt that he was encouraging, collaborative and open to ideas. He is a very positive individual with excellent communication skills and a genuine willingness to extend a helping hand. He is a compassionate listener who makes every effort to make the work place open and inviting for colleagues and clients alike. John is as much a friend and a mentor as he is a director to the team. I admire his achievements and his dedication to the advancement of Form:Media and hope to cross paths with him again…

Livia Botyánszki Boss | Currently the Technical Team Lead—Mobile Application Development with IBM Canada, Livia reported directly to John while employed by Form:Media (now Fathom Studio).

John is a generous learner who brings other students along with him. It has been a delight to have his talents in the design studio. He is deeply knowledgeable about graphic design and brings that particular insight to his spatial design practice.

Lynn Chalmers | Associate Professor (retired) at the University of Manitoba, Lynn was John’s teacher and thesis (practicum) advisor.

John taught me at NSCAD (Design Project Management class). At the time, I had not realized how important his material would be for my future career as a freelance designer. With time, I came to truly appreciate his wisdom in the matter. Even better, now that I am teaching my own class, I still refer to my old notes from John's class (thankfully, I kept them all)!

Mauve Page | A student of John’s at NSCAD University, Mauve is a designer of books and magazines with her practice of 15 years, and a lecturer on Design at Simon Frasier University

It's always a pleasure working with John. His attention to detail and ability to build and coordinate a top-notch design team are outstanding. While working on projects such as the Richard Avedon and Modernism exhibits, John was able to come up with innovative ways to use design and [colour] within the media of print.

Joe Holden | The General Manager at Westland Enterprises, Joe supplied with John on countless print projects for the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design.

John is an amazing instructor who brings the best out of his students. Attention to detail is a character that I truly admire about him. After completing Johns class, I was able to think more critically about design and was able to brainstorm conceptually driven ideas fluidly. I'd 100% recommend John for any position in the field of design.

Justin Bost | The principal and creative director of Washington’s DesignBOLD, Justin reported directly to John as a Design Lab member at the Corcoran College of Art and Design.

John has an extensive knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Photoshop which helped me learn a lot of time-saving techniques when using those programs. His approach to concept development was very detail orientated and weighed heavily on a full exploration of an idea. That rigorous process allowed me to attain the best execution of my initial concept and I continue to use that process in my current developmental phases. Overall, my experience in Design Lab with John as my teacher was very beneficial.

Ashleigh Robinson | Type A® is a boutique design and letterpress studio specializing in bespoke wedding invitations and luxury Hotel and resort brands; Ashleigh was part of the Corcoran College of Art and DesignÆ design Lab and worked with John.

I have had the opportunity to work directly with John on environmental graphic design projects. John was very design-oriented and provided elegant and artful, yet functional designs that were very aesthetically pleasing. John has a very warm personality, works well with his colleagues and he'd be a welcome addition or partner to any design firm.

Dominic Borgia | Principal director at EG Tech Design, a practice specializing in technical documentation for the signage industry, Dom worked for New York’s 2x4 and Two Twelve Associates, where he collaborated with John.

…together we decided that his expert skills would best be put to use creating and executing a portfolio workshop for his fellow interior design classmates. We wanted the workshop to not just be a review of work, but focus on how to create a visually stunning portfolio using graphics. John took our ideas and created a fantastic 3-hour workshop. He prepared a terrific slide presentation explaining key points of how to achieve a great portfolio with simple graphics. He brought in examples of good portfolios and explained the key elements. He also brought in relevant books and made recommendations on further readings. In the end, he gave time to individual students to review their portfolios and providing feedback. … I heard that it was one of the most valuable resources that the ASID offered the whole year. … We planned on making John's portfolio workshop a regular occurrence on the ASID agenda and look forward to more collaboration with him.

Brittany Jepsen | The House that Lars Built, founded by Jespen, started in 2008. Brittany and John were colleagues in the Corcoran College of Art and Design’s Master of Interior Design Program.

As Head of Design at the Corcoran, John helped transition the graphics program from one of uncoordinated inelegance to that of a thoughtful, attractive, well-considered, effective program. In my 20+ years at the Corcoran, their graphics have never looked so good as under John's leadership. From overall brand stewardship to the development of individual exhibition identities, John is a highly skilled practitioner and an asset to any design team.

Antonio Alcala | Owner of Studio A, Antonio is a well-accomplished designer, recognized by his work by countless organizations, and a mentor and role model for almost every student who went through the graphic design program.

John deWolf is a great teacher and expert designer. As a teacher, John proved to be both knowledgeable and helpful. His input and guidance was invaluable to the success of our projects and my own personal growth as a graphic designer. I'm glad I signed up for the class.

Victor Ware | AOL, USA Today, and Vox Media are three media companies that highlight Vitcor’s resume. Victor worked for the Corcoran College of Art and DesingÆ Design Lab.

I've been privileged twice to be colleagues with John. The first was on the Applied Arts 2006 exhibition of posters held at NSCAD's Anna Leonowens Gallery in Halifax, NS. The second was at Form:Media. John is an excellent project manager, as well as a designer of intelligence, knowledgeability and originality. No detail or function escapes his consideration, while keeping the entire scope of the project in sight. He offers ideas and supportive information with thoughtfulness, keen insight and tact. His presentation skills are excellent. I know of few people who work harder than John.

Margo Grant | Co-coordinator, Editors Nova Scotia Twig at Editors/Réviseurs Canada—reported directly to John while employed by Form:Media (now Fathom Studio), and John worked as a freelance designer, reporting to Margo when she worked for NS Power.

John is a great student who effectively balances a full-time career with his classes and consistently produces professional-quality projects.

Michael Price | The Creative Manager for Dambly Design, Michael and John were students together at the Corcoran College of Art and Design.

John designed a fantastic business card for me. He asked all the right questions to find out the exact image I wanted to convey and came up with an amazing design suited specifically for me. I get great comments on my card every time I hand it out at events.

Francine Ricchi | Professionally, Francineis runs Program Operations for AMC Networks / Sundance Channel Global, her side project, TVforHipsters is another of her many successful endeavours.

I highly recommend John deWolf, as he is a consummate design professional. It has been a pleasure working with John on numerous Corcoran projects. John has excellent communication skills and an exceptional eye for detail during the design development phase.

John cares about creating quality design and brand strategy.

Francheska Guerrero | Accomplished business owner, creative director, and instructor, Francesa and John worked together at the Corcoran College of Art and Design collaborating on projects and teaching.

John is a fantastic manager. While I worked under his guidance, I felt It was an honour to get to work with John deWolf on the Applied Arts 2006 exhibition held at the Anna Leonowens Gallery, on the NSCAD campus, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Not only is he an extremely organized individual with a "take-charge" attitude, but he's also a valuable team member. The quality of the exhibition as well as its success owes greatly to John's involvement as exhibition designer and supervisor of installation on the project. As a result of the successful 2006 show, it is now an annual exhibition in Toronto run by the Applied Arts Awards committee.

Danielle Autran | Currently a principal and Senior Art Director at District Design Co, Danielle and John first connected when she was the president of the Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) Atlantic Chapter.

I valued John's work as Head of Design at the Corcoran immensely. In a fast-paced environment with limited resources, John excelled at keeping projects on track and on a budget without sacrificing quality. More than that, John maintained a strong sense of how to build a brand for the institution in all his projects, which ranged from print to the web to exhibit design. He was always thoughtful, innovative and a pleasure to work with.

Sam Sweet | His success in leading non-profit organizations through times of transformative change to pursue ambitious agendas and move from vision to reality is consistent throughout his career. John reported directly to Sam as the Chief Operating Officer of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Corcoran College of Art + Design.

John was an incredible teacher at NSCAD University. To this day, I credit him as being the person who inspired me to pursue Design as my career. John impressed me with his broad scope of work, his attention to detail, his flair for elegance, his incredible work ethic and time management skills, his impeccable taste, his drive and ambition, but most of all, his excitement and passion for design.

Mr. Margot Durling | Transgender artist, musician and multi-disciplinary designer driven by social change, Durling was a student of John’s at NSCAD University and is currently the Creative Director at Fathom Studio.

John was part of a small group of students I supervised, working at the end of the 1980s and early 90s on typeface revivals and digitizations. He was committed to the work, inspired the group and proved a positive participant.

Jay Rutherford | Mr. Rutherford, Professor (emeritus) of Visual Communications at Bauhaus Universität Weimar shares connections involving the Graphic designers of Canada—Atlantic Chapter, a love of typography, and a shared appreciation of wine, food, and music; Jay was John’s teacher at the Nova Scotia College of Arty and Design.

John's attention to detail and his control of graphic and information complexity added great value to our wayfinding practice, especially on the Capital District project for HRM.

Steven Slipp | From mentor to contractor, John and Steven’s paths have crossed in numerous capacities over the past 30 years. Their friendship and professionalism have supported each other countless times, on multiple projects.

John and I have worked on several projects - web sites, database applications - for clients such as Parks Canada and NSCAD University. In every case, the results have been outstanding, due to John's professionalism, analytical approach and commitment to achieving the right design solution. I'm always on the lookout for opportunities to work with John, both for his depth as a designer and his boundless energy.

Robert Currie | Design strategist Robert Currie and John have crossed paths countless times, in various capacities—most recently at Form:Media (now Fathom Studio).

John is an experienced designer who gets the big picture not just the details and finessing necessary to a great design solution (though he gets that too).

Steve Taylor | Director at Second Street Gallery, Steve Taylor came out of retirement to work for the Corcoran Gallery of Art, where John and Steve shared a vision to modernize the institution.