The UBC School of Information may be full of burgeoning library, archives, and information studies students, but it is also home to a creative and artistic student population. Earlier this year, the UBC School of Information hosted a bookmark design contest to showcase the talent of our students on our official school swag.
We’re excited to announce that the bookmark finalists have now had their designs printed! To celebrate, we have asked the artists some questions to get to know them and their designs better.
Danielle Osakwe, MLIS 2025
Artist’s statement: I chose this design to represent the relationship between different information formats (physical and digital) as well as to show how this relationship has evolved over time (1970’s/1980’s computer to a 1990’s/2000’s computer to a modern-day laptop). I designed it using Clip Studio Paint and Photoshop.
Favourite class you’ve taken at the iSchool: LIBR 587 Preservation.
Fun fact: I can play two instruments, the piano and the euphonium.
Lily Liu, MASLIS
(she/her)
Artist’s statement: The iris is a flower that symbolizes knowledge. The different nodes (different fields, disciplines, and the information they contribute) are the “roots” that lead to the iris flower blooming at the top. I sketched the iris by hand and used graphic art for the rest of the elements.
Favourite class you’ve taken at the iSchool: I really enjoyed ARST 591 Archival Research and Scholarship. It was very interesting seeing the assorted topics everyone in the class wanted to develop for their research designs, and the designing process has helped me flesh out my own areas of interest in archival studies as well.
Fun fact: I like the aesthetics of cartoon frogs but prefer toads in reality.
Nobu Kawaguchi, MLIS 2024
(she/they)
Artist’s statement: I selected images representing various eras, cultures, languages, and peoples. At the iSchool, students from diverse backgrounds come together, and I wanted to reflect this rich diversity in my design.
Favourite thing about the iSchool: I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated the opportunities to gain work experience through the iSchool (e.g. GAA, Professional Experience). These experiences provided me with the chance to explore various types of libraries and positions, as well as to meet many wonderful people.
Fun fact: I’ve kept up with my personal blog for over 15 years now. It’s been an invaluable tool for self-reflection and growth (I believe!).
