The Royal Canadian Legion
Traffic Box Commission
For the traffic box design, the Graphic Design program at Sault College was comissioned to curate a wrap design for the traffic box outside of The Royal Canadian Legion Brand, located at 96 Great Northern Road. The design is intended to be vibrant and reflect their historical and country-wide importance.
Recommended themes that give recognition of their honour, service, and sacrifice; supporting their long-held history and importance and what they stand for. The colours should be vibrant, bright, and inviting to bring more attention to the box and its message. The audience and subject matter were intended to be viewable for all ages (legion members, veterans, the community of all ages, traffic, and visitors).
Design Decisions
The design decisions behind this project were influenced not only by themes of remembrance and service, but also by research surrounding public art, environmental respect, and graffiti prevention within urban spaces. Research showed that highly detailed and visually engaging artwork is less likely to be vandalized, while large flat areas and minimal surfaces are more commonly targeted for tagging. An unspoken understanding among many graffiti artists is to avoid tagging over completed works that appear intentional, detailed, and respected by the community. This became an important factor in shaping the visual complexity and composition of the design, as the goal was not only to honour veterans respectfully, but also to create a piece that would maintain dignity and longevity within a public environment.
Informed by studies showing that thoughtfully designed public art can positively impact the perception of an area, helping foster stronger community respect and reducing visual neglect that can contribute to increased vandalism and criminal activity. Because the traffic box would exist directly within the public eye, the design needed to feel vibrant, intentional, and valued within the community it represented.
Thus, from my early concept sketches, my design direction became centred around the idea of a “drag path,” inspired by the song of the same name. The envisioned imagery symbolized the lasting path and sacrifice of those who fought for a better future, representing the enduring impact their service has had on the freedoms and lives of future generations. Rather than focusing solely on themes of death, tragedy, or loss, I wanted the piece to respectfully highlight remembrance through hope, legacy, and resilience.
Initital Concepts
Final Design
Each design decision incorporated in the design was heavily based on symbolism and intended emotional tone. The intertwining poppies were used to represent remembrance and renewal, symbolizing how the sacrifices of veterans continue to shape the freedoms experienced today. The inclusion of a modern-day soldier holding a poppy was intended to connect past and present generations of service members, reinforcing the idea that remembrance continues beyond historical conflicts.
Colour and composition were also intentionally approached in a more vibrant and visually engaging way rather than relying on darker or heavily mournful imagery often associated with war memorials. This decision was made to create a piece that felt respectful and reflective. For instance, reference to the poem "In Flanders Fields" lit by the eternal candle, and ribbon wrapping "The Response" statue were incorporated to strengthen the themes of collective memory, guidance, and the unity between branches of the Canadian Armed Forces.
The overall composition was designed to encourage viewers to follow the visual narrative from one side to the next. At the time I didn't yet know it, but this project became incredibly personal to me as my grandfather got sick during the beginning of this design process. My grandfather, who served in the Korean War and passed away on May 7, 2026, just shy of 95 years old. As the last living member of his fleet, his experiences shaped my understanding of how many veterans carry the emotional weight of war quietly and privately. Conversations with veterans and their families reinforced my belief that this piece should not immortalize trauma but instead respectfully honour the strength, sacrifice, unity, and memory of those who served while celebrating the life and freedoms they fought to protect. He passed before seeing the final design; this piece is for him.
REAL
IDEAS MADE
kaitlyncutting12344@gmail.com
Location
Ontario, Canada