Noisemakers 2000: Stretch marks

Elastik design and marketing go arty on ads

"When I look at what is on the street in terms of advertising, I often wonder why we don't try to make things nicer," says Elastik's Jacinthe Pilote. "Artists are like doctors--we have the ability to make things better."

And so in February of this year Pilote and friend Nadia Seck set up Elastik, a design/marketing co-operative of sorts that works with a collective of artists, including graphic designers, illustrators and photographers to create better advertising through art.

The concept behind Elastik, based on that of European design companies, encourages working in teams as opposed to as individuals. When a contract is brought in, co-presidents Seck and Pilote divvy up the different jobs among the collective and each artist works in their field of expertise.

Elastik have already worked on everything from Sona flyers to book covers and the jobs keep coming. In the coming year the company will, among other things, put together an opening showcasing the many varied talents of its artists. l

-- KRISTA