Luke Hallas brings a wealth of knowledge to the table gained through his 12+ years as a designer across a variety of international experiences. Having lived and worked in Canada, England and Australia, Luke has honed his creative skills in the areas of signage, wayfinding and brand implementation, while working with some of the Nations' largest blue chip companies. Trained as an Industrial Designer, receiving his degree from the Swinburne National School of Design in Melbourne, Luke has a particular understanding of the technologies, processes and materials involved in the development of signage and wayfinding systems. He also possesses a clear understanding of, and special insight into, the way both brand and information work together to create a unified and effective signage program. Since joining Cygnus, Luke has led the design and implementation of several large-scale signage/wayfinding programs, most notably the RiverWalk pathway system for the City of Calgary and the current province-wide rebrand of ICBC.

Originally from Vancouver Island, Danielle Bauer is a dynamic communicator who is passionate about technology, sustainable design, art and architecture. She is fascinated with the ways that design—in all its forms—can impact the human experience. Danielle joined Cygnus in 2008 and serves as Communications Director. She is responsible for strategic communications, marketing initiatives, knowledge programs, employee engagement and company culture. She is also responsible for special programs that develop strong relationships with clients, partners and the community.  Danielle is a member of the Urban Land Institute of BC and SEGD. She is an avid runner and hobbyist photographer. 

Pauline Cheng's design career began after receiving a Degree in Industrial Design at Emily Carr University of Art & Design. Since joining Cygnus Group in 2007, her knowledge in design has been a great asset to the project management process. In 2011, Pauline earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) designation through Project Management Institute. Pauline’s specialties include creating and executing design solutions with an emphasis on functionality, usability and sustainability through the informed use of materials and processes. She has worked extensively with Telus, CBC, VPD and City of Richmond. In addition to her skills in developing wayfinding and signage programs, Pauline’s design experience ranges from furniture, soft goods to architectural lighting. Her design commitment has been recognized with several national and overseas awards.

Michelle Fu relocated from Edmonton to Vancouver in 2005. She completed a BDes in Industrial Design from Emily Carr University, then worked as a freelance graphic designer, contributing to various independent publications. In 2008, she co-founded 221A Artist Run Centre; she is active in the non-profit society through exhibition and print design, installation and project coordination. As Junior Project Manager at the Vancouver Studio, Michelle extends her diverse experience and passion for design to support and coordinate various projects. Outside her role at Cygnus, she is a member of the Fieldwork design collective, with which she has collaborated on furniture and lighting, product design and design exhibitions. Michelle also enjoys cycling, yoga and table tennis, and is often looking for the tastiest meal in Vancouver.

Raised in Toronto, Maggie Kan moved to Vancouver in 2006 to begin her studies as an Industrial Designer at Emily Carr University. During her time there, she has had the opportunity to collaborate with local companies including LuLulemon’s Ivivva, BC Wood Co-op and Far Coast’s Vancouver 2010 Olympic warming zones. With 2 years experience as a production assistant, she now manages house accounts for Cygnus’ Vancouver studio. When she is not busy keeping up with the design world, she loves her music, fresh air and her dog, Lexie.

Luis Sanchez was born in Venezuela and moved to Edmonton at the age of 18. He studied Computing Science at the University of Alberta, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree. Before joining Cygnus Group in 2011, Luis worked for Gravit-e Technologies in Vancouver, and Getty Images in Calgary. During his 7 years of work experience he has built automation tools, medical assessment systems, e-commerce and social networking sites. Luis has learned the importance of integrating design and cutting-edge interfaces into his programming practices; skills he has applied to all his work at Cygnus Group. His true passion revolves around anything that is user-centred. Luis is in ‘IT heaven’ when he is working on projects that involve building interactive applications. He is trilingual in English, French and Spanish. Luis also enjoys outdoor activities such as jogging and hiking, and is always looking forward to his next big adventure.

Wade Stewart is a Senior Designer/Project Manager with over 19 years of experience. He moved to Toronto in 1999 and completed a BDes degree from York University. Before graduating, Wade was offered a position with Tiit Telmet in 2004 to work on print and signage projects. Wade’s work received honorable mention from the 2005 RGD Ontario Student Awards. In 2007, Wade joined Cygnus Group to oversee the ongoing maintenance and expansion of the wayfinding system at Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga. Wade has been involved with all facets of healthcare facility signage, providing solutions for infection control program signage, donor recognition and hospital information graphics. Wade has also been lead designer for other projects including developing a comprehensive sign system for Markham Stouffville Hospital and the implementation of a facility evacuation program for a major oil and gas company in Toronto.