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Director of Design & Photographer of Record of Lonergan & Associates Ltd. and Head Photographer & Chief Artisan of Cambior~A~T~Four Graphic Design Inc.


Designer, photographer, artisan and cabinet -maker, Rob graduated from design school in 1979.


Working for twenty-five years as a structural designer and project manager in the real estate development sector; as a quantity surveyor, construction economist and payment certifier in the architectural community; as a night-school, sessional and guest lecturer for the Faculty of Architectural Technology at a prominent college in Toronto; and putting his design fingerprints on all projects and buildings touched and constructed, Rob passes his informed design doctrines and inspiration to current clients of graphic design, architectural design graphics, photography, sketching & watercolours and wood-working / cabinet making.


Rob's major philosophies and credos:
(a) "Form ever follows function";
(b) "Less is more";
(c) "When the going gets tough, the tough get going", and;
(d) "Change may be good, especially in retrospect".



The Evolution of our Brand:

CHANGE (the word) from the original latin to the spanish as:
cambiar (v) - to change; and,
cambio (n) - a change.
Hence, the dilemma oft pondered by Rob Lonergan:
How does one contemplate and envision changing something, when such modification is best judged after its implementation? Some say be leery of change, others say embrace it.
Taking further this concept, "CAMBIOR" was coined, or to change a change.
Is there anything you would consider doing over again, twice?

"HELP!" or more linguistically "(YOU) HELP" (the phrase) and in french: "(VOUS) AIDEZ" or simply and colloquially AIDEZ.
Rob realized the anxiety that many faced when confronted with making changes, especially when the object of concern continued to function well but was simply out of date/fashion. Many clients would be heard to say "help me (through this)" or "m'aidez" in french. (Think of the naval and mariner's terminology of "mayday" / "m'aidez" or help me, for requesting assistance when in distress on the seas.)
Many say "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"...
Rob's logic told him that when it comes to making changes, all should seek help and that when the cry "HELP" or "AIDEZ" rang out amongst his patrons and customers, he would be there to view and re-view and oversee and guide them through the transition.
Taking further this concept, "AIDEZ" as Rob would say, was morphed by his students and co-workers into the english phonetic idioms sounding like "aid day" and later "ate tea" and "eh tee". Ultimately, the call came to sound like the word/number: "EIGHTY".

Soon thereafter, those surrounding Rob, would be heard to say "cambior- eighty" to signal the arrival of new prospects, customers and projects needing help to change.
The "FOUR"? A numerical interpretation of Rob's credo of checking twice and viewing and re-viewing and nurturing the possible "cambioring" of any alterations prior to implementation. To change something means doing it a second time, changing that change is in itself another second time. Mathematically the expressions of this could be: 1 x 2 x 2 or 2 squared. Either way the answer was 4. (And besides, four rhymed with cambior.)

CAMBIOR~A~T~FOUR, a philosophy, a doctrine, a concern, a warning. A credo to heed when something seemingly becomes tired, perhaps worn.
Carpenter's and Master Craftsperson's say "measure twice, cut once".
Rob Lonergan says "cambior-a-t-four". Contemplate all changes diligently. Change the change where necessary and make said changes only when necessity is absolute. Follow such and the ultimate outcome will most certainly be embraced.


CAMBIOR~A~T~FOUR, a studio, a gallery, a design and implementation process of practicality, for the new, for renewal and for rejuvenation.

Please visit www.roblonergan.blogspot.com

(a) Louis Henry Sullivan, 1856-1924, Lippincott's Magazine, Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A., March, 1896
(b) Mies van der Rohe, Ludwig, 1886-1969
(c)Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., 1888-1969, (as a motto for his sons), New York Times Magazine, August 22, 1965. As adapted from: Knute Rockne, Football (american style) Coach in a half-time speech to his team
(d) R. J. Lonergan, May, 1998