Leslie Eaton, Graphic Designer/Creative
Written by Archana Cini, Lookout Newspaper

The Lookout is more than its stories. It’s about connecting people, sometimes across the world, sometimes right next door. Being a part of that means a lot.

I’m Leslie Eaton, graphic designer and creative at the Lookout Newspaper. Among many other projects, I design our newspaper. Design can tug at your heartstrings just as much as the words do. That’s one of my favourite parts of my job — shaping how stories are felt, not just read. I’d like to believe I bridge a gap between emotions and words. Not everyone communicates the same way, and I love to learn how people express their ideas, then translate that into something visual.

Designing the paper isn’t just the layout itself, it’s the teamwork. It’s about working with everyone to create a product that feels polished, engaging, and alive. It’s never just one person’s work. Every edition reflects a collaboration, and I find that deeply rewarding. I’ve been designing the Lookout for over three years, but my story as an artist stretches back much farther — back to the early ’90s, when I first started working in the print industry.

Over the years, I’ve seen design styles shift and the production evolve with technology, but, at its core, what I love hasn’t changed: that is, taking an idea and making it come alive. I’ve always been artsy and had that drive to put something onto a page that evokes the emotion attached to the words. For me, creativity doesn’t stop when I leave the office — it follows me home, in the form of silk and wool, paint, and parchment. Right now, I’m making a silk banner with my motto ‘Kindness Above All’ across it. To me, that phrase captures the value I want to live by. I also paint medieval illuminated pages with modern twists, in a nod to the one constant in life — change.

“Kindness above all.”

My life is closely tied to the Defence community. I grew up in in a military town, and my partner Troy has been in the Navy for more than three decades. My family also has deep naval roots on my father’s side, stretching back many generations — I literally have a greatgrandfather named Marinus, and my father was on a crew that brought the Star of India back to sailing condition and out to sea in 1976. It feels full-circle now to contribute to telling the stories of this community.

I see design as storytelling and as a way of evoking emotion in others. At the end of the day, what I strive for in every part of my life is to create, to connect, and to carry kindness, above all.

Fun Facts

Q: What’s your favorite book?

A: My favourite book changes quite frequently, but right now it’s Circe by Madeline Miller. There’s deep magic in the retelling of Grecian mythologies, especially when characters are empowered and deeply motivated.

Q: What inspired you to join the Lookout creative team?

A: After working in print media for many (many [many]) years, I began searching for a place where I could make some lives brighter. Working for Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) fit the bill for me, and I hope that with each issue we engage with each other, connect, and that although in this digital age we can be indivdually isolated, we can also be joined as a community. In 2023, I was awarded the Client Services Excellence Award, which was a huge honour and it was a pretty cool way to get feedback on whether I was achieving my goal.

Q: What’s your favourite part about working with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN)?

A: I love the history, the superstitions, the traditions that carry forward to this day, the words and phrases created over naval history and most of all, I have to admit, the uniforms are the best looking in the Canadian Armed Forces. I appreciate where the RCN is going in terms of inclusivity and equity and I have massive respect for all those behind these positive changes. As in all aspects of life, I believe that diversity makes us all stronger.

Connect with Leslie at eaton.leslie@cfmws.com.