Brown David

David Brown

Strategic Art/Creative Director
Name:Brown David
Date of birth:
Address:
Phone:905 617 9297
Email:dave@notyourordinarydave.com
Website:notyourordinarydave.com
A versatile and strategic art director with a proven ability to sell ideas and develop high-performing teams. Bringing extensive experience in leading transformative campaigns from initial concept through to successful launch, I am an inspirational leader passionate about design, fostering client partnerships, and driving impactful results through collaboration.

Career Summary

2023-2024

1. The Hatchery Marketing Group

Senior Art Director

The Hatchery MG, the in-house agency for Maple Leaf Foods and associated brands.

 

  • Led ideation, creative development, and art direction for the 2024 Schneiders Blue Jays omni-channel campaign, resulting in Schneiders extending their partnership for five additional years.
  • Directed planning and art direction for the 2024 Maple Leaf Foods Top Dog Summer campaign, leading to highly positive client feedback and satisfaction.
  • Developed and guided the art direction for an omni-channel campaign launching Bear Paws Crunchy, which was highly praised by the client.
  • Conceptualized, developed, and directed design/art direction for a digital campaign (Meta Instant Experience with dynamic and static ad units) to introduce the Fantino & Mondello brand to English Canada, garnering exceptional client reception.
  • Led ideation, creative development, and art direction for a digital campaign (social media and DRV) for Schneiders Deli 2024, which surpassed sales targets.
  • Managed studio and freelance design resources to deliver all projects on time, consistently meeting client objectives and expectations.
  • Provided mentorship and coaching to in-house studio designers, fostering professional growth and development within the team.
2021-2023

2. Goods & Commerce

Senior Art Director, Kraft Heinz

L’Atelier, the design-obsessed in-house creative studio for Kraft Heinz.

 

  • Led ideation, creative development, design, and art direction for several omni-channel programs for Kraft Heinz national brands, resulting in increased sales and improved client satisfaction.
  • Designed and developed the UI for the 2022 Kraft Heinz Festive Program microsite, integrating contest and influencer content that significantly exceeded client engagement targets.
  • Presented successful creative strategy proposals for large national omni-channel campaigns for Kraft Heinz, ensuring programs stayed on schedule and clients were satisfied with the creative solutions and incorporation of their feedback.
  • Converted internal PDF newsletters to HTML for Kraft Heinz, enabling more efficient information sharing via email and mobile platforms.
2018-2021

3. Superior Glove Works Ltd.

Creative Manager
  • Led the re-branding of all corporate creative assets including catalogs, flyers, social media, and packaging, empowering junior team members through active involvement in concept development and presentations.
  • Developed and designed marketing programs and collateral for a global brand, driving cohesive brand representation.
  • Created new brand rationale, logo usage, and visual guideline toolkits to ensure brand consistency and improve efficiency in developing marketing materials.
  • Managed creative projects and designers effectively, improving efficiency and fostering a more engaged and productive creative team.
  • Developed and executed social media content strategies, increasing reach and engagement across platforms.
2015-2018

4. Match Marketing Group

Art Director
  • Led ideation, creative development and art direction for several omni-channel scale programs for Mars Petcare and J.M. Smucker & Co. national brands, driving impactful campaigns.
  • Delivered multiple successful creative presentations to clients, securing buy-in ahead of competing agencies.
  • Managed creative projects and designers effectively, resulting in a significant reduction in freelance costs.
  • Developed visual guideline toolkits for multiple programs, ensuring brand consistency across partner agencies.
  • Created and designed social media content for Pedigree, Whiskas and Cesar brands, increasing reach and engagement.
1995-present

5. Orbit Studios

Chief Creative Officer

Branding and Visual Identity, Marketing + Social Media Strategies, Omni-channel Campaigns, Retail POS Design, Brand Management and Stewardship, Art Direction, Graphic Design, Illustration, Copywriting, Website Design and Development, Website Management, WordPress, Web Hosting.

Partnered as a creative resource for The Hatchery Marketing Group, Black Rock Marketing Group and Riverside Naturals Inc. (MadeGood):
• Presented creative concepts and campaigns to clients, effectively communicating the strategic rationale
• Worked closely with copywriters, designers and account managers to ensure cohesive and effective campaign execution
• Oversaw the production of video content, including storyboards, directing and collaborating with production teams to ensure high-quality output

Globe Productions:
• Led the design and development of musical theatre show logos, visual identity systems, and print/social media campaigns over 10 years running for Globe Productions, contributing to a steady increase in ticket sales and enhancing the group’s image.

Milton Chamber of Commerce
• Secured and led a successful RFP bid and presentation to the Milton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, resulting in the re-design of the Escarpment Country website and online visitor guide.
• Designed, developed, and implemented a content management system (CMS) for the new Escarpment Country website and online visitor guide, delivered on time and on budget.

1998-1999

6. Sheridan College

Instructor, Illustration & Art Fundamentals
  • Imaging Systems Instructor (technical drawing, rendering), Art Fundamentals Program
  • Computer Studies Instructor (Mac OS, Illustrator/Photoshop/QuarkXPress), Illustration Program
  • A member of the portfolio assessment team for Illustration program applicants
1999-2001

7. Cleo

Lead Designer / Visual Brand Manager
  • Led creative direction, design, and print management for all Cleo in-store programs, ensuring visual consistency, brand integrity and significant cost savings by executing campaigns in-house rather than through an agency.
  • Delivered concept proposals and budgets to the Cleo executive team, securing senior-level buy-in on creative direction and costs for all POS programs.
  • Planned and provided on-site artistic direction at photo shoots, ensuring projects stayed on time and on budget while aligning photography with creative, technical and production goals.
  • Consulted and assisted in the development of Cleo’s new brand launch in 1999, creating a workflow that maintained the consistency of the corporate “butterscotch” color across all media, ensuring brand compliance.
  • Researched retail marketing trends by traveling quarterly to key cities and attending the GlobalShop trade show annually, enabling the design and implementation of innovative solutions for Cleo’s in-store programs.
2002-2004

8. Xerox Canada

Sr. Graphic Designer, GSK & Ford of Canada
  • Delivered a Digital Asset Management (DAM) presentation to key GSK clients, securing contracted DAM services and increasing revenue for Xerox while extending the partnership.
  • Executed design and illustration projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, resulting in a significant increase in customer satisfaction metrics.
2004-2008

9. Xerox Canada

Creative Team Lead, Sr. Graphic Designer
  • Managed and grew a design team from two to four by enhancing team capabilities, improving work quality, and boosting customer satisfaction, resulting in significant client base growth, increased in-house creative projects, cost savings and reduced time-to-market.
  • Appointed Lead Designer for the Xerox Global Services (XGS) Site Marketing Council, tasked with developing initiatives to market Xerox services across Canada, driving account revenue growth.
2008-2011

10. Xerox Canada

Creative Services Manager, CMHC
  • Provided creative direction, design, and print production management for CMHC Ontario Region, achieving cost savings and reducing turnaround times for key marketing programs.
  • Led a team of five designers across CMHC’s regional offices, facilitating weekly video conferences to share best practices and balance workloads, resulting in operational efficiencies, increased collaboration and revenue growth.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional CMHC teams on campaign development and execution, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and brand guidelines.
  • Managed the creation, production, and installation of Economic Action Plan (EAP) signage across Ontario post-2008 economic crisis, effectively overseeing deadlines, budgets and transparency for a federal government initiative.
2012-2013

11. Xerox Canada

Account Operations Manager, Global Delivery Centre
  • Selected for training and job shadowing at Xerox EU head office to operationalize the Global Delivery Centre (GDC) in Canada, successfully managing creative and print production for major Canadian retail clients.
  • Conducted user acceptance testing (UAT) for the GDC workflow platform, ensuring compliance and operational effectiveness for its Canadian launch.
  • Led process development, documentation, and creation of temporary manual tools to manage workflow, rapidly enhancing team capabilities to onboard Sobeys as a client.
  • Oversaw the execution of $18 million in print production (POS and Décor signage) for Sobeys in 2013, coordinating daily production meetings with the national team to ensure all projects and programs remained on-time/on-budget as per the SOW.
  • Managed production workflow during Sobeys’ re-brand and Jamie Oliver partnership launch, printing and distributing 60 million signs nationally over three weeks, resulting in $2 million in revenue.
2014-2015

12. Xerox Canada

Art Director, Sobeys
  • Developed, designed, and executed several Sobeys in-store point-of-sale (POS) campaigns on time and on budget, delivering cost savings to Sobeys and solidifying Xerox as a key creative agency partner.
  • Co-led a successful pitch to secure Sobeys’ Summer campaign conceptual and production work, generating significant additional revenue for Xerox.
  • Led the creation of visual guideline toolkits for each program, ensuring brand consistency between Sobeys’ partner agencies and internal creative teams.
  • Streamlined internal creative team processes by refining documents, naming conventions, and creating a digital asset catalog, achieving operational efficiencies.
  • Led a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt project to implement a national digital asset management strategy, resulting in cost savings and workflow efficiencies for Sobeys, and positioning Xerox for future revenue opportunities.

Key Competencies

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1. Technical Skills

Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Microsoft Office, WordPress, Digital Asset Management, CPS Creative Problem Solving Model trained and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certified.

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2. Strengths

  • Expertise in directing omni-channel marketing campaigns from concept to completion.
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, effectively articulating creative rationale to both team members and clients.
  • Skilled in assessing, structuring, and staffing creative teams to meet business needs and capitalize on future opportunities.
  • Committed to fostering a strong creative culture and maintaining high-quality standards within the team.
  • Self-motivated, organized, and accountable, consistently delivering on deadlines.
  • Passionate about design and fostering cross-functional collaboration.
  • Humble yet effective in mentoring and uplifting team members.
  • Adept at multitasking and thriving in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments.

Community Involvement

2012-present

1. Musical Theatre

  • Globe Productions: Actor (Durdles), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2024)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Sage), Vibrant Waveforms (2024)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Daniel, Man #2), Snapshots (2024)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Shylock), Something Rotten! (2023)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Dr. Madden), Next to Normal (2023)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Bob Cratchit), A Christmas Carol (2022)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Man #1), First Date (2022)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Professor Bhaer), Little Women (2021)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Ensemble), Mamma Mia! (2019)
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Charlie Brown), You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (2019)*
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Ensemble), Beauty and the Beast (2018)
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Ensemble), He Sang, She Sang (Cabaret) (2017)
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Innkeeper), Fiddler on the Roof (2017)
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Mr. Jenkins), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2016)
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Ensemble), Wonderfully Wicked (Cabaret) (2016)
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Mr. Phillips), Anne of Green Gables (2015)
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Ensemble), Cabaret (2014)
  • Globe Productions: Actor (Ensemble), All Shook Up (2013)

(*) denotes lead or supporting role

 

  • Globe Youth Productions: Parent Volunteer, Shrek (2017)
  • Globe Youth Productions: Assistant Stage Manager, Willy Wonka (2016)
  • Globe Youth Productions: Assistant Stage Manager, Little Mermaid (2015)
  • Globe Youth Productions: Assistant Stage Manager, Wizard of Oz (2014)
  • Globe Youth Productions: Parent Volunteer, Aladdin (2013)
  • Globe Youth Productions: Parent Volunteer, Music Man (2012)
2007-2012

2. MiltonSearch.com & Milton Now Magazine

Owner, Editor-in-Chief

Founded, designed, developed and edited MiltonSearch.com, a Milton community news and blog style website. The website grew to be, and still remains a go-to destination for Milton residents, averaging 200,000 pageviews monthly with over 1000 followers on social media. In 2010, two issues of the lifestyle magazine Milton Now were published and distributed.

Education

2014-2014

1. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification

Xerox Canada Ltd.
1989-1992

2. H.B. Beal Secondary School

Bealart 3-Year Vocational Art Program
1992-1995

3. Sheridan College

Bachelor of Illustration

Awards

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1. Xerox National Creative Competitions

  • Honourable mention (2005)
  • Honourable mention & 2nd place (2004)
  • 2nd place (2003)
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2. Xerox Canada Lean Six Sigma

  • Green Belt Certification (2014)
  • Yellow Belt Certification (2007)
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3. Xerox Canada Leadership Perspectives

  • I am an Innovator (November 2013)
  • I am Intentional (April, 2013)

Interests

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1. Creative

Cartooning, creative writing, sketching and painting. During the Covid-19 pandemic, I was able to launch a passion project 20+ years in the making: the online comic strip Planet Joey.

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2. Sports

Participate actively in many sports including: hockey, baseball, tennis, golf and skiing.

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3. Community Theatre

I am very involved in Globe Productions, a non-profit community theatre group based in Georgetown, Ontario. I have performed on stage in 18 musicals (as of 2024) in a variety of ensemble, supporting and lead roles. I also volunteer in two capacities: using my graphic design skills to produce show logos, posters and digital marketing materials and backstage as an Assistant Stage Manager or stage crew when required.

Skills