Brown David

David Brown

Senior Art Director
Name:Brown David
Date of birth:
Address:
Phone:905 617 9297
Email:dave@notyourordinarydave.com
Website:notyourordinarydave.com
A versatile, adaptable, creative professional with the ability to sell ideas and develop teams. Extensive experience in guiding effective, innovative campaigns from conceptual thinking through to program launch. An inspirational leader with strong focus on design, customer service and delivering results with a collaborative approach.

Career Summary

2023-present

1. The Hatchery Marketing Group

Senior Art Director

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

 

  • Ideation, creative development and delivery of a digital campaign (Meta Instant Experience with dynamic and static ad units) introducing the Fantino & Mondello brand to the English Canada market.
  • Ideation, creative development and delivery of the Schneiders 2024 Deli digital campaign (Dynamic and static ad units for Meta).
  • Ideation, creative development and delivery of the 2024 Schneiders Blue Jays campaign.
  • Worked efficiently and effectively with studio and freelance design resources to deliver projects on time that met client objectives.
  • Provided mentoring and coaching to in-house studio designers.
2021-2023

2. Goods & Commerce

Senior Art Director, Kraft Heinz

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

 

  • Ideation, creative development and delivery of several omni-channel programs for Kraft Heinz brands, achieving increased sales and client satisfaction.
  • UI design of 2022 Kraft Heinz Festive Program microsite, incorporating both contest and influencer content that far exceeded engagement targets.
  • Delivery of presentations to client throughout several large national omni-channel campaigns, keeping programs on schedule and clients satisfied with creative thinking/design and that their feedback was considered and incorporated.
2018-2021

3. Superior Glove Works Ltd.

Creative Manager
  • Ideation, creative development and design of marketing programs and collateral for a global brand.
  • Lead a re-brand project for all corporate creative encompassing: catalogs, flyers, social media, technical illustrations, spec sheets and packaging, providing direction and empowering junior team members by having them play an integral role in concept development and internal presentations.
  • Led the development of a new brand rationale, logo usage and visual guideline toolkits to ensure brand consistency and gain efficiencies in the development of new marketing collaterals.
  • Effective management of creative projects and designers to achieve greater efficiency and to create an engaged, effective creative team.
  • Ideation and creative development of social media content, increasing reach and engagement.
2015-2018

4. Match Marketing Group

Art Director
  • Ideation and creative development of scale programs for major brands.
  • Delivery of multiple successful presentations to client where our proposed creative was sold in ahead of competing agencies.
  • Effective management of creative projects and designers to achieve a significant reduction in freelance costs.
  • Led the development of visual guideline toolkits for multiple programs to ensure brand consistency between partner agencies.
  • Ideation and creative development of social media content for several major brands, increasing reach and engagement.
1995-2023

5. Orbit Studios

Freelance Art Director

Founder, Creative Director, Designer and Illustrator at Orbit Studios, a boutique creative agency specializing in: Branding and Identity, Marketing + Social Media Strategies, Ad Campaigns, Retail POS Design, Brand Management and Stewardship, Illustration, Website Design and Development, Website Management, Web Hosting and Copywriting.

 

  • Led a successful RFP bid and presentation to the Milton Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors to re-design the Escarpment Country website and online visitor guide.
  • Design, development and implementation of content management system (CMS) for new Escarpment Country website and online visitor guide, on-time and on-budget.
  • Conceptual development of brand identity and website (UI/UX design and supporting illustrations) for Memplai, a social media startup focusing on video creation through collaboration.
  • Design, development and implementation of CMS for the Tiger Jeet Singh Foundation, a Milton-based non-profit organization.
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 the creative direction, design, print management of all Cleo in-store programs, achieving visual consistency, brand integrity and significant cost savings.
  • Delivered concept proposals and budgets to Cleo executive team which ensured senior level buy-in on creative direction and costs for all POS programs.
  • Planned and provided on-site artistic direction at photo shoots to ensure they ran on-time and on-budget and that photography aligned with creative, technical and production objectives.
  • Consulted and assisted in development of new Cleo brand launched in 1999, which included creation and management of a custom corporate colour. Approved creative and colour across all media, ensuring consistency and brand compliance.
  • Remained current on retail marketing trends by travelling quarterly to research stores in the GTA, New York and Chicago and attending GlobalShop trade show annually, allowing for the ongoing design and implementation of innovative solutions.
2002-2004

8. Xerox Canada

Sr. Graphic Designer, GSK & Ford of Canada
  • Delivered a Digital Asset Management (DAM) presentation to key GSK clients, leading to the addition of contracted DAM services, resulting in increased revenue for Xerox and an extension of the contract between the two companies.
  • Executed design and illustration projects in fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, driving a substantial increase in customer satisfaction metrics.
2004-2008

9. Xerox Canada

Creative Team Lead, Sr. Graphic Designer
  • Managed a team of two designers which expanded to a team of four within 1.5 years by leading the improvement of team capabilities, overall caliber of work and improving customer satisfaction. This led to significant growth in client base and more involved creative projects being brought in-house, achieving significant cost savings and reducing time-to-market.
  • Named Lead Designer for Xerox Global Services (XGS) Site Marketing Council, assembled to develop initiatives to market Xerox service offerings at on-site accounts across Canada, increasing account revenue growth.
2008-2011

10. Xerox Canada

Creative Services Manager, CMHC
  • Provided creative direction, design and print production management for CMHC Ontario Region, delivering cost savings and reducing turnaround times for key marketing programs.
  • Led a team of five designers based in CMHC’s regional offices across Canada and facilitated weekly video conference calls to share best practices and balance workloads, leading to operational efficiencies, increased collaboration and revenue generation.
  • Collaborated with cross-functional CMHC teams on campaign development and execution, ensuring alignment to CMHC strategic objectives and brand guidelines.
2012-2013

11. Xerox Canada

Account Operations Manager, Global Delivery Centre
  • Trained and job shadowed at Xerox European head office to assist in operationalizing the Global Delivery Centre (GDC) in Canada to manage creative and print production for large Canadian retail organizations.
  • Participated in user acceptance testing (UAT) of online GDC workflow platform to ensure compliance and operational effectiveness upon Canadian launch.
  • Led process development, documentation, creation of temporary manual tools to manage workflow. Assisted in staffing, increasing team capabilities in a short time to onboard Sobeys.
  • Oversaw execution of $18 million worth of print (POS and Décor signage) for Sobeys in 2013, including facilitating daily production meetings with key members of the national team.
  • Managed production workflow during Sobeys re-brand and Jamie Oliver partnership launch: 60 million signs printed and distributed nationally over three weeks, resulting in $2 million in revenue.
2014-2015

12. Xerox Canada

Art Director, Sobeys
  • Ideation, design and production roll-out of several Sobeys in-store point-of-sale (POS) campaigns on-time and on-budget, providing cost savings to Sobeys and establishing Xerox as a key creative agency partner.
  • Assisted in leading a successful pitch to Sobeys to land the 2014 Summer campaign conceptual and production work, achieving significant additional revenue.
  • Led the development of visual guideline toolkits for each program to ensure brand consistency between Sobeys’ partner agencies and internal creative teams.
  • Achieved operational efficiencies through ongoing refinement of internal processes, documents, naming conventions and creation of a digital asset catalogue.
  • Led a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt project to develop and implement a national digital asset management operational strategy, which achieved cost savings and workflow efficiencies for Sobeys and laid the groundwork for Xerox to generate potential future revenue.

Key Competencies

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1. Technical Skills

Mac OS, Windows, Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Acrobat Professional, Microsoft Office, HTML/CSS, WordPress, digital asset management.

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2. Strengths

  • Proven expertise leading artistic direction on retail, print and web campaigns
  • Graphic design, illustration, web design, identity and brand development and stewardship
  • Strong written and oral communication skills
  • Organized and detail oriented
  • Highly adaptable, versatile team player
  • Extensive project management experience
  • Fosters cross-functional team collaboration
  • Workflow / traffic management within deadline-driven environments

Community Involvement

2012-present

1. Musical Theatre

  • 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 13 musicals (as of 2023) 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