When I struck out on my own as a freelance graphic designer in 2003, I had a specific mandate in mind: I wanted to work with people and organizations that lined up with my personal politics. After working for five years in a large corporation, I had a strong desire to produce work that could make a difference in everyday lives. At the time, I’d done my own advocacy work around local public space issues and enjoyed the rush of seeing some of my campaigns make an impact at City Hall. So when I observed that most non-profit, environmental, and arts & culture groups lacked quality communication materials, I zeroed-in on local and national foundations and organizations based in Toronto that I wanted to help elevate.
For a better part of a decade, I was able to work with such organizations as Car Free Day, Toronto Transit Commission, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Conservation Council of Ontario, Toronto Environmental Alliance, Toronto Smog Summit, Clean Air Partnership, Toronto Atmospheric Fund, LEAF, Ontario Nature, Walk Toronto, Toronto Public Space Committee, Town of Caledon, and the Metcalf Foundation.
above: A Model Clean Air Plan for the Living City report
Clean Air Partnership, 2005
above: Car Free Day, Sierra Club of Canada, 2001
above & below: Event posters, Toronto Environmental Alliance, 2001-2008
above: Report designs for Toronto Community Housing & Conservation Council of Ontario, 2004
above: campaign poster, Conservation Council of Ontario, 2006
above & below: Promotional cards for annual awards event
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, 2006-2008
Designing Politics
Since I was openly linking my politics with my graphic design work, it exposed me to a number of political staff and operations. Over time, I produced a range of political campaign materials, such as event promotions for Jack Layton’s leadership run for the NDP (2003); branding, flyers, and lawn signs for Adam Vaughan’s successful campaign for city councillor (2006); policy literature for Mayor David Miller (2008); and stationary for TTC Chair and city councillor Adam Giambrone (2009).
above: Protesting the invasion of Iraq with my own political cartoon, 2003