Ian is an internationally recognized, award-winning creative director who reflects the perfect mix of creativity and strategy. He is in constant search of the next big idea, and his philosophy is to engage consumers through insight and innovation while remaining channel-neutral, yet fully embracing the crucial role that digital, mobile and social play in today’s market. While Ian began his career as an art director, he quickly developed a love for writing, crafting many scripts for TV, radio and web content, while also directing some videos as well. By collaborating with clients, Ian has helped create successful campaigns for General Motors, Nestle, Philips, BMW, KFC, Rogers, Canada Goose, Kellogg’s, Kraft, Goodlife Fitness and more. While his focus has always been centred around creating transformative work for the brands he touches, his initiatives have also been recognized by Cannes Lions, The One Show, Clios, London International Awards, New York Festivals, Communication Arts, Advertising & Design Club of Canada, The Cassies, Marketing Awards, Atomic Awards and Applied Arts.
Work Experience
Freelance Creative (2021 - present) Toronto Flash Hora (Activation for the Jewish Community) • Ogilvy ~ TD, Dove, H&R Block, CeraVe • GUT ~ Tim Hortons • Zulu Alpha Kilo ~ Bell, Interac, A2 Milk, JennAir • Leo Burnett ~ Bell, Virgin, Northstar Gaming, Kelloggs • Juniper Park ~ Ring Central • FCB • Hilton US • Oliver • Diamond
Adjunct Professor (2023 - present) • Seneca Polytechnic ~ School of Communication Arts @ York U, Creative Advertising (CAB)
TAG (2015 - 2020) • VP, Executive Creative Director - Kraft, BMW, Philips (Electric, Sonicare, Kitchen Appliances, Vitalight), MR.SUB, Ricoh, First Choice Haircutters, Pelmorex, The Weather Network, High Liner, Clover Leaf, Country Style, Mary Brown's, Bausch & Lomb, Ryobi, Shoeless Joes Sports Bar, York University, Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC)
TAXI (freelance 2015) • Creative Director/Art Director - pitch work
Zulu Alpha Kilo (freelance 2014/2015) • Creative Director/Art Director - Interac, Corona, Audi, Coke, Nestea, Wokopolis, Cineplex
Doug Agency (2007 - 2014) • Creative Director - Canada Goose, GoodLife Fitness, Virgin Radio, Mucho Burrito, Extreme Pita, Wrigley, Worldwide Short Film Festival, Ontario Nurses' Association, B2B Trust, Johnson Insurance, Olympus, Clover Leaf, AGO
ZIG / CP+B (freelance 2006) • Senior Art Director - Molson, IKEA, Virgin Mobile, W Network
JWT (2004 - 2005) • Senior Art Director - Kellogg’s, Kraft, Nestle, Cadbury, Pfizer, Diageo, The Maytree Foundation/TRIEC
Young & Rubicam (2003 - 2004) • Art Director - Pizza Hut, KFC, Ford
MacLaren McCann (1999 - 2002) • Art Director - General Motors, Rogers, Air Miles
DDB (freelance 1999) • Art Director - Panasonic
Agency 59 / Axmith McIntyre Wicht (1997 - 1999) • Art Director - Labatt, Ontario Tourism, NOW Magazine, TSX
Pitches & Wins
Pelmorex / The Weather Network (Alert Ready), 2016
Honda Dealers of Ontario, 2011
Whole Foods, 2011
Responsible Gambling Council, 2011
Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation, 2011
Ontario Nurses Association, 2010
Virgin Radio, 2010
Goodlife Fitness, 2010
Presto, Government of Ontario, 2009
The Art Gallery of Ontario, 2008
Awards & Recognition
Cannes Silver Lion - Worldwide Short Film Festival, 'Scooter'
Cannes Film Finalist - Worldwide Short Film Festival, 'Catfight'
Cannes Film Finalist - Maytree Foundation, ‘Cab’
Cannes Film Finalist - Maytree Foundation, 'Cleaning Lady'
Cannes Film Finalist - Maytree Foundation, 'Interview'
One Show Silver Pencil - TV Single - Worldwide Short Film Festival, ‘Scooter’
One Show Merit - Collateral/Promotional Items - Schwimmer Pool Service (Cr Dir)
One Show Entertainment Merit - Online Branded Entertainment - CFC (Cr Dir)
One Show Interactive Merit - Online Films & Videos Short Form - CFC (Cr Dir)
One Show Merit - TV Single, 'Frame' - Canadian Film Centre)
One Show Merit - TV Campaign - Worldwide Short Film Festival
Clio Awards - Corporate Identity / Business Card - Schwimmer Pool Service (Cr Dir)
Clio Awards - TV - Worldwide Short Film Festival, ‘Scooter’
Communication Arts - Television Series - Worldwide Short Film Festival
London International Awards Silver - TV - Worldwide Short Film Festival, ‘Scooter’
London International Awards Finalist - TV - Worldwide Short Film Festival, ‘Catfight’
London International Awards Finalist - Print - Maytree Foundation
The Gunn Report - WSFF, ‘Scooter’ Officially selected as one of Donald Gunn's 10 favourite spots of the year
The Gunn Report - WSFF, ‘Scooter’ & 'Catfight' were the 42nd most awarded commercials in the world
New York Festivals Bronze - TV Campaign - Worldwide Short Film Festival
New York Festivals Bronze - TV Campaign - Maytree Foundation
New York Festivals Finalist - TV Single - Worldwide Short Film Festival, ‘Catfight’
Bessies Gold - TV Single - Worldwide Short Film Festival, ‘Scooter’
Bessies Gold - TV Campaign - Maytree Foundation
Ad & Design Club of Canada Merit - Interactive Media - Toronto Food Bank (Cr Dir)
Ad & Design Club of Canada Silver - Radio Campaign - Art Gallery of Ontario (2011)
Ad & Design Club of Canada Silver - TV Single - Canadian Film Centre
Ad & Design Club of Canada Gold - TV - Worldwide Short Film Festival
Ad & Design Club of Canada Silver - TV - Worldwide Short Film Festival, 'Scooter'
Ad & Design Club of Canada Silver - TV Campaign - Maytree Foundation
Ad & Design Club of Canada Silver - Banner Ad - TSE
Ad & Design Club of Canada Silver - Advertising Print - Becoming Maternity (ACD)
Ad & Design Club of Canada Merit - TV - Worldwide Short Film Festival, 'Catfight'
Ad & Design Club of Canada Merit - TV Campaign - Worldwide Short Film Festival
Ad & Design Club of Canada Merit - TV Single - Panasonic
Digital Marketing Awards Gold - Online Ad Campaign - Canadian Film Centre (Cr Dir)
Marketing Awards Gold - TV Campaign - Maytree Foundation
Marketing Awards Bronze - Collateral - Schwimmer Pool Service (Cr Dir)
Marketing Awards Bronze - Outdoor Campaign - Mucho Burrito
Marketing Awards Bronze - Non-Traditional - Worldwide Short Film Fest, ‘Short Box’
Marketing Awards Bronze - TV Single - Worldwide Short Film Festival, ‘Scooter’
Marketing Awards Bronze - Newspaper Single - Camp Fortune
Marketing Awards Certificate - Print Campaign - Maytree Foundation
Cassies Gold - Best Product Launch - Trident Splash
Atomic Awards - Gold - Atomic Idea - Canadian Film Centre (Cr Dir)
Atomic Awards - Silver - Best Broadcast Engagement - Canadian Film Centre (Cr Dir)
Applied Arts Photography Annual - Advertising Photography Single - CFC - Keyboard Cat (Cr Dir)
Applied Arts Photography Annual - Poster Photography Single - CFC - Keyboard Cat (Cr Dir)
Applied Arts Interactive Annual - Online Campaign - CFC - Charlie Bit... (Cr Dir)
Applied Arts Interactive Annual - Online Video - CFC - Charlie Bit... Horror (Cr Dir)
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - Branded Content Series -CFC- Charlie Bit... (Cr Dir)
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - Digital Single - CFC - Charlie Bit… Horror (Cr Dir)
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - TV Campaign - Canadian Film Centre
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - TV Campaign - Worldwide Short Film Festival
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - TV Single - Worldwide Short Film Festival, 'Scooter'
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - TV Single - Worldwide Short Film Festival, 'Catfight'
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - TV Campaign - Maytree Foundation
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - Print Camapign - Maytree Foundation
Applied Arts Advertising Annual - Outdoor Single - NOW Magazine
Lurzer’s Archive Vol 2 - TV - ‘Restaurant’ - Canadian Film Centre
Lurzer’s Archive Vol 5 - TV - ‘Catfight’ - Worldwide Short Film Festival
Summit Awards Gold - The Weather Network “Lifesaving Device” Public Service Television/Radio/Internet
Judging
2019 Marketing Awards Online Jury
2017 Midas Awards Executive Jury
2016 CMA Advertising Jury
2015 New York Festival Jury
2014 Mobius Awards Jury
2012 Marketing Awards Main Jury
2012 ICE Awards Jury
2011 Applied Arts Jury
2010 Chip Shop Awards Jury
2009 Summit International Awards Jury
2009 AICE Award Jury
Testimonials
Some nifty things that people have been kind enough to say about me: (without being paid)
CLIENTS:
"Ian is a warm and funny creative genius... always a pleasure to work with, he challenges the team to explore new areas based on insightful understanding of our consumer."
- Lorna Buchanon, Clover Leaf Seafoods
"Ian understands the technology, the market, and the competition.... I am always confident that any initiative that Ian is leading will be well thought out and executed with excellence, exceeding my expectations"
- Robin Flatlow, The Weather Network
"Ian gets results! He is an excellent strategist, amongst the top I've had the pleasure to work with. He constantly demonstrated equal measures of caution, cunning and creativity when it counted, and was the driving force behind the our irreverent brand personality."
- Norm Pickering, Mucho Burrito / MTY
"His calm leadership style is essential in managing his client's needs, while delivering on expectations and beyond. Ian's insights and passion always challenged the status quo"
- Athena Kalkanis, First Choice Haircutters
"Ian is unique as a creative in that he really took the time to understand our business and audience. This resulted in several creative awards for the Worldwide Short Film Festival and a positive impact at the box office."
- Barry Patterson, Canadian Film Centre
CO-WORKERS:
"Ian is someone who pushes the boundaries, encourages his team to think outside the box, and explore new ideas that can truly be revolutionary. Ian is a great team leader and inspires everyone who works with him to aspire for greatness."
- Danica Wolch, Director of Client Service, Tag
"Through his leadership, he brought a clear vision to the creative process and the agency as a whole. His mentorship of the entire team, especially the younger creatives was amazing to watch and learn form. Clients like woking with Ian as he always brings an inclusive approach to the work"
- Michael Genchi, Associate Creative Director, Tag
"Ian is an active student of great, original creative thinking and challenges others to do so as well. He always looks to develop and promote original creative expressions, often despite some very limiting budgets. His desire for effective and differentiating creative carries over to his mentoring of creative talent."
- Mike Welling, President of doug agency
"Ian has been a supportive mentor and a creative powerhouse constantly pushing for bigger and better ideas. His calm and composed nature has always made him a comfortable person to share ideas with and Ian understands the importance of steering his creative team to arrive logically at solutions that are both - on brand and push the creative envelope further."
- Raj Gupta, art director at doug agency, now at Wunderman Thompson
Education
York University - Bachelor of Arts Degree • Major: Psychology, Minor: Visual Arts
George Brown College - Diploma (with Honours) • Advertising / Graphic Design
Other Interests
I perform close-up magic, over-charging lawyers at their company parties.
I spent years doing stand-up comedy (think Seinfeld meets Steven Wright, minus the killer material)
Winning all-inclusive trips to Mexico via Expedia.ca paper airplane contests. Okay, fine, that just happened once.
CONTACT
416-996-2442
ianschwey@gmail.com