Agency-Side
Client-Side & SaaS
Latest Written Articles
- One Eye Open: Creative directing without being an overlord.With this article I wanted to specifically focus on examples and tips for ways to give direction without micromanaging the processes.
- Blue Monday is fake. But not the Winter Blues….have a heart.There is no ignoring for many people including the creative minded struggle through the coldest, dark days of winter. Here are 7 tips on how to cope.
- The REAL you is infinitely more interesting.A few years ago I took a few professional presentation courses and was told that I should lean into my natural insecurity against talking loudly or being aggressive and instead … Read more
I am a creative director / art director who has helped companies and brands transform themselves creatively for nearly twenty years.
Highlights include creating a social media tool that assisted in the rescue of Canadian children (Missing Children Society), creating a snore recording app for Breathe Right (GSK), filming commercials everywhere from High Park Toronto (Abreva) to a forest in Argentina (Guinness) to a 10,000+ foot glacier (Post Grape-Nuts) and countless innovative projects.
I have an intimate understanding of where tech, strategy and concept meet and am constantly curious about telling the next story. My curiosity has garnered Cannes Lions, One Show Pencils, CA’s, Cassies, and countless other accolades.
Ranked as one of the top 15 Best Art Directors multiple times in by Strategy Magazine’s Creative Report Card. As Digital User Experience Lead & Associate Creative Director, I helped Grey Canada win ADCC’s 2013 Agency Of The Year.
But the story doesn’t stop there. In 2015 I left Grey to Co-lead the complete transformation of Dashboard, my past agency, from a 16-year-old marketing firm into a Software SaaS Development Company, successfully selling it to tech firm Vicimus in under 2 years. I then led the company rebrand, developed departmental processes, guided UI/UX for product, oversaw and built external marketing plans and rebuilt creative and design teams.
It’s time for the next challenge.
Nice Things Other People Say…
Todd Lawson is a “Swiss-Army-Knife” of creativity. Physical or digital, no matter, he can do it fast and he can do it very, very well. He is a Jack of all trades and a Master of all. Hire him, quick, you won’t regret it.
Glen Hunt | Ex CCO/CTO, V7/Cossette
Todd is a true talent, equal part user experience and idea minded he’s fluent in multiple communication languages.
Patrick Scissons | Co-Founder & CEO, The Ostrich Algorithm / Ex CCO, KBS/Grey/Syncapse/BBDO
He embodied all of his creative works characteristics while also being one of the most calm, cool and collected creatives that I’ve had the pleasure of working with.
Barry Hillier / Co-Founder & CIO At EquoShift / Former Owner/Founder At Dashboard
Todd is a talented senior creative that has incredible dedication and passion. His ability to understand the objectives and deliver relevant, exciting creative is outstanding.
Brian Steinhauser / Co-CEO / Discovery Loft
Todd is one of those rare creative professionals who not only produces beautiful and inspired design, but actively leads the process around it. He understands the sweet spot where business objectives and creative innovation intersect and is extremely adept at bringing fresh insights to the projects he works on.
Gayle Lunn / Partner / Rebelles Research
Todd’s strong leadership, communication and customer service skills were the reason this project was such a huge success for the AutoShow. It didn’t matter what the task or request was, he made it happen for us. We cannot thank him enough as he was a true pleasure to work with!
Stephanie Thompson | Manager, Marketing & Operations | Canadian International AutoShow
Snapshot of 18+ years of experience (since 2001)
- Chief Creative Officer | Vicimus 2019-Present
- VP, Creative Strategy | Vicimus 2017-2019
- Creative Director | Strategy Mob 2015-2017
- Chief Creative Officer | Dashboard 2015-2017
- Associate Creative Director | Grey 2012-2015
- Senior Art Director | Grey 2010-2012
- Senior Art Director | Dashboard 2007-2010
- Art Director, Designer, Illustrator, 3d Artist &
- More | Various Firms 2001-2006
Agencies I’ve Word with: Grey Canada, Dashboard, Strategy Mob, Little Green Tree, Vicimus (in-house marketing/software UX/UI)
Clients/Brands I’ve helped: Abreva, AXE, Acura on Brant, AIDS Committee of Toronto, ATI, Atlanta Magazine, BlackBerry (RIM), Blue-Kote, Bombay Sapphire, Breathe Right, Bumper, Burlington Ribfest, Canadian AutoShow, Canadian Online Gamers Network, CDRS Hamilton, Corus, CosmoTV, Cruzan Rum, CCSC, Diageo, Dofasco, Débaufré, Eli Lilly Cymbalta (Pharama-depression), Elm Street Magazine, Enroute, Euroglass, Exclaim, Fortune Magazine, GSK, GloveboxCMS, Grape-Nuts, Great Grains, Guinness, Hellmann’s, H&R Block, Home Hardware, InBurlington, Independent School Association of Ontario, LCBO, Lexus of Oakville, Milk, Nissan Canada, Ontario Toyota Dealers Association, Ovarian Cancer Canada, Playtex (Health/Product – FemCare and InfantCare brands), POST Cereals, Pronamel, Sagicor General Insurance, Sensodyne, Scotiabank, SevenStar Sports, Shreddies Cereal, Sunlight Laundry, Suburban Ford, Sunveil Sunwear, St. George Apple Festival, Swiss Herbal (Pharma-vitamins), Toyota Canada, the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, Vaseline, Wrigely’s Juicy Fruit and W-Network (partial list)
Awards & Accolades: 50+ awards national and international for marketing, branding, illustration and design.
Public Speaking: Opening speaker at 2015 RGD Creative Directions Conference, Guest speaker at Sheridan College, 2004
Creative Skills: Creative Direction & Strategy, Art Direction, Concepting, Branding, Design, Illustration, Social, Digital & Traditional Marketing, Writing (short form, long form, scripting)
Business Skills: Executive team Experience, Team and Departmental Management, Client Management, New Business Development, Internal Planning, Budgeting, Resource Management, Project management, SOWs, Estimates, Process Development and deployment
Information Skills: UI/UX, Wires, Architecture, Prototypes, User Testing, Documentation, BRDs, Product Development, Roadmaps
Social Skills: Interpersonal Skills, Public Speaking, Storytelling, Mentoring, Teaching
Titles held: punk, rebel, grunt, box packer, electrician apprentice, shrink wrapper, illustrator, artist, designer, art director, creative director, VP, chief creative officer, dad.