My role is focused on enabling Overlap's growth by transforming our client experience, organization, and our amazing design team.

Overlap is a clever, compassionate, creative Canadian consulting firm using design thinking methods to help commercial and not-for-profit organizations make headway on the problems that matter most to them. Co-founded in 2011 by Brock Hart and Lisa Grogan, Overlap is now a leading human-centred design firm in Canada. We care deeply about vulnerable populations and building community, which means we work on projects that aim to make improvements in these areas and with organizations or teams that share these values. This commitment sees us working in many sectors—regionally, nationally and internationally—and on wide range of complex problems, from improving childhood wellbeing in Canada to creating accessible shopping experiences. In Overlap’s work, our clients and the people they serve are the subject matter experts—and we bring the process expertise. We leverage tools and approaches from the discipline of design and other types of expertise (e.g. facilitation, creativity, agile project management, community engagement, systems thinking, strategy and foresight) to help people work through problems and achieve better outcomes. Our purpose as a company is to build capacity in people to design better products, services, organizations and systems. In short, we aim to democratize design.Overlap has averaged 30% growth in revenue year over year. In 2017 Overlap was recognized with Canadian Business Excellence Award for employee engagement, innovation and customer experience.

I was lucky enough to be the Creative Director at MFX during the financial crisis. MFX did primarily print graphic design work that we were very proud of. Annual reports, brand identities, lovely corporate brochures—it was great work for national brands—and it dried up after the crash. I successfully led a pivot into design-led problem solving for the same clients.

Supported development of internal design capability.Led brand audit and review of all companies under The GroupLed brand development of the Connex Suite, an integrated technology suite for the insurance broker network.General responsibility for communications and marketing efforts.

Brand development, web site traffic growth, web site UI and advertising revenue. Developed brand strategy. Graphic design from brochures to full identity systems. Social network creation and weaving. Design thinking.

When I was in University I ran out of money. I started Muff Fabulous because of an interest in jewellery design and fashion, I thought I could make decent money and I wanted to meet people.I paid for school, met my future wife, was nominated for the Canadian Youth Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005 and was invited to showcase my jewellery at Toronto Fashion Week. This was my first business and it taught me that I can design the life I want and that passion for possibility can carry you.

During the summer of 2004 I saw an opportunity to leverage a growing wine region in Ontario. VanceHart Promotions was a destination marketing venture that ran a series of successful wine tastings for the newly established region.

With no design experience, I approached Reid & Siemonson Design to intern for them. I just wanted to be in the environment, to see what design looked like, to hopefully be inspired. They said yes.I did a range of activities at the firm and my experience there set the stage for the rest of my professional life.