Kyle Hardtman Email & Phone Number

Toronto, On, Ca

Toronto, On, Ca

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

As the current Art Director, I co-create and refine client business plans to enhance brand development and expand their social and public networks. My role involves building comprehensive brand standards and guidelines, encouraging C-suite stakeholders to adopt long-term design thinking. Furthering this goal, I oversee the development of brand language, voice, visual presentation and implementation across all social and networking channels; collaborating closely with the CEO to create meticulously curated design principles, ensuring efficient onboarding and delivery of creative assets for client teams. Projects include digital brand integration, brand launches, website design, brand identity guidelines and social media standards for all public-facing brand touchpoints.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Continued as creative lead on the third volumes of The Design Criteria for Retail Spaces - the guidelines and design inspiration for all retail spaces, dining halls and food market concepts in Canada, a key driver in pushing innovation where good design leads to successful business returns.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Art Direction, Brand Stewardship, Collaborative LeadershipDelivered creative branding, logo identity, digital, video and website concepts and tech products such as remotes, security, cameras, green energy solutions, home automation and UX/UI app design.Led a team of creatives to develop innovative and bold solutions for web, mobile, social, video, direct mail, and print publications.Led and directed photoshoots in residential and commercial spaces to enhance brand strategy and presence.Led a team of marketing, design and retail architecture teams to concept and execute the first retail store in the SoHo neighbourhood in New York City, in a limited period of three weeks. Successfully launched the energy home automation division through intensive branding exercises and execution creating a cohesive visual identity to the Savant Power project family.

Toronto, Canada Area

Creative Lead for national Cadillac Fairview programs across a diverse portfolio of projects for iconic brands in the Canadian retail landscape.Sample work profile:Researched and developed the hands-on creative concepts and prepared design solutions for internal and external client brands such as the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canada Goose, Apple, the City of Vancouver, Harry Rosen, SportChek, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue, CAFA, Lyft and PanAm 2015.Was the sole creative director on the publication of three volumes of: The Design Criteria for Retail Spaces - the guidelines and design inspiration for all retail spaces, dining halls and food market concepts in Canada, a key driver in pushing innovation where good design leads to successful business returns.Critiqued and provided creative inspiration and articulated art direction including typography, layout, brand guideline and color principle to creative designers and production designers for various start-up and independent retailers, and in-house design teams for client brands & internal corporate initiativesConceptualized and partnered with architects, interior designers and rendering artists to bring the creative vision to life on innovative retail projects, such as farmer’s market concepts, redevelopment projects and new project brand identitiesOversaw the execution of the visual identity of project themes across all aspects of events such as logos and graphics, digital press kits, and powerpoint presentation templates for clients such as Cadillac Fairview, ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centres), the Urban Land Institute, and the CF Golf Classic charitable event

Toronto/Chicago/Los Angeles

Delivered creative branding/logo identity and editorial/publication concepts and work for Wal-Mart Canada, Absolut, OceanWise, AIDS Committee of Durham & York Regions, Adobe, Tofino, BC Tourism, Belco Private Capital, Wynwood Investments and other independent investment firmsLed a team of creatives to develop fresh solutions for web, mobile, social, video, direct mail and print advertisements that lead or support business objectives for Fly High Media, a boutique drone photography firm in BermudaWorked directly with investment banking firms to conceptualize and design supplementary fund sheets and quarterly reports, and conceptualized & executed investment firm brand identitiesDeveloped brand identity for emerging independent Toronto-based and Canadian DJs, in partnership with Red Bull Canada

Toronto, Canada Area

Developed creative branding/logo identity options for the University Health Network, Royal Bank of Canada, and IBM, as well as coordinated with main partner and team to develop independent design projects and brand identity work.

Toronto, Canada Area

Worked as a member of a team of designers tasked with creating branding and identity conceptsfor Dynamic Mutual Funds, Scotiabank, Burger King and Koodo Mobile.

Toronto, Canada Area

As a Junior Designer for John St.’s in-house design firm, worked closely on advertising projects, created project presentations, design & concept work preparation, photography management, online blog maintenance/updates and editorial. Responsibilities included working with design teams on branding projects for iQ Foods, Camp Kandalore, Casey’s Restaurants and Smirnoff Vodka.