Hi, I'm Kirk,

a designer, technologist, innovator and leader.

I help creative teams reach innovative outcomes by solving the right problems, in thoughtful ways—with a cross-disciplinary approach that encourages wider collaboration.

A maker and explainer by nature, I've spent my career at the intersection of Marketing, People Management and Emerging Technologies.

I look to find the greater meaning in any work. Whether I'm designing an interactive installation, pitching to clients, or managing a creative staff, I bring integrity and ethics to every interaction.

Kirk Clyne

Creative Director

Career Highlights

Hard work, good fun

Co-founded a digital design agency that landed on the Globe & Mail’s Growth 400 list, and became ranked as the #1 digital marketing agency worldwide on Clutch.co.

Credited with creating a work environment that won a Best Culture award in 2018 from Tech in Motion, beating out established players like Shopify.

My experience design work has garnered over 15 awards in the past 5 years alone, most notably a Peabody and a Canadian Screen Award.

Career Highlights

Co-founded a digital design agency that landed on the Globe & Mail’s Growth 400 list, and is ranked as the #1 digital marketing agency worldwide on Clutch.co.

‍Credited with creating a work environment that won a Best Culture award in 2018 from Tech in Motion, beating out established players like Shopify.

My experience design work has garnered over 15 awards in the past 5 years alone, most notably a Peabody and a Canadian Screen Award.

What's in it for them?

Design and technology can either create a bridge or a barrier between your brand and your customers.

Safe to say that every one of us is anxious, busy, and distracted these days.

Whatever you want your marketing to say, your average, overwhelmed customer has probably already tuned it out—in advance. (Sorry, not sorry.)

Please don't waste their time more pooly-considered "touch points" into their

Take the time to understand them deeply first, and what you can offer of genuine value—a helping hand, a much-needed laugh, an astonishing deal, a sense of childlike wonder, or a chance to express themselves.

. . .
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Explore a small collection of my Experience Design and Creative Direction portfolio below. (More work is available on request.)

Empathetic Leadership

I intentionally create diverse, inclusive and collaborative cultures that drive high engagement and performance.

My teams learn to work across departments and collaborate with clients independently of me, raising the level of design strategy throughout the organization.

HR Loves this One Simple Trick

A photograph of Kirk and some coworkers laughing

Lead with empathy.

‍Recognize the whole individual, provide them with psychological safety, and give them opportunities to self-actualize on the job.

They'll do their best work, stick around to grow with the organization, and have each other's back when it really matters.

Nice Things People Say:

Kirk is always supporting the team to work towards their fullest potential. He is a fearless leader who creates a safe space, and an absolute joy to collaborate with!

Hanieh Khosroshahi
UX Design Lead at YLabs

Kirk always found opportunities for us to do our best work! His open-mindedness and empathy has created an enjoyable, happy, and collaborative environment to work in!

Darya Andriyenko
‍Product Designer at Mozilla

Kirk is the most empathetic and caring C-suite leader I've ever had the opportunity to work with.

Stephanie Niven
VP, eCommerce at Art & Science

A collage of images showing advertisements for ecobee smart thermostats, featuring arrangements of household appliances and novelty items

Best Black Friday Ever

So smart it pays for itself

This animated digital campaign resulted in ecobee's "best Black Friday ever" with a 30% boost in sales YOY.

Platinum AVA Digital Marketing Award
Gold Communicator Award
Featured in Applied Arts

Role:

Creative Director | Concepts & Storyboards | Animation Direction

Close up photograph of a young women hiding her smile behind a postcard and looking with anticipation at something we can't see

Better than the Internet

BLACK FRIDAY MYSTERY BOX

The BCC Black Friday Mystery Box installation lured over 1,400 shoppers per year off of the internet, and into the shopping mall on Black Friday.

For 5 years in a row!

ICSC Maple Leaf Silver Award
Gold Hermes Creative Award
Gold MarCom Award
Communicator Award of Distinction

Role:

Creative Director | User Experience Designer | Unity 3D Artist

Illustrated Public Health Campaign

The Sex You Want

37% of gay men in Ontario reported reconsidering their sexual health practices after engaging with the campaign website, based on a study conducted by the province.

The realities of the community were brought to life through illustrated comics of real guys' stories, infographics about hotter (and safer) sex, and a dozen rather "cheeky" animated videos.

Platinum Hermes Creative Award
Gold MarCom Award
Webaward

Role:

Creative Director | User Experience Strategist | Script & Storyboards

Musical Innovation

Transcend Labels

I worked with SABIAN Cymbals and famed percussionist Jojo Mayer to develop the branding, digital campaign and website for an innovative new musical instrument.

The communications reflect the product's elegant look, technical design and premium price point.

Role:

Creative Director | Campaign Art Director | User Experience Designer

A montage of photographs and illustrations showing a percussion cymbal. The colours are gold and black, and the atmosphere is moody or mysterious

PREMIUM BRANDING & COMMUNICATIONS

TRANSCEND LABELS

I worked with SABIAN Cymbals and famed percussionist Jojo Mayer to lead the branding, digital campaign and website for an innovative new musical instrument.

The communications reflect the product's elegant look, technical design and premium price point.

Role: Creative Director | Campaign Concepts | User Experience Strategist | Animator

Rebranding Tradition

Kingsway College School

After 30 years of traditional private school branding, Kingsway College School needed their identity to step into the future.
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The new design system, rooted in the school's heartfelt values, stands out in a crowded market and signals their commitment to a new kind of education.

Role:

Creative Director

A montage of images showing bright, colorful, geometric shapes arranged in square grid patterns.

Rebranding Tradition

Kingsway College School

After 30 years of traditional private school branding, Kingsway College School needed their identity to step into the future.
‍
The new design system, rooted in the school's heartfelt values, stands out in a crowded market and signals their commitment to a new kind of education.

Role: Creative Director

Get in Touch

Let's make good stuff together.

hello@kirkclyne.com

Download CV (pdf)

LinkedIn Profile

Experience Design

My uncanny ability to see things from another's perspective (sometimes called "cognitive empathy") helps me create remarkable experiences for any audience.

‍In short, I care how people feel. We're all busy and distracted, so I want my experiences to deliver real value — whether it's a physical installation, a digital campaign, an explainer video or an immersive website.

Here's a very small sampling of work—please get in touch to see more.

INVENTIVE CAMPAIGN

So Smart it Pays for Itself

This animated digital campaign resulted in ecobee's "best Black Friday ever" with a 30% boost in sales YOY.

Platinum AVA Digital Marketing Award
Gold Communicator Award
Featured in Applied Arts

Role: Creative Direction | Concepts & Storyboards | Animaton Director

Better than the Internet

BlacK Friday Mystery Box

The BCC Black Friday Mystery Box installation lured over 1,400 shoppers per year off of the internet, and into the shopping mall on Black Friday.

For 5 years in a row!

ICSC Maple Leaf Silver Award
Gold Hermes Creative Award
Gold MarCom Award
Communicator Award of Distinction

Role: Creative Director | User Experience Designer | 3D Artist

An iPad showing the homepage of thesexuouwant.ca, which features hand-drawn illustrations of men embracing in sexual pleasure

Public Heath Campaign

The Sex You Want

This campaign broke through decades of complacency around safer sex messages by illustrating the diversity of the community with comics of real stories, infographics about hot sex, and a dozen (very cheeky) animated videos.

According to an evaluation by the province of Ontario, an astonishing 37% of gay men reported reconsidering their sexual health practices after engaging with the campaign website.

Platinum Hermes Creative Award
Gold MarCom Award
Webaward

Role: Creative Director | User Experience Strategist | Script & Storyboards | Animation Director

Empathetic Leadership

Nice things people say

I intentionally create inclusive, diverse and collaborative cultures that drive high engagement and performance.

My teams learn to work across departments and collaborate with clients independently of me, raising the level of design strategy throughout the organization.

“

Supportive and strategic

Kirk is the most empathetic and caring C-suite leader I've ever had the opportunity to work with. Beyond his impact to culture, he brings incredible value to crafting cogent strategy, always pushing for a clear and defined understanding of the 'why' on any engagement.
‍
Stephanie Niven
Vice President eCommerce, Art & Science

“

We do our best work

“

A joy to collaborate with

Kirk is always supporting the team to work towards their fullest potential. He is a fearless leader who creates a safe space, and an absolute joy to collaborate with!

Hanieh Khosroshahi
UX Design Lead, YLabs

Hi, I'm Kirk,

Career Highlights

Career Highlights

What's in it for them?