About
For my bio, I asked AI to give me a write up based on our shared working experience.
This is what it said.
“Nick is what happens when an analytical mind goes feral in a creative landscape. A creative director by trade, system builder by obsession, and the kind of person who treats AI like a co-conspirator rather than a shortcut. He founded Revolver Studios, part experimental lab, part digital asylum, to explore the uneasy truce between human imagination and machine logic.
Fueled by pattern recognition, sleep deprivation, and a mild disdain for the status quo, Nick’s work doesn’t chase trends, it stalks them, dissects them, and feeds the scraps into something new. Equal parts strategist and chaos engine, he’s less concerned with industry norms and more interested in what breaks them. Awards bore him. Metrics amuse him. What matters is impact, the kind that lingers like smoke or static, hard to place but impossible to ignore.”
Experience
Revolver Studios
Founder, Creative Director
Founder, Creative Director
May 2024 – Current
Revolver is a machine-integrated production studio and creative digital marketplace for independent artists.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Built the entire Revolver platform from the ground up, leading brand identity, UX/UI, technical architecture, and ongoing product evolution.
- Leveraged AI-assisted coding techniques, API-driven workflows, and modular design logic to optimize artist submissions, reviews, and automation.
- Spearheaded the development of 30+ open-source plugins supporting digital licensing, artist dashboards, and creative toolkits.
Type: Full-Time
JY Group
Creative Director
Creative Director
Nov 2022 – Apr 2024
JY Group is a full-suite digital marketing provider specializing in custom commercial real-estate media production and design.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Led all creative B2B strategies across digital and print services, overseeing project workflows, brand systems, and offshore team operations.
- Spearheaded corporate rebrand and new service rollouts, securing $250K+ in contracts through strategic pitches and presentations.
- Developed brand systems for three major commercial real estate clients, enhancing their omni-channel visual presence and customer experience.
Type: Full-Time
Publicis Canada
Senior Art Director
Senior Art Director
Aug 2022 – Oct 2022
Publicis/Hawkeye is a Toronto-based CRM and direct marketing agency serving clients across North America and internationally.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Led creative for VISA’s “She’s Next” campaign, managing social/digital design and cross-functional collaboration.
- Directed static and motion ads, supporting targeting, copy strategy, keywords, and paid media alignment.
- Created brand guidelines, pitch decks, and supporting collateral to ensure VISA SMB brand visual consistency and deliverable quality.
Type: Contract (3 mo.)
Initiate Marketing
Senior Art Director
Senior Art Director
May 2022 – Jul 2022
Initiate Marketing is an independent design, branding and marketing agency based in Ottawa, focusing on large government digital design projects.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Led UX and creative direction for the “Rain Ready Ottawa” interactive e-learning project, in partnership with the City of Ottawa.
- Built and deployed three custom e-learning modules using Articulate, reaching over one million city residents.
- Developed public-facing PSAs, digital ads, and final course materials; managed testing, debugging, and launch.
Type: Contract (3 Mo.)
Aimtal
Senior Art Director
Senior Art Director
Nov 2021 – Apr 2022
Aimtal is an independent globally integrated marketing agency that blends strategy and empathy to drive meaningful brand growth.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Led UX/UI design and digital branding for the Wellness Coach platform, optimizing mobile and desktop user flows.
- Designed ad campaigns across social, Slack, Zoom, and the App Store; collaborated with global creative teams.
- Produced explainer videos and motion content for web, social, in-app placements, and multi-platform campaigns.
Type: Contract (3 Mo.)
The Creative Co-Opt
Senior Art Director
Senior Art Director
Sep 2018 – Jul 2021
The Creative Co-Opt is an award winning boutique advertising and design agency specializing in brand identity, media and design.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Directed brand systems and creative execution across cannabis, real estate, retail, F&B, and various B2C sectors.
- Led UX/UI, web, print, and app-based projects; delivered kiosks, in-store displays, and interactive experiences.
- Built a full-service platform and hosting model, generating new revenue streams and increasing annual growth by 15%.
Type: Full-Time
Celaeno Technologies
Creative Director
Creative Director
Dec 2010 – Aug 2018
A B2B branding and interface design agency specializing in UX/UI, production, and overflow work for larger partner agencies.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Managed creative teams across remote, offshore, and in-house environments for large-scale brand and campaign execution.
- Led cross-agency communication and deliverables, presenting B2B and B2C creative for top-tier international agencies.
- Developed a patent-pending DRM tool for video content, supporting a successful proprietary tech sale to venture capital.
Type: Full-Time
Zebra Studios
Senior Art Director
Senior Art Director
Sep 2008 – Nov 2010
Zebra Studios is an award-winning full-service design firm serving major North American brands across retail, healthcare, finance, and sports.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Led creative production for the “Skate Canada” PSA campaign, overseeing web, video, and audio content development.
- Directed cross-functional teams across video editing, sound design, and interactive development for broadcast delivery.
- Produced three PSA TV spots and two bilingual CBC Radio One ads, delivering national coverage across media platforms.
Type: Contract (3 Mo.)
A.V. More
Senior Art Director
Senior Art Director
Mar 2008 – Oct 2010
A.V. More is a multimedia production studio specializing in branding, digital design, and interactive advertising for national and international clients.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Led internal and remote teams across branding, digital advertising, and interactive display development for enterprise B2C clients.
- Co-developed a digital display system with Samsung, launching a new corporate service for in-office ad delivery.
- Pioneered QR code and interactive print tech for global retail brands; contributed to Canada’s first in-theatre ad platform.
Type: Full-Time
BarNet Digital
Senior Digital Designer
Senior Digital Designer
Jun 2006 – Feb 2008
BarNet Digital specializes in broadcast media production, interactive advertising, and proprietary digital signage across retail and nightlife networks.
Roles/Responsibilities:
- Led design and production of static and motion ads for retail and entertainment clients across web, broadcast, and signage.
- Developed and launched interactive platforms including a motion-activated “Virtual Secretary” and in-cab media tech for taxi networks.
- Managed digital signage content and internal systems, including hosting, platform updates, and a private social network.
Type: Full-Time
Education
Certificates
-
Hubspot, Digital Marketing Certified2025
Valid: Aug 2025 - Sep 2026
-
Google, Analytics Certification2025
Valid: Aug 2025 - Aug 2026
-
Microsoft, Advertising Search2024
Formal
-
University of Guelph, Certificate in Leadership2008
-
University of Guelph, BA, HCI2002-2006
-
Humber College, Multimedia Design2000-2002
-
Robert F. Hall, Diploma, OSSD1994-1998
Awards
-
SCHBA, Winner2022
-
EIA, Best Mobile Website2020
-
Webby, Nominee2018
-
Webby, Winner2016
-
FXA, Winner2016
-
Webby, Winner2015
-
Webby, Honouree2014