About

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I'm a creative who believes ideas connect people and change how they see what's possible. I bring that to life through design that's thoughtful, a little playful, and built on empathy as much as strategy.
Outside of client work, I volunteer with the RGD. I like sharing what I know as much as I like making things. Always happy to make time for coffee chats and portfolio reviews.

The Poetics of Space
1994

¡Hola!

Experience
Senior Designer at Frontier · Associate Creative Director at Hard Work Club · Senior Designer at Interbrand, London UK · Freelance Designer at 4Creative, London UK · Art Director at Juliet · Art Director at Zulu Alpha Kilo · Designer at Whitman Emorson

Select Clients
Art Gallery of Ontario, The Asia Foundation, AtkinsRéalis, Canadian Cancer Society, Director’s Guild of Canada, Doordash, Hariri Pontarini Architects, IDEO.org, Lululemon, Montgomery Sisam Architects, SickKids, Toronto Flower Market

Education
OCAD University, BDes Advertising, Minor in Media Studies, Toronto · Penninghen, Art Direction, Paris

Recognition
2025, Applied Arts Illustration and Photography Awards Jury · 2024, D&AD Shortlist / Type Design & Lettering, AtkinsRéalis · 2024, Creative Review Honourable Mention, AtkinsRéalis · 2024, LADAWARDS, Bronze, Typography · 2023, Communication Arts Winner, Typography Competition · 2022, Clio Music, Silver, SickKids: Lily’s Raincoat · 2019, ADCC, Bronze, EGM: Dear 2030 · 2019, Communication Arts Webpicks, Pardon Website · 2017, Applied Arts Student Awards, Entire Ad Campaign · 2017, Zulu Alpha Kilo Employeeship Winner

Exhibitions
2024, In-Between Exhibit, Toronto · 2018, Bad Girls Market, Toronto · 2018, RECAP, Vuco Artspace, Toronto · 2015, The Elastic Effect, OCAD U, Toronto

© 2026 Maria José Arias