Robert Stewart
115 Acton Bld. Studio One, Acton, Ontario, Canada L7J 2S4
Telephone: 905•873•3122 Email: stewartdesign@bell.net Website:stewartdesigngroup.ca
OVERVIEW: Would a Creative Director with over 35 years of retail and corporate design
experience benefit your business?
For over 35 years, I have provided retail and corporate advertising design services to Canada’s largest retailers translating marketing and business objectives into successful advertising campaigns. I have provided creative services to the following companies: Zellers, Hudson’s Bay Company, Canadian Tire, Sears, Walmart, Genuine Health, Stonebridge Town Center, Roots and Bayview Village Shopping Center. My design services include creative designs for catalogues, direct mail, retail flyers, posters, packaging, brochures and institutional material for corporate companies. As Creative Director, I have extensive experience leading and managing design staff and vendors. I also provide creative for cross platform web design and digital illustration. I am dedicated to an unwavering commitment to quality, innovative creative and to meet the client’s marketing objectives on time, every time.
CAREER Stewart Design Group (1999 to Present)
I started my freelance business, Stewart Design Group after being invited by Zellers and Hudson’s Bay Company to provide an exclusive external creative resource. I provided creative design services exclusively to Zellers and the Hudson’s Bay Company for over 15 years. I served as a creative consultant on many advertising campaigns. I designed many fashion and hardline formats for their flyers, ads and special direct mail campaigns. I designed their Rewards Catalogue, seasonal and special event flyers, posters, in-store signage and concept digital renderings of the café renovation at Yorkville Mall, Toronto. My catalogue design for their 2007 Rewards Catalogue was published in the Canadian publication “Superbrands Canada Vol. 1”. I was retained by Stonebridge Town Centre in Wasaga Beach to design their community magazine. I have also provided creative services to other major retailers such as Sears Canada, Canadian Tire, Walmart and Genuine Health and executed corporate design projects for clients such as the SCL Imaging Group, Tri-Ad Graphic Communications & Corpfinance International Ltd. My most recent projects include a multi gatefold promotional brochure design for the TI Group Inc. Toronto and the creative concept development of flyer formats for CVS Pharmacy in the United States.
Creative Director, Networks (1993 to 1997) now Pi Media
As Creative Director for one of Canada’s largest pre-press companies, I was responsible for the development and execution of creative to meet the client’s marketing objectives. I led a team of senior designers and writers in developing projects ranging from hard retail sell to corporate design. I was also responsible for designing business acquisition proposals and corporate communication pieces for Networks’ parent company, St. Joseph Corporation. During my tenure I was responsible for the design of all Drug Trading Company flyers, consisting of the brand names: IDA Drugs, Guardian Drugs and Rx Central Pharmacy. My team was also responsible for designing the Christmas seasonal flyers for Toys R Us. Other accomplishments consisted of creative development of projects for national companies such as Sears Canada, Roots, General Electric and fashion layouts for Moore’s Clothing.
Creative Director, Consumers Distributing Co. Ltd. (1984 to 1993)
As Creative Director for a major Canadian retail chain, I was responsible for the development and implementation of creative strategies to enhance the company’s marketing objectives. I was responsible for the design and execution of all catalogues, flyers and R.O.P. advertising presentations. I negotiated, prepared and managed a multi-million dollar pre-press budget. I directed the activities of the layout team and the photography studios. Under my creative direction, Consumers Distributing sold more toys than any retailer in Canada and was the second most successful retail jeweller in Canada.
Art Director, Simpson’s Ltd. (1976 to 1984)
I directed in-house and freelance layout artists to meet high communication and visual standards in the Fashion and Home Furnishings Divisions for newspaper and flyer advertising. I attended meetings with General Merchandising Managers to discuss creative and marketing objectives and coordinated the flow of daily R.O.P. ads to meet publication deadlines. I directed the photography studios in the creative execution of the daily ads and the flyer programs.
SOFTWARE: Adobe Creative Suite: Adobe Muse CC 2014, Adobe InDesign C6,
Adobe Illustrator C6,
PROGRAMS: Photoshop CC 2014, Perfect Photo Suite 9 and Quark Express 6.1
EDUCATION: Art Instruction Schools, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
(Advertising design and illustration)
SUMMARY I have been Creative Director for major retailers providing creative strategic solutions. I have experience leading creative teams and providing strong leadership in concept development to the final production of those concepts. I am committed to providing exceptional service along with outstanding technical proficiency and expertise. I will meet your commitments, understand your needs and demonstrate professionalism through effective interaction and communications. I am confident that I meet your requirements.