Future Practice: Demystifying Creative Agencies
Date/Time: Wednesday, February, 21,2024 from 1:00-2:30 PM
Location: Virtual
RSVP: https://bit.ly/CEADFuturePractice
Future Practice is a conversation convened by The Creative Kids and RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers at OCAD University aimed at demystifying pathways to establishing a sustainable creative practice through the lens of entrepreneurship.
Addressing the intersections of entrepreneurship and design, the discussion seeks to explore the practicalities of running a creative agency, capturing themes such as how entrepreneurial values enable creatives to excel at their business, how to build an agency, securing clients, and practical skills for sustaining an independent practice.
Join James Nahhas, Principal Designer at CRUEL. Inc.; Anjela Freyja, multi-hyphenate Creative Director; and moderator Ajay Woolerly, Founder at The Creative Kids, to gain insights about how you can shape your future design practice.
This event is open to OCAD students and alumni.
About the speakers:
Ajay Woolery is a designer and communicator based in Toronto, Ontario studying at OCAD University. Ajay’s practice focuses on creating systems, objects and other design solutions to support communities. In 2020, Ajay founded his independent project “The Creative Kids” (TCK) as a response to the separation of young creatives created by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Through his work with TCK, Ajay and his team support young creatives through features in their digital journal, capacity-building activities, community events and creator-focused activations with brands. Some of his collaborators include i-D Magazine, UMG 1824, and Univer.se. Currently, Ajay works as a Junior Creative at a Toronto-based independent marketing agency CRUEL where he supports the creative team.
Anjela Freyja is a creative director, graphic designer, and writer based out of New York City. Her work brings typography, editorial design, photography, and copywriting to communicate compelling creative experiences and visual identities. Anjela’s work has a unique socio-political angle that makes it conceptually sharp and culturally relevant. With over ten years of professional experience in the design world, her practice now includes the direction of 360° brand experiences and encapsulates print, digital, and environmental applications. Some of Angela’s collaborators and clients include, SSENSE, YouTube, Uniqlo, and the United Nations.With over ten years of professional experience in the design world, her practice now includes the direction of 360° brand experiences and encapsulates print, digital, and environmental applications. Anjela was previously a Design Director at Base Design in New York City. She also is the founder and creative director behind Fermé and regularly teaches the history of art and design on social media.
James Nahhas is a multidisciplinary creative and partner at CRUEL Inc., a Toronto-based independent marketing agency offering Branding, Content, andExperience Design services. As Principal Designer he guides philosophy and creative for CRUEL, He has worked as a creative director, art director, photographer, technical, and graphic designer. Clients James has served in his role include Canada Dry, Schweppes, Sports Illustrated, Sapporo, Roots, Mr.Saturday, Spencer Badu, and Empire Distribution. In 2013, James completed his degree in Fine Art History and Philosophy(University of Toronto). His background and experience freelancing led to varying interests he describes as “a cocktail of design, technology, and culture, in varying proportions”. With a keen interest in spaces, built environment, and themes from 20th-century modern art and design movements. In 2017, James returned to CRUEL partnering with longtime friends and collaborators Karl Bechmann and Schuyler Mota. He helps manage interdisciplinary projects to see creative ideas achieved across mediums. In his executive role he focuses on seminars and brand positioning for CRUEL within the agency marketplace.