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Toronto-based creative lead and illustrator with 10+ years of experience helping DTC brands and eCommerce companies tell bold, human-centred stories through visual systems, campaigns, and illustrations that scale across digital and physical platforms. Leads teams and builds repeatable design systems for clarity, consistency, and impact. Works across editorial, CRM, and city/program storytelling—translating complex information into engaging visuals through infographics, spot illustrations, animated hero artworks, and lifecycle campaign assets. Bilingual in English and Spanish and skilled in guiding design production with modern workflows.…Toronto-based creative lead and illustrator with 10+ years of experience helping DTC brands and eCommerce companies tell bold, human-centred stories through visual systems, campaigns, and illustrations that scale across digital and physical platforms. Leads teams and builds repeatable design systems for clarity, consistency, and impact. Works across editorial, CRM, and city/program storytelling—translating complex information into engaging visuals through infographics, spot illustrations, animated hero artworks, and lifecycle campaign assets. Bilingual in English and Spanish and skilled in guiding design production with modern workflows.

Doug Rodas

Illustrator, Graphic Designer, Creative Director, +4

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Toronto-based creative lead and illustrator with 10+ years of experience helping DTC brands and eCommerce companies tell bold, human-centred stories through visual systems, campaigns, and illustrations that scale across digital and physical platforms. Leads teams and builds repeatable design systems for clarity, consistency, and impact. Works across editorial, CRM, and city/program storytelling—translating complex information into engaging visuals through infographics, spot illustrations, animated hero artworks, and lifecycle campaign assets. Bilingual in English and Spanish and skilled in guiding design production with modern workflows.…Toronto-based creative lead and illustrator with 10+ years of experience helping DTC brands and eCommerce companies tell bold, human-centred stories through visual systems, campaigns, and illustrations that scale across digital and physical platforms. Leads teams and builds repeatable design systems for clarity, consistency, and impact. Works across editorial, CRM, and city/program storytelling—translating complex information into engaging visuals through infographics, spot illustrations, animated hero artworks, and lifecycle campaign assets. Bilingual in English and Spanish and skilled in guiding design production with modern workflows.

Available to hire

Toronto-based creative lead and illustrator with 10+ years of experience helping DTC brands and eCommerce companies tell bold, human-centred stories through visual systems, campaigns, and illustrations that scale across digital and physical platforms. Leads teams and builds repeatable design systems for clarity, consistency, and impact.

Works across editorial, CRM, and city/program storytelling—translating complex information into engaging visuals through infographics, spot illustrations, animated hero artworks, and lifecycle campaign assets. Bilingual in English and Spanish and skilled in guiding design production with modern workflows.

Skills

Illustration

Editorial Illustration

Infographic

Brand Identity

Branding

Experience Level

Illustration

Expert

Editorial Illustration

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Spanish; Castilian

Fluent

Work Experience

Illustrator & Animator at City of Toronto

January 1, 2026 - February 1, 2026

Designed infographics for the Youth Development Unit’s 2025 annual report, turning detailed data into compelling visuals. Created visuals clarifying the Youth Employment Continuum to support understanding and advocacy for citywide youth programs.

Editorial Illustrator & Animator at The Globe and Mail

November 1, 2025 - December 1, 2025

Produced animated hero artworks and spot illustrations for “Big Guide to Canadian Credit Cards,” translating nuanced financial concepts into clear, engaging visuals for readers across print and digital. Developed a consistent visual system to organize and guide readers through diverse credit card features.

Senior Digital Design Lead, Retention at IL MAKIAGE

November 1, 2025 - November 1, 2025

Built and led a global design team across 3D, motion, and lettering disciplines; expanded and maintained the brand’s design system across digital campaigns and retail channels; directed creative strategy for campaigns that increased engagement and long-term customer value; implemented AI-powered workflows using cutting-edge tools such as Runway, Weavy, Klip, Luma and Adobe’s built-in AI tools to accelerate production and idea iteration; developed market-specific assets for launches in Europe, Australia, and Japan; fostered a culture of experimentation and innovation, integrating AI and advanced tools into everyday design.

Editorial Illustrator at The Walrus

August 1, 2023 - August 1, 2023

Illustrated “Is Homework Good for Kids?” capturing the tension between academic expectations and childhood freedom. Transformed complex ideas into approachable, engaging visuals that enhanced reader understanding and interest.

Illustrator & Designer at City of Toronto

June 1, 2023 - July 1, 2023

Designed a city map and spot illustrations for the Cultural Hotspot program (Economic Development & Culture Division), celebrating the Little Jamaica neighbourhood and Toronto’s cultural diversity across banners, web, and marketing assets. Built a cohesive visual system encouraging community exploration and supporting the division’s cultural initiatives.

Senior Digital Design Lead at IL MAKIAGE NY

August 1, 2020 - November 1, 2025

Directed and executed creative strategy for CRM campaigns, designing lifecycle assets across email and retention touchpoints that increased customer engagement, improved retention, and supported global campaign launches across multiple markets. Managed and scaled a global design team, implementing AI-powered workflows and evolving the digital design system to streamline production while maintaining brand consistency across web, mobile, and email channels.

Lead Brand Designer, Regional Markets at Hugo (ESA)

August 1, 2020 - August 1, 2020

Led company-wide rebrand and established scalable design system for regional markets; developed visual identities for multiple service verticals, ensuring cohesion and clarity; designed regional campaigns and marketing assets to support growth initiatives; created visual identities for interregional business units, ensuring brand architecture; mentored regional design teams, improving quality and cross-market alignment; built design guidelines and workflows that streamlined production across digital and print.

Lead Brand Designer at hugo Technologies

February 1, 2020 - August 1, 2020

Led a company-wide rebrand and developed a scalable design system, unifying visual identity across new verticals and services. Directed the design of marketing campaigns and assets across fintech, ride-hailing, and on-demand delivery services, supporting growth initiatives and DTC adoption while driving engagement and scaling brand consistency across regional markets.

Brand & Visual Designer at The Lab Studio (ESA)

February 1, 2020 - February 1, 2020

Redesigned the studio’s visual identity and built a flexible, scalable design system; led identity projects for clients across local and international markets; applied Design Thinking and Human-Centered Design principles to strategy and creative decisions; developed advertising campaigns and visual communication materials for diverse clients; curated the studio’s communication channels to ensure cohesive storytelling; designed packaging, promotional assets, and environmental graphics for commercial projects.

Brand & Visual Designer at The Lab Studio

June 1, 2017 - February 1, 2020

Redesigned the studio’s visual identity and built flexible, scalable design systems, elevating client projects across food, lifestyle, hospitality, and retail while ensuring brand consistency across digital, print, and promotional touchpoints. Directed campaigns, advertising, packaging, and wayfinding design for local and international clients, applying human-centred design principles to create cohesive, engaging storytelling across digital and physical brand experiences.

Freelance Creative Director & Illustrator at Doug Rodas Studio

April 1, 2015 - November 27, 2025

Conceptualized and executed original illustration systems, typographic assets, and brand visuals for clients across industries; designed scalable brand identity frameworks and visual libraries to ensure cohesion across campaigns and channels; collaborated with clients to translate brand strategy into distinctive, high-impact creative execution; pioneered experimental digital storytelling and visual techniques to elevate client engagement; delivered projects across digital, print, and physical merchandise while managing timelines and budgets; provided creative guidance and mentorship to junior collaborators and external partners on select projects. Clients included Wacom, The Walrus, Coca-Cola, City of Toronto, Workman, Demetres, Twilio, and others.