This week I turned 50. The day after my birthday, I took a stroll down memory lane. I revisited projects that I had forgotten and refreshed my memory with the stories behind each. I tweeted 50 stand out projects one at a time and then collected them into this post.
I’ve been running a design business since 1993, and producing art even longer than that. I may not be “the best there ever was”, but I’m certainly not a dime a dozen. I just needed a reminder. Ironically, the person to remind me was myself.
A special thank you to all of the people who worked on these projects with me. Without their contributions, conflict and confidence, none of them would exist. As far as the next 50, not all of you are coming along for the ride. I thank you for getting me here just the same. Fifty years. Wow.
Fifty portfolio pulls to split a hundred in half
:
1 – #50years50designs – For over 5 and a half years, I worked as #AssociateCreativeDirector on an international beer brand. Ambitious budgets. Incredible people. The golden age of #BeerAdvertising. The likes of which will never to be seen again. https://t.co/ugaLF3bs4d
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
2 – #50years50designs – I collaborated with Bob Marley's Granddaughter on a #documentary poster and #MuseumExhibit. I was educated about #AncientAfricanHistory and the roots of #RasTafari. Read my speech at the bottom of this post: https://t.co/sKQJVtJJcv
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
3 – #50years50designs – In the first round of presentation of this cover, Germany responded back with one word: "Perfect". You know what it takes to get a Perfect from BMW on the first take? https://t.co/0eCRYsbHZk
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
4 – #50years50designs – Inside of every case of Molson Canadian, I designed a free t-shirt giveaway. At the time, this promo series broke all sales records. When @NFTnats and I went to #Cuba, we met a guy who rocked his with #CanadianPride. ?? https://t.co/My0qZEspGy
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
5 – #50years50designs – 20 years ago, I worked for an eccentric #design genius. Together, we published a 200 pg #artbook based on the #MooseInTheCity outdoor #ArtExhibition across Toronto. I'm a documenter of #CanadianArt. Always have been. ?? https://t.co/DolKPJUpPC
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
6 – #50years50designs – The last thing I would ever give a child is Mountain Dew. But when this contest came up, my kids wanted to enter (regardless of being in the demographic). Yeah, we lost. But we also Won. https://t.co/u1kjZMKJPW – I demand a recount.
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
7 – #50years50designs – Toronto is geographically positioned just above, New York, Detroit and Chicago. In the late 80's, we (??) were there for the beginnings of #HouseMusic. We kept those days alive long after they ended with #Reminisce (1999-2003) https://t.co/pP58gRfRGR
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
8 – #50years50designs – I met a client for the first time on a Monday. By Friday, he had 40 skus moving into production over the weekend. Fast? I bend the laws of time and space. https://t.co/cX4yT0pOUy #LieutenantCommanderData with #design instincts.
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
9 – #50years50designs – Being tall (and handsome) is a curse and a blessing. Together with my structural designer, we created 3 pedestals for my personal design station. #Ergonomics is a higher form of art. https://t.co/YFn704wl9J #TallPeopleUnite
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
10 – #50years50designs – When my niece was applying to the school of her dreams to run track in the US, Uncle Adam stepped up with this reel targeted to coaches. She got in – and continues to shatter records with her eyes on the Olympics. https://t.co/RiwP5Ygd18 Ready. Set. Blam!
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
11 – #50years50designs – After the vacation is over (but before tan fades), I create a video and I write a post. We leverage that trip towards our next one with a suite upgrade. In Trinidad, we refer to this as the Caribbean #JediMindTrick. ??https://t.co/3nfX2mA5pD
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
12 – #50years50designs – With some help from my structural designer, I designed a large scale set of facial hair removal devices. Complete with removable caps and gold foil. https://t.co/PnRelpvElj
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
13 – #50years50designs – Back in 2009, I designed a national Halloween beer campaign on my own. Including ghostly animated projections comprised of underwater photography and smoke video. Boo. https://t.co/x3Cn4nVMm9
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
14 – #50years50designs – When my best friend released his first single, I helped him with his press photography and branding. Why? #Loyalty. That's why. https://t.co/ttotFDsMHQ
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
15 – #50years50designs – I like to #paint. I make whatever I want, whenever I feel like it. https://t.co/xxFztGLWVV
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
16 – #50years50designs – After one project, a client put me on a plane and flew me in to meet me in person. Before I left, I took a shot of his building and made a piece of art for (and of) his office. #Respect, like money, earns interest over time. https://t.co/dpt6yI4g3q
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
17 – #50years50designs – Our 2 kids were born at our local hospital. For their Holiday #DirectMail Fundraiser, I donated my time to create and produce a series of postcards that folded into small holiday ornaments. Record-breaking donations. Local impact. https://t.co/sceEvTKT1s
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
18 – #50years50designs – I approached the branding for this family owned company like a research project. #NordicHistory is a fascinating subject. #SacredGeometry is my jam. https://t.co/8m2zadeep5
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
19 – #50years50designs – (Long before Covid) I wrote and storyboarded a #TVspot for LL cool J and his cologne brand Gendarme. You know what they say: #LadiesLoveCoolJames https://t.co/xm1afkzRsQ #BEaG
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
20 – #50years50designs – For a 50th birthday, I once made this guy a motorized 3D birthday card. Structural design teamwork. 24 hour turn around. https://t.co/wOow4Pe75E
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
21 – #50years50designs – Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I once built a #VectorArt #SearchEngine from scratch. I don't just spread the frosting. I bake the cake. https://t.co/tBNt3uD3n6
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
22 – #50years50designs – Fat Maki in Toronto was a legendary night of sushi and ultra-rare music at the lava Lounge on College St. An all-star line up of Asian DJs. I made postcards and chopstick holders that have become collectors items. https://t.co/87vK5FhLGf
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
23 – #50years50designs – Back in 2013 I was commissioned to make the official Ottawa Duathlon Canada jerseys. My brother lives in the Capitol ??. He "thinks" that he saw one fly past him at 100km/hr. *No photo. https://t.co/SUgwJRUEdB
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
24 – #50years50designs – What does the inside of my brain look like on any given day? Behold: https://t.co/WQUGapUdkU #SiteMap #design. #Workflow matters.
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
25 – #50years50designs – I worked as #AssociateCreativeDirector on this #TelevisionSpot that we filmed in Toronto (2004). I storyboarded all of the sequences. What time is it? #ItsMillerTime. https://t.co/PMlSpVyGfi I left my heart in #Milwaukee.
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
26 – #50years50designs – I've been making #DigitalArt since 1993. Long before #NFTs and long before digital art was really recognized as an art form or even profitable. Didn't prevent me from creating it – Back then or even now. https://t.co/ctgMMBlqny
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
27 – #50years50designs – Before I married @NFTnats, she posed for this #painting. After almost 19 years of marriage, 2 kids and a mortgage later – this (4' x 6') painting still hangs on our wall watching over us all. https://t.co/c6eyw3SIqj
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
28 – #50years50designs – If you want to really know an artist, look to their #sketchbooks. That's where their soul resides. https://t.co/Q69PrhJ6nJ
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
29 – #50years50designs – My family established the very first Trini Open in 1978. I don't play myself. But I did contribute the emblem. Apparently, the only 2 differences between a Canadian and #Trinidadian golfer is patience and accuracy. https://t.co/00E4AC8arq FORE! ????
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
30 – #50years50designs – When designing communication material for one of the greatest car brands in the world, even the parking #diagrams need to be thoughtful and well-typeset. https://t.co/gDxLCv5Frx There is no half way to the top.
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
31 – #50years50designs – Sometimes when a client is briefing me on a branding project, I can immediately visualize what the #logo will look like. 900 steps later, someone hands you a cocktail napkin with your first thought staring right back at you. Magic. https://t.co/VZQav40iKi
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
32 – #50years50designs – In direct competition with a major ad agency and their army of designers, my concept won. This #vector based #AdCampaign is the beginning of the Vectorvault brand (2004) and the very reason that you are reading this right now. https://t.co/4dM0HLh7KG
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
33 – #50years50designs – My brother in law pioneered the concept of cooling caps for athletes. After he showed me his sketch, we took some shots and whipped together this image that eventually became a trade magazine ad. https://t.co/5FdAN1AGpu
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
34 – #50years50designs – King Sunshine was a very well known #RareGroove band here in Toronto. I remember feeling very flattered that they asked me to design their CD. Still got mine in the plastic. https://t.co/taFidHCurO #LocalMusicMatters
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
35 – #50years50designs – Good products don't just appear on shelves. Good salespeople need to get them there. Over the years, I have made thousands of #sellsheets for a galaxy of products, to help others close the deal. https://t.co/XQzt1pnoqh
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
36 – #50years50designs – What's the most expensive set of items I've ever created a container for? Does $20 Million in rare gems count? https://t.co/XiHEwqeukp
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
37 – #50years50designs – Sometimes, you see more than a brand. You see an opportunity to help others "level up". That gesture transcends mere branding to something else entirely. https://t.co/i61YjCAs5Z
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
38 – #50years50designs – When you present a concept it is important to feel the idea in the visuals and the language. But also in the way that the paper feels between your fingers. https://t.co/Egf6QKUCtI
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
39 – #50years50designs – For years, my #DigitalArt was misclassified as graphic design and illustration. I corrected that perception with an #ArtShow entitled Branded™ at Supermarket in TO. Each were eventually minted into #NFTs almost 18 years later. https://t.co/R6wqUJ1Jyy #OG
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
40 – #50years50designs – Bringing wind and #solarpower to Manitoulin Island required thoughtful consideration of the people it aimed to benefit. I care about #FirstNations people and I'm willing to prove it. https://t.co/Eg1YKqaPYt
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
41 – #50years50designs – The internet didn't shape my #design sensibilities. #ComicBooks did. You can't imagine how difficult this was to keep to myself. The ability to keep a secret is my superpower. https://t.co/IED7Ob82sf
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
42 – #50years50designs – What's the largest #Photoshop file that I've ever built? You're looking at it. This wall mural made smoke seep out of my computer (and my ears). https://t.co/LiyW1lLGt7
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
42 – #50years50designs – #Packaging is my thing. I love containers. Aesthetically, I like to keep it clean like a washing machine. *(Hey that rhymes) https://t.co/3lLUfolcN4
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
43 – #50years50designs – One thing that I learned about #designing for events is that people tend to throw event flyers away. Not mine though. Mine are collectors items. https://t.co/zmY5m8DN56 (2018)
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
44 – #50years50designs – My Sister works at the #foodbank in the town where we both grew up. Who cares about the families that live there? We do. We teamed up together to make this for their boardroom. https://t.co/Etz6FRWMdd #SiblingPower Activate!
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
45 – #50years50designs – Just how big is too big? Beats me. I keep pushing the boundaries until someone tells me to stop. And even then, I rarely listen. https://t.co/5wgvIDqWYa
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
46 – #50years50designs – About 10 years ago, I was tasked with creating the decor for a children's party. All created in #vectorart using vectors from my very own Vectorvault Library. Just look at this set up. https://t.co/V2c8oJ9CTo #SweetDesign
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
47 – #50years50designs – #Drawing with #permanentmarker requires confidence. You make quick choices and you stand behind them. Thats how I approach my work. That's how I make my art. Definitively. Without apology. https://t.co/LqoEUhey6E
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
48 – #50years50designs – This project required 6 months of work. I made it because I'm a fan. Of the music and "the Man". https://t.co/zDIK3X3uP6
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
49 – #50years50designs – Tick Tock, ya don't stop. Hey look, it's a 20 ft mechanized wrist watch. My structural designer and I can make anything out of paper. Literally anything. https://t.co/wmyalz9TjP
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
50 – #50years50designs – and finally, my greatest creations – my kids. They fill me with pride. @NFTnats and I raised them together with love. The legacy we are building is for them and them alone. https://t.co/yLSDo33bbY
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
How was my birthday?
Pretty great.
For my 50th, I started the day off with an RMT Massage. Romantic lunch with my chick. Topped off with an excellent steak dinner at @TheKeg surrounded by my beautiful family. The next 50? Not gonna lie, not all of you are coming along for the ride. https://t.co/DVgZ7TXB7f
— VECTORVAULT (@vectorvault) April 13, 2022
Did I miss anything?
Let me know some of your favourites in the comment section below. Who knows, you may even convince me to give one of these above “the bump” and substitute yours in. Wadda you got?
More lists of 50 of my favourite things
Want some more? Wanna see what makes me “Tick”?:
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