Steven Tiao
Freelance Art Director (ACD)
& Designer
[email protected]
Hi, I'm Steven.
I'm a Toronto-based freelance Associate Creative Director (AD) with a design background and over 14 years of experience navigating both boutique and large-scale agencies.
My approach combines design and art direction to build conceptual campaigns that solve real-world problems for brands.
Throughout my career, I’ve partnered with a diverse range of clients, including automotive giants (Buick, Nissan, GMC), telecom leaders (Rogers, Bell, Telus), financial institutions (TD Bank, CIBC), and major retail names like IKEA, Canada Post, and the LCBO to name a few. Along the way, my work has been recognized at international award shows like Cannes Lions, The One Show, and the ADCC.
I'm currently available for contract opportunities on both the agency and client side.
Work Experience
2026—Present: FREELANCE
Accounts: Agency & Client-side
2024—2025: Publicis Canada
Accounts: Rogers
2021—2024: King Ursa (Sr. Art Director—Associate Creative Director)
Accounts: The Beer Store, Timberland, Thomas Breads, NEI investments, Zabiha Halal, Maple Lodge Farms, Conference Board of Canada
2018—2021: The & Partnership (Sr. Art Director)
Accounts: Canada Post, Telus, Manulife, Sapporo, Sleeman
2016—2018: Leo Burnett, Toronto (Art Director / Designer)
Accounts: Bell Canada, Crime Stoppers, General Motors (Buick & GM), Kraft, Northwestel, Paderno, P&G, Smuckers, TD
2015—2016: Juniper Park TBWA, Toronto (Art Director / Designer)
Accounts: Apple, Nissan, Miller Lite, CIBC, Virgin Mobilet
2012—2015: Leo Burnett, Toronto (Art Director / Designer)
Accounts: Bell Canada, Kelloggs, Earls, Ikea, LCBO, TD, P&G, Yellow Pages
Talks
2014 – Present—Various classroom talks at George Brown, Humber and Centennial College
2017—Portfolio Review Night: Reviewer
2016—George Brown College: Year End Show Judge
2015—George Brown College: Year End Show Judge
2014—George Brown College: Speaker/Panelist, Working in Advertising
2014—5th Annual Creative Expo Talk by Applied Arts: Speaker/Panelist
Education
2016—2016—Bitmakers: Bootcamp: UX 101 (Wireframing: Balsamiq, Sketch, InVision)
2015—2015—HackerYou: Intro & Advance Web Development (HTML5 + CSS3)
2010—2012—School of Design: Graphic Design
Awards
2026: Publicis, Toronto
Cannes Lions, Sustainable Development Goals — Bronze
One Show, Impact / Data for Good — Merit
One Show, Impact / Technology for Good — Merit
ADC Awards, Artificial Intelligence —Gold
Applied Arts, Cause-Related Advertising - Single
Echo Awards, Best In Data Award Winner
Echo Awards, Best CSR Campaign (Corporate Social Responsibility) — Gold
Echo Awards, Best Use of Predictive AI/ML — Gold
Echo Awards, Technology & Telecommunications — Gold
Echo Awards, Best Data-Inspired Creative — Silver
2025: Publicis, Toronto
Marketing Awards, Copywriting — Silver
Epica Awards, Copywriting & Storytelling — Bronze
The One Show, Shortlist x 2
ADC, Shortlist x4
New York Film Festival, Shortlist
2024: King Ursa, Toronto
Marketing Awards, Sustainability — Silver
Online Video Single, Long-Form — Bronze
Strategy Awards, Sustainability — Bronze
ADCC—Best Art Direction, Film—Bronze
ADCC—Film, Online Single, Over 45s—Shortlist
Applied Arts, Brand Activation Campaign
2023: King Ursa, Toronto
Marketing Awards, Integrated Campaign — Silver
Marketing Awards, Digital — Silver
Marketing Awards, Direct — Silver
Marketing Awards, Best Use of Social Media — Silver
2021: The&Partnership, Toronto
Canadian Marketing Awards—Gold
Canadian Marketing Awards—Bronze
2019: The&Partnership, Toronto
National Advertising Challenge—Digital Category (Samsung)—Silver
2018: Leo Burnett, Toronto
National Advertising Challenge—Digital Category (Garnier Fructis)—Bronze
2017: Leo Burnett, Toronto
National Advertising Challenge—Campaign (McDonald's)—Silver
National Advertising Challenge—Not For Profit (Children's Wish)—Silver
Applied Arts—Experiential/Event:Series
Applied Arts—Pro Bono: Series
Media Innovation Awards—Best in Out-of-Home/Ambient/Place-Based Media – Budget Under $100,000—Gold
PROMO! Awards—Best Experiential Campaign—Bronze
2016: JP/TBWA, Toronto
Applied Arts—Premium/Gift Items/Promotional Apparel:Single
Applied Arts
2015: Leo Burnett, Toronto
Cannes Lions—Promotional Item Design—Bronze
Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
YGA—Design—Finalist
Young Guns Award
Applied Arts—Young Blood Design:Single
Applied Arts
Applied Arts—Craft Printing:Single
Applied Arts
2014: Leo Burnett, Toronto
Cannes Young Lions—Cyber Category—Gold
The Globe and Mail
Packaged Goods—Gold
Cassies
Canadian Success on The Global Stage—Gold
Cassies
2013: Leo Burnett, Toronto
Cannes Lions Promotional Item Design—Bronze
Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity
ADCC—Graphic Design Self-Promotion—Gold
The Advertising & Design Club of Canada
ADCC—Packaging Design—Silver
The Advertising & Design Club of Canada
ADCC—Illustration—Merit
The Advertising & Design Club of Canada
One Show Interactive Merit Award
One Show
Kinsale Shark Awards—Design Branding—Bronze
Kinsale Shark Awards
Communication Arts—Self Promotion
Communication Arts
2012: School of Design
ADCC—National Student Competition—Gold
The Advertising & Design Club of Canada
Applied Arts—Online Animation:Single
Applied Arts
Applied Arts—Self-Promotion Illustration:Series
Applied Arts
Critical Mass Award for Specialty—Web Design/New Media
RGD Ontario / Critical Mass
GBC Design Thesis Award—Best in Show, Second
George Brown College