Paul Ainsworth Illustration & Design
Toronto, Ontario

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Art Direction, Design & IllustrationIllustration PortfolioNetwork:  

Art Direction & Design



Royal Bank of Canada | Cineplex Digital Media

RBC



Agency: Cineplex Digital Media - Toronto

  • Compilation of video and digital features created at Cineplex Digital Media

  • Role: Senior Art Director

  • Art direction and design across multiple projects

  • Collaborated with Creative Director, Art Director, animators, designers, developers, and key stakeholders

  • Work featured in RBC branches nationwide, on social, and internal platforms

  • Interactive experiences designed to educate customers and elevate the in-branch banking experience





Canadian Tire



Agency: Taxi Canada - Toronto

  • Invited to collaborate with TAXI on multiple Canadian Tire projects requiring design, illustration, and digital expertise

  • Created a comprehensive style book for the “Tested for Life in Canada” campaign that is still in use more than a decade later

  • Art directed, designed, and illustrated branding systems for all Canadian Tire stores nationwide

  • Developed iconography, branding guidelines, and logos to support in-store campaigns, packaging, and social media

  • Worked closely with clients, creative directors, and production designers to oversee rollout and ensure consistency across touchpoints

  • Designed an experiential maple leaf sculpture made from large hockey sticks, displayed at Canadian Tire’s South Edmonton location and hoisted as a centerpiece activation

  • Contributed to national branding activations that strengthened Canadian Tire’s identity and consumer trust

Royal Canadian Mint – Canada 150 Collector’s Edition

  • Designed the Canada 150 commemorative 10-cent coin and collector’s edition bill, distributed to more than 2 million Canadians

  • Collaborated with the Royal Canadian Mint to create an iconic design celebrating Canada’s history and identity

  • Delivered a piece of collectible design work that reached a national audience and became part of Canada’s 150th birthday celebration




Air Miles



Air Miles – Royal Winter Fair Activation


  • Collaborated on the Air Miles footprint activation at the world-renowned Royal Winter Fair

  • Helped sell the creative vision of the custom-built giant toque (beanie) centerpiece to the client through visuals and design support

  • Designed the interior creative, product displays, and surrounding signage, transforming the space into an immersive brand environment

  • Shaped the look and style of brand ambassadors, ensuring their presence aligned with the activation’s overall design and storytelling

  • Showcased a range of Air Miles reward products, giving collectors a tangible and interactive glimpse of what their points could achieve

  • Created a cohesive design system that excited and inspired current collectors while drawing in new audiences

  • Contributed to an activation that blended experiential design, storytelling, and brand engagement in a memorable way










Sobeys



Agency: Icon Digital Productions

National In-Store Digital Displays

  • Led creative direction for Sobeys and Safeway’s nationwide in-store digital displays

  • Presented weekly pitches and managed client feedback to align with brand and campaign goals

  • Collaborated with animators and art directors to define aesthetics, layouts, and motion concepts

  • Oversaw creative from evergreen department assets to seasonal promotions and national announcements

  • Ensured consistency and quality on every activation before client approval and rollout

  • Helped transform the in-store experience into a dynamic, engaging environment seen across Canada



TouchBistro



Senior Designer Staff

  • Led a wide range of creative projects for a Toronto-based restaurant POS software company serving clients across North America

  • Designed annual reports and sales collateral for key U.S. clients, supporting growth and high-level customer engagement

  • Developed how-to guides and onboarding materials tailored for new restaurant owners, strengthening brand trust and usability

  • Created the brand experience and visual identity for a gala event at the Annex Food Hall, including environmental and event branding

  • Designed and art directed TouchBistro’s Reservations Launch Event, an evening that brought together restaurant owners, media, and industry leaders

    • Developed event branding, signage, and on-site visuals to elevate the guest experience

    • Oversaw creative direction for programming, ensuring the event highlighted new product features while celebrating food culture

    • Collaborated with production teams and stakeholders to execute a seamless, high-impact experience that reinforced TouchBistro’s leadership in restaurant technology

  • Art directed multiple professional photoshoots, overseeing talent, styling, and creative direction to align with brand storytelling

  • Ensured all creative outputs reinforced brand standards, consistency, and strategic objectives across print, digital, and experiential platforms





  • Nike
    Crown League



    Nike Crown League – Environment Design (via McCann Worldgroup, Toronto)



    • Engaged by McCann Worldgroup to refresh and update the Nike Crown League footprint for the 2018 summer season

    • Rolled out new creative executions inspired by Nike’s refreshed Just Do It campaign, ensuring consistency with global brand direction

    • Designed a full environment takeover, applying campaign visuals across signage, courtside graphics, and event materials

    • Contributed to Nike’s official brand guidelines, with my work showcased as a strong example of integrated environment design

    • Collaborated with agency teams and production partners to ensure a cohesive rollout across digital, print, and experiential touchpoints

    • Delivered a refreshed event identity that reinforced Nike’s leadership in basketball culture and deepened fan engagement





    Timmins
    Rock
    (NOJHL)



    Hockey Team Crest & Branding Rollout


    • Originally played for the team in 1996, later invited by a former teammate and Director of Operations to design the new team crest

    • Secured approval from the Board of Directors and led the rollout of the rebrand across uniforms, alternate jersey designs, merchandise, bus wrap, center ice logo, and collectible hockey cards

    • Oversaw the creative application of the crest to ensure consistency across all brand touchpoints, from on-ice visuals to fan merchandise

    • The project’s success generated wider recognition, leading to additional requests from other teams for rebrands and custom crests

    • Recently engaged to redesign the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) branding, set to debut for the 2025/2026 season

    • Blended personal connection, design expertise, and brand strategy to create identities that resonate with players, fans, and the broader hockey community





    Boots & Hearts



    Boots & Hearts Country Music Festival (via Puncture Design)

    • Collaborated with Puncture Design from 2012–2015 to bring the festival brand to life through cohesive design systems and standout creative projects

    • Produced program layouts, signage, and wayfinding systems to guide tens of thousands of attendees seamlessly across the grounds

    • Developed bold outdoor advertising that captured attention and built anticipation leading up to the festival

    • Designed merchandise collections that extended the brand into wearable experiences for fans

    • Created branding for event activations including the Boots & Hearts Bass Tournament, Bull Riding activation, and Emerging Artist platform

    • Delivered festival-branded materials that reinforced a memorable, consistent identity across physical and digital touchpoints

    • Contributed to the growth and cultural impact of one of Canada’s largest country music festivals through integrated design and storytelling







    Illustration





    Poster Art



    PAIDesign -  Commissions and Gallery Art

    • Passionate about film and graphic design, I began creating unique movie posters in 2012.

    •  Collaborated with talented artists and joined the renowned Poster Posse collective.

    • Produced official posters for Marvel Studios, Disney Studios, Sony Pictures, and Mutant 101 and Waxbones’ “Permission was Granted” project.

    • Showcased work in gallery exhibitions across New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.

    •  Featured in the 2016 documentary 24x36: A Movie About Movie Posters, highlighting my impact in the film art community.






    Porter Airlines



    Freelance Contract


    • Developed same-day sales promotion campaigns for Porter Airlines to maintain competitiveness, complementing pre-planned strategies.

    • Adapted personal design style to align with Porter’s established branding, creating fresh and engaging visuals.

    • Designed an illustration style and template system to enhance creative consistency and impact.

    • Delivered campaigns that excited internal teams and earned positive feedback from stakeholders and the public.