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EDUCATION

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF ART, A.O.C.A

Graduate of the Environmental Design Program (1993)

CLAUDE WATSON SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS, O.S.S.G.D

Graduate of the Visual Arts Program (1989)

EXPERIENCE

Current employment

HOLLAND BLOORVIEW KIDS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL – Toronto, April 2008 to present.

Creative Director/senior graphic designer:  I am the sole designer within the Hospital. Working within the public relations department I am responsible for:

1. Design and production of all print communications.
   

1. Art direction of photo and video shoots. Filming and editing interviews.
   

1. General office admin: quoting, billing internal departments and external clients, working with printers and suppliers, sourcing and customer relations.
   

1. I am called upon to participate in company-wide brainstorm meetings involving many departmental endeavors.
   

1. I set up and help maintain the Twitter, Blogger, Hootsuite and Issuu.com accounts and continue to build the Holland Bloorview audience.
   

1. I set up and maintain e-newsletters for the hospital and Foundation reaching thousands of Holland Bloorview's stakeholders and families.
   

1. I have designed micro-sites for Holland Bloorview's Strategic Plan, Intranet and filmpossible contest.
   

1. I designed and built the 2009-2010 Annual report website which included extensive video filming and editing.
   

1. I designed and built the Bloom Magazine website and Blog.
   

1. In 2009-2010 I played a significant role in the extensive rebranding of Bloorview Kids Rehab to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. This massive undertaking included: stationery for satellite clinics and the main building, signage, web graphics, brochure and collateral redesign and more.
   

Other accomplishments include:

2010 - Received an award from the HCPRA for Excellence on Health Care Communications for BLOOM magazine

2010 - Won bronze award for Health and Beauty Magazine of the Year in the Digital Magazine Awards (BLOOM magazine).

2010 - 2 campaigns I played a significant role in were selected as Leading Practices by Accreditation Canada.

2010 - Graduated from the Achieve Leadership Program.

2011 - received 2 more awards from the HCPRA for Excellence on Health Care Communications

2011 - received and "Exceptional Year" award for achievements in 2010.

Self-employment

PURVES & CO. – Toronto, December 2010 to present

President/Creative Director for my own freelance design business.

Clients include: Ontario Association of Children’s Rehab Services, Parkinson Society, St. John’s Rehab Hospital, CanadaHelps.

FUZZY SWEATER CREATIVE INC. – Toronto, August 1999 to 2009

President/Creative Director for my own successful design business.

Clients include: Ontario Health Association, De Beers Canada Inc., Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Cancer Care Ontario, Baycrest Hospital, National Cancer Institute of Canada, Community Care East York, Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People, Soundstreams Canada, Toronto Dance Theatre, Yonge Dundas Square, Wines of South Africa, AMREF etc.

YOURMOMMA.CA – Toronto, January 2007 to 2009 ~ www.yourmomma.ca

Owner and operator of online business selling the creative wares of Moms. Developed e-commerce business from concept to established online store. Responsible for design and maintenance of website, marketing and promotion, product sourcing, displaying and selling at trade shows and more.

Work experience

FIELD DAY INC. – Toronto, November 1998 to August 1999.

Art Director/Designer. Responsible for developing creative and occasional copywriting for print ads, brochures, direct mail, and corporate identities. Clients included: Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (Raptors), Queen’s Quay, Pharmaceutical Sciences Group and others.

THE SEPPI GROUP – Toronto, August 1998 to November 1998 (contract).

Art Director. Responsible for developing creative for clients such as: H&R Developments, Cadillac Fairview and other companies (primarily in the real estate and development industry). Type of work included: ads, brochures, logos, site hoarding, exterior and

interior signage.

ECHO ADVERTISING & MARKETING – Toronto, March 1997 to August 1998.

Art Director. Responsible for developing creative involving print ads, brochures, posters, billboards, direct mail, packaging etc. for clients such as: American Express, Alliance, Labatts, Corby’s Distilleries, Starbucks, Delta Hotels, Toronto International Film Festival and more.

VIVA DOLAN COMMUNICATION & DESIGN – Toronto, February 1995 to March 1997.

Studio Administrator. Responsible for co-ordination of photography, competition entries, over-all office administration and organization, archiving of jobs, daily correspondence with suppliers and more.

LABATT BREWERIES OF CANADA – Toronto, Nov. 1993 to February 1995.

Office services. I floated between departments offering general assistance as needed ie: reception, mail-room work, marketing assistance, boardroom set up, filing and other clerical duties. (Location Corporate Office BCE Place).

BOZELL PALMER BONNER – Carlsberg Light World Tour – Toronto, Summer 1995.

As event marketing rep, I built brand awareness and sales, targeting community events such as the Beaches Jazz Festival and the Toronto Film Festival. Travelling as a team of five, we toured the city promoting Carlsberg Light at many local bars and events.

AWARDS + ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

SUPON DESIGN GROUP INTERNATIONAL LOGOS + TRADEMARKS PUBLICATION 1998

UNISOURCE LITHO AWARDS 1997 – Shorts Film Festival poster.

REVAMP 1997 – First place, corporate wearable art competition.

RECYCLING COUNCIL FASHION DESIGN COMPETITION – First place.

COMPETITIONS + SHOWS

2002    FASHION CARES – Toronto. Contributing fashion designer.

2001    FASHION CARES – Toronto. Contributing fashion designer.

2000    FASHION CARES – Toronto. Contributing fashion designer.

1999    FASHION CARES – Toronto. Contributing fashion designer.

1998    RECYCLING COUNCIL OF ONTARIO – “Revamp” fashion show.

1998    FASHION CARES – Toronto. Contributing fashion designer.

1997    RECYCLING COUNCIL OF ONTARIO – “Revamp” fashion show- First place

1997    A SPACE GALLERY – Contributing fashion designer for benefit show.

1997    STREETSTYLE 97 – “Revamp” fashion show – Featured designer.

1997    FASHION CARES – Toronto. Contributing fashion designer.

1996    RECYCLING COUNCIL OF ONTARIO – Featured designer for fashion show.

1996    FASHION CARES – Toronto. Contributing fashion designer.

1996    MISSISSAUGA CLEAN CITY CAMPAIGN – Recycling fashion show.

1995    RECYCLING COUNCIL OF ONTARIO – Recycling fashion show.

PUBLIC ART EXHIBITS

1998    UNITED NATIONS STORE (Toronto) – Yoon-yen T-shirts + postcards.

1997    DODICK DESIGN (Eglinton Ave.) ­­– Paintings, illustrations & crafts.

1996    GEBO ART WORX (Queen St. W. Artist’s co-op, gallery and store) – Paintings.

1995    RACLETTE RESTAURANT (Queen St. W.) – Paintings.

1993    GALLERY 76 – Environmental Design Competition show.

1992    GALLERY 76 – Environmental Design Competition show.

1989    SAMUEL J ZACKS GALLERY – Paintings & sculpture show at York U.

1988    KOFFLER GALLERY – Paintings.

REFERENCES (From my LinkedIn page)

“Sara is extremely creative, imaginative and hard-working. In addition to her creative strengths, Sara is also task-oriented, can handle several projects simultaneously and always meets deadlines.”

Colin Macarthur, VP Research, Bloorview Research Institute
Managed Sara indirectly at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

“Sara designed our first-ever annual report and the results are fantastic. Her management of the project was great and we couldn't be happier with the creativity and look of the final report. Definitely someone we would love to work with again.”

Kirstin Beardsley, Marketing & Communications Manager
Hired Sara to work with CanadaHelps

“Sara is a hard working, dedicated and very talented graphic designer for Holland Bloorview. She came into the organization and has raised the bar of excellence with her professional practice and graphic design work. I have learned a great deal from Sara as she has been an inspiration and a design mentor for me. Her style and simplistic approach to design has impacted my work in a very postive manner.”

Greg van den Kroonenberg, Multimedia Specialist, Holland Bloorview
Worked directly with Sara at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

“Sara is a creative and strategic graphic designer who has a keen business sense. She is responsive to the needs of the organization in a proactive way and always completes the projects requested for our team in a timely and professional manner. Sara also has a great sense of humour and has a way of being the calm in the eye of the storm.”

Kathleen Foisey, Human Resources, Executive Assistant, Holland Bloorview
Worked directly with Sara at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

“Anyone who works with Sara can rely on her completely to follow-through with projects that are imaginative and well-planned out. Sara is a great collaborator –professional, enthusiastic about new directions, and never shy with great ideas. Sara has the rare combination of immense creative talent and great project management skill. You definitely want her on your team.”

Gen Scott, Sr. Associate Communications and Public Affairs, Holland Bloorview
Worked directly with Sara at Bloorview Kids Rehab

“Sara Purves was a dedicated and thoughtful Art Director wile working for us at Echo Advertising. She impressed us with her mature and creative sense of design and also with her ability to provide innovative solutions to every task. I would endorse the addition of Sara to any organization looking to improve the quality and culture of their creative environment. Sara is a pleasure to work with.”

Mark Bulloch, Partner, Drive Agency
Managed Sara at Echo Advertising and Marketing and at The Seppi Group

“In addition to being smart and fun, Sara is a multitalented designer, entrepreneur and solver of difficult problems. She has the rare ability to dream big dreams and pull them all off, while staying on top of details.”

Frank Viva, Creative Director/ Partner, Viva Dolan Communications and Design
Managed Sara at Viva Dolan Communication and Design

“I had great opportunities to work with Sara and she is definitely a great creative person. Her multi faceted talent enable her to visualize, create and deliver very high quality works. I'm happy to recommend her as a competent and valuable source of any creative projects.”

Ray Choi, Owner, Ray Choi Mac Support
Was with another company when working with Sara at Fuzzy Sweater Creative Inc.

Download a low res pdf of my portfolio