“Damian’s raw talent for visual communication and design combined with his commitment to user experience made him a delight to collaborate with throughout our time working as a team at Forge and Smith.
He has a very professional and solutions-focused approach when working with clients and collaborating internally, always bringing creative and thoughtful ideas to the table. Behind the scenes you would find Damian taking care of the details that made our agency an amazing place to work by fostering a fun and supportive team culture.
Damian’s attention to detail, personal accountability for the goals and vision of each client, and ownership of the final outcome of each project set the bar for our creative team and was inspiring to learn from.”

Tess GoodUser Experience Strategist
Tess and I collaborated closely on all client projects at Forge and Smith and shared insights and learnings. Tess led the UX process, and I led the UI design. I very much value the time I got to learn from her strategic mind and work alongside her thoughtful design approach.

“As a developer, I’ve very much enjoyed working alongside Damian. It’s evident that he’s passionate about design and knowledgeable about designing for the web. He stays current on trends and seems to always be expanding his horizons. He’s a joy to work with, dedicated, and obviously takes pride in his work. I’ve seen him put in long hours to keep clients happy and meet tight deadlines, and he’s always patient and responsive when clarifications or adjustments are needed.”

Megan HeinzlDeveloper
Megan was a developer at BSTRO during the time I was Associate Creative Director. She is a highly skilled developer who built many of the projects we worked on together. She was excellent to collaborate with and was always forthcoming with a thoughtful answer to my many dev-related questions.

“Damian is an exceptional member of the Forge and Smith team. His consistently compelling designs are representative of his high attention to detail and careful consideration of client needs. The amount of dedication he brings to his work is inspiring and his willingness to lend a hand wherever necessary is a true asset. He supports and enhances the team, and uses his voice to add an honest and thoughtful evaluation to any discussion. Even for our most challenging projects he creates innovative, compelling work that exceeds client expectations and strikes just the right visual tone. Working with Damian is a true pleasure.”

Andrina FawcettContent Strategy Lead
Andrina is an incredibly talented content strategist that I was lucky enough to collaborate with and learn from at Forge and Smith. She was critical to my early introduction to digital audits, content strategy and information architecture.

“I’ve been working with Damian for almost five years now, at two different agencies as well as through freelance work. There’s a reason for that – I will take any opportunity to collaborate with him! Damian has the ability to lead a creative team in a way that makes everyone feel equally valued. He helps clients reach creative decisions with his patience and friendly communication. What I appreciate most, though, is how he always surprises me with these brilliant creative design, strategy, and content ideas. I seriously admire the way Damian’s mind works. Anyone would be lucky to have him at the helm.”

Pam BergDigital Strategy Manager
I have worked with Pam for over five years (at both Forge and Smith and BSTRO). We’ve worked on countless client projects as well as internal marketing — and not to forget our infamous shared-blogs (or “shlogs” as we like to call them). Her dedication to digital strategy and continuous learning is incredibly admirable. I am pleased to have Pam as a valued colleague as well as a good friend.

“Damian was one of my go-to creative problem solvers. He goes above and beyond pure creative solutions because he understands that technology and creative must go hand-in-hand. He made several recommendations for new platforms that improved consumer engagement and drove efficiencies.
His work is driving by insights. He always bases his recommendations on an understanding of the brand and the consumer. He’s savvy about all digital tactics, especially websites, social media, email and e-commerce.
Damian is a joy to work with — super collaborative. He’ll take nascent ideas and turn them into powerhouse ideas!”

Mary PulsEVP/Managing Director, BSTRO
Mary is an incredibly skilled leader I was honoured to get to learn from. I witnessed her lead (and navigate difficult situations) with ease, care, and strategy. I worked under Mary’s leadership for over four years and I am a better designer and strategic thinker because of her.

“Damian is a highly talented creative director who has a rare ability to see how design and function impact the overall business objectives. We worked together in a high-pressure agency on a range of digital and retail products in the US and Canada—from Silicon Valley start-ups to Fortune 500 multinationals. He is a delight to work with, replaces typical design ego with big-picture expertise, and is constantly working to improve his clients’ sales and brand experience. I would hire Damian in a heartbeat.”

Paul NixeySenior Communications and Digital Strategy, Nixey Communications
Paul and I collaborated closely on several projects (through BSTRO) including Mary’s on Davie and Aveo Vision. Paul has played a pivotal role in mentoring me and helping me carve out my career path in recent years.

“I can attest to Damian’s work ethic, design skills, and ability to deliver quality work on time.”

The Honourable Hedy Fry, P.C., MP

“Damian is extremely talented and conscientious which makes him a huge asset to the Forge and Smith team. His design skill set and attentive client relation skills result in projects that surpass client expectations.
Damian’s experience and personality to drive success, ensures he is always cool under pressure, adapts well to any challenge and gets the project done on time without cutting corners. Damian is a professional communicator with exceptional organizational skills, which is instrumental in day-to-day operations to reach project timelines. His willingness to share knowledge and experience is inspiring for the whole team. Damian’s creativity and design style is innovative and fresh.
He is a passionate designer and always has great awareness of new creative strategies and technology, which makes him a great asset to any company. Damian is one of the most talented visual designers I have had the privilege to work with over the years. He has strong personal skills that enable him to work effectively with a wide variety of individuals at many different levels. I strongly recommend him as an exceptionally talented designer.”

Maxine GiannelliMarketing Manager
I worked under Maxine at Forge and Smith, collaborating on client website solutions — as well as internal marketing. Her advice and feedback were pivotal in my growth in digital design. Maxine also inspired me to write my first blog for the company and reignited my passion for writing, and sharing insights and learning experiences.

“Damian is a talented creative who brings passion and dedication to what he does. During the time that I worked with Damian, he regularly brought to the table creative ideas that were innovative and fresh. He has the ability to turn complex concepts into simple and elegant visuals. He’s both able to think strategically and willing to get in the weeds, to deliver thoughtful and well-executed work. Damian was an absolute joy to work with.”

Cecile ThaiCEO, Aveo Vision
Aveo was a key account I worked on for over two years. I presented digital strategy and creative directly to Cecile in weekly meetings. Cecile proves that business can be fun, while also being meaningful and results-driven.