Community Builder / Designer / Strategist
Toronto, Canada Area
- Current
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- Design Strategist at Kvvlu
- Project Administrator at Bloorcourt BIA
- Freelance at ghazaleh design
- Past
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- Knowledge Worker at Capgemini
- BIA Zone Research Coordinator at ThinkTankToronto
- Designer and Communications Officer at Bloor Improvement Group
- Strategic Designer (intern) at SamataMason
- Creative Communicator / Designer at TakingITGlobal
- Designer (intern) at Compass360
- Education
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- OCAD
- Ontario College of Art and Design
- Ringling School of Art and Design
- Recommended
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9 people have recommended Ghazaleh - Connections
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141
connections
- Industry
- Graphic Design
- Websites
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Summary
A creative leader with enthusiasm for designing and facilitating environments that foster innovative solutions to complex problems.
Passion for helping communities and individuals reach their full potential.
Strategic thinker with an inquisitive mind – thirsty for challenges, driven by vision.
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Specialties:
• Highly skilled in Photoshop, Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, MS Office; experienced in Flash, Final Cut Pro, Premiere and proficient with HTML and CSS
• Active user of social media: Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Ning; understanding of blogs, Web 2.0 tools and CMS websites
• Passionate about innovation in communities and social interactions
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Experience
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Design Strategist
Kvvlu
(Graphic Design industry)
October 2009 — Present (3 months)
www.kvvlu.com
I work on project basis with Kengwei Lu in offering professional services in information architecture, user experiences and social media implementation. -
Project Administrator
Bloorcourt BIA
(Civic & Social Organization industry)
March 2009 — Present (10 months)
• Redesigned logo along with brand-new website and community network populated by local residents, community organizations and business owners. Designed a strategy diagram for business improvement dependent on civic-engagement and creative projects.
• Applied to and coordinated process for Commercial Research and Investment Program for $20,000 and Mural Program for $5,000, outsourcing professional services for streetscape study and community mural.
• Conceptualized and coordinated the City cost-shared banner installation of Bloorcourt Street Gallery: 39 unique banner designs by 28 artists, combining public art and civic-engagement with the urban landscape. -
Freelance
ghazaleh design
(Design industry)
September 2006 — Present (3 years 4 months)
www.ghazalehdesign.com
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Knowledge Worker
Capgemini
(Public Company; CAP; Information Technology and Services industry)
June 2009 — October 2009 (5 months)
On call for teamwork in the Accelerated Solutions Environment (ASE): a unique, open work environment delivering large scale facilitated sessions geared at accelerating timelines, gaining alignment and mitigating risks for organizations, institutions and corporations. Have facilitated three sessions between 20 to 40 people.
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BIA Zone Research Coordinator
ThinkTankToronto
(Research industry)
May 2008 — December 2008 (8 months)
Coordinated meetings to survey BIA board members across Toronto. Worked closely with Dr. Rafael Gomez on analyzing results, writing reports and combining quantitative results with qualitative insights.
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Designer and Communications Officer
Bloor Improvement Group
(Civic & Social Organization industry)
April 2008 — July 2008 (4 months)
• Significant communications role updating participants, business owners and community. Successful at attracting over 30,000 people and 400 participants/vendors to the longest street festival in the city for its first year.
• Designed all communications material for 2008 and 2009 festival including logo, website, maps, posters, postcards, t-shirts, newspaper ads and social network promotions.
• Led the design of community Charrette engaging about 20 volunteers dedicated to the success of the inaugural festival exploring ideas on its theme and planning. -
Strategic Designer (intern)
SamataMason
(Privately Held; Design industry)
June 2007 — September 2007 (4 months)
Involved in strategic thinking, planning, research, writing, design and presentation of a new business venture with 2 other interns.
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Creative Communicator / Designer
TakingITGlobal
(Non-Profit; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
May 2006 — December 2006 (8 months)
• Led all creative and design of Youth Programme campaign at 2006 International AIDS Conference with over 22,000 in attendance, 1200 youth delegates. Job included photography, posters, panels, postcards, t-shirts, stickers, DVD loop all following consistent visual and advocacy messages. Work became a feature story on MuchMusic.
• Led youth workshops at Violence as Language (LVVL) program, teaching groups of about twenty 15 to 18 year olds in groups of about 20 in underserved areas how to use digital cameras and graphic software to create multimedia pieces
• Designed logo and print material for Creating Local Connections (CLC) Canada
• Designed Issue 2 “As One” TIG Magazine leading creative layout of submitted youth stories in English and French on the Millennium Development Goals -
Designer (intern)
Compass360
(Graphic Design industry)
February 2004 — June 2004 (5 months)
Gained studio and industry experience in design and advertising before attending post-secondary education. Involved in branding and website design for family run restaurant.
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Education
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OCAD
BDes , Graphic Design , 2004 — 2008
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Ontario College of Art and Design
BDes , Graphic Design , 2004 — 2008
- Student Union Board of Director: Graphic Design
- 2006 and 2007: Organized OCAD Student Forum to address student issues (2006 document was added as appendix to 2006-2012 Strategic Plan)
- 2008: Part of grad show student committe: organized charrette for exploring theme ideas
- Winter 2008: Quoted in OCAD Sketch Magazine (Think Tank article on sustainability and TheStoreFront project) -
Ringling School of Art and Design
Graphic & Interactive Communication 2007 — 2007
- Best of Ringling Show - 2 pieces selected (Signs and Wikipedia redesign)
- Expressive Typography Award for Signs book
- Signs book also chosen for Adobe Achievement Awards Semi Finalist for Print category- Activities and Societies:
- Mobility/Exchange student for Spring 2007 semester
Additional Information
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Websites:
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Interests:
power of internet, poetry, basketball, cycling, randomness, conversation about anything with absolutely anyone, new places, new people, family, history, future, laughing, performance, smiles on people's faces, hugging, interviews, asking questions, going under water, practicing vocals, ambition to be a "real" superstar, sushi, thai, vietnamese, ambition to travel the world but living a travel with where i am, voice.
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Groups:
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O.C.A.D. Alumni -
Design for Social Change -
Communication Designers of Toronto (CDOT) -
Design with Dialogue
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Honors:
Skinner, Justin. "Bloorcourt to become street gallery." Toronto Community News [Toronto] 08 July 2009, Annex Guardian, City Centre, Bloor West Villager ed. Toronto Community News. http://www.insidetoronto.com/article/72062, 08 July 2009.
Allen, Richard W., ed. "Big ideas need space to incubate." Spectator [Hamilton] 22 Apr. 2009, A11 sec.
Sayej, Nadja, ed. "Social enterprise with a twist." Globe & Mail [Toronto] 22 Nov. 2008, T.O. sec.
Kostoff, Larissa. "Investigative Intelligence: ThinkTanks Proliferate at OCAD." OCAD Sketch Winter 2008: 12-17.
"MuchTalks." MuchTalks: AIDS. Much Music. Featured story. 1 Dec. 2006.
Ghazaleh Etezal’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
