Curriculum Vitæ

DARREN WILSON, BFA, MA – Learning and Technology

DESIGN + LEARNING + SUSTAINABILITY

 

OBJECTIVE

Leverage decades of experience in design and communications, professional consulting, and postsecondary education to join an organization in a strategic consulting role where I can work toward building thought leadership in areas of technology-enabled learning, with a focus on outstanding learning experiences and outcomes.

 

SUMMARY

I continue to build an extensive professional network of thought leaders in digital learning, learning experience design, AI, branding, and foresight. I am an advocate for thoughtful, sustainable, accessible
and responsible innovation in digital learning. I am passionate about
research, collaboration, and designing, developing, and implementing digital learning strategies that build toward hopeful futures.

 

SKILLS

    • Strong research, analysis, synthesis, and writing skills.
    • The ability to guide and mentor individuals and teams toward developing innovative solutions to design challenges
    • Excellent oral, written, visual communication and presentation skills
    • Media agnostic content design and development, from concept through design and production, with expertise in print, video, interactive, and 3D content creation tools
    • Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
    • High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Google Suite (Docs, Slides, Sheets)
    • 3D CAD design and rendering skills (Rhino 3D, Blender, Spline)
    • Experience using learning management systems such as D2L/Brightspace and Moodle, in both classroom and remote delivery environments, both synchronous and asynchronous

MORE INFORMATION

STRATEGIC CREATIVE EXPERIENCE

2004 TO PRESENT:

Design Consultant

Independent
    • Independently conducted primary and secondary research, taking a human-centred design approach in developing CoDEC – Contract Design Educators Community, an online Community of Practice to support contract faculty in the Department of Design at York University
    • Leads direct client-serving engagements, as well as consulting on projects for agencies and studios
    • Develops industry-leading solutions to business challenges through design, branding, communications, information architecture, user experience, and product design
    • Current and past clients span many sectors, including musical instrument manufacturing, travel & tourism, healthcare, digital media, advertising, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, energy & utilities, and their advertising, design, marketing, and communications agencies

2005 TO 2010:

Vice President and Creative Director

Sonar Mediathink
    • Developed and maintained strong client relationships through strategic thinking, collaborative work, and engaging creative solutions
    • Led a cross-disciplinary creative team in the design and development of provocative, breakthrough creative solutions across multiple media, including radio, TV, print, interactive, video, and live events
    • Managed the growth and development of creative staff; facilitated
      collaboration within the creative team, as well as with the strategy
      and account teams, suppliers, and clients including Lindt & Sprüngli, Procter & Gamble, and Visa Canada

2001 TO 2004:

Senior Consultant

Capgemini
    • Delivered leading-edge strategic user experience design, prototyping, and implementation of web- and intranet-based projects for clients such as Bell Canada, Ontario Power Generation, Standard & Poor’s, and America Online
    • Conducted scenario-based planning exercises and developed strategic vision proposals with applied user experience design concepts

1995 TO 2001:

Senior Designer, Art Director

Reactor Art + Design Limited
    • Design and art direction lead for clients in many sectors, executing across many media. Developed branding, visual identity programs, corporate communications for clients including GroceryGateway.com, Delta Hotels, Canada Toll Free, among others

POSTSECONDARY TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2013 TO PRESENT:

Professor (Partial Load)

Sheridan College | Bachelor of Interaction Design Program
    • Teaching and mentoring IxD students the core principles of Design, Visual Language, Typography, Contemporary Problems, Interaction Design Methods and Behaviours, Information Architecture, Design and Rhetoric
    • Developing student engagement through compelling curriculum, skills development, and facilitating discussion about contemporary issues in design and their impact on society
    • Collaborating with my teaching colleagues to identify needs, opportunities, and best practices in curriculum, content delivery, evaluation methods, and communication

1998 TO PRESENT:

Course Director, Studio Instructor

York University | Bachelor of Design Program
    • Contract faculty member in the Department of Design through three generations of the design program at York University: Faculty of Fine Arts (BFA), York-Sheridan joint program in Design (YSDN B.Des), and AMPD (DESN B.Des) programs
    • Teaching introductory-level 2D and 3D Design, as well as advanced-levels courses in Typography, Corporate Identity Design, Information Design, Systems Design, and senior-level Design Workshop courses
    • Leading senior students through theoretical exercises and projects based on real-world business challenges, executed in print, interactive, and time-based media
    • Mentoring students in design leadership, professionalism, and communication skills

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

    • Advertising and Design Club of Canada awards
    • Work selected to appear in RGD Ontario’s Design at Work juried
      exhibition
    • Speaking engagements for Comdex Canada and Multimedia Tradeshows
    • Invited to jury for the Applied Arts interactive awards, Verso magazine and Design at Work
    • Selected as a panelist in an online webinar hosted by Royal Roads
      University on AI and Learning Design in Education
    • Work published in Wired, Applied Arts, New Jersey Monthly, Saturday Night Magazine

OTHER EXPERIENCE

2011 TO 2019

Owner, Designer, Luthier

Decibel Guitars
    • Designed, built, and sold my own line of solid-body electric guitars under the Decibel Guitars brand
    • Developed a social media presence of over 65k followers
    • Sourced materials and parts from a global network of suppliers
    • Built a complex operation that integrated digital design, CNC production, and hand finishing processes
    • Designed and patented an ergonomic guitar neck profile

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

2012 TO 2016:

Ramp Crew

Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
    • Ensured the safety of flight crews, passengers and spectators, on and around the live ramp at “Canada’s Flying Museum”
    • Assisted in loading and unloading passengers from 16 to 89+ years of age, and delivered passenger safety briefings
    • Towed aircraft into and out of the hangar and about the ramp as needed, according to the day’s flight schedule
    • Cleaned, fueled, and oiled the aircraft, offered assistance with aircraft maintenance as requested by the Engineering Department
    • Acted as a Museum ambassadors to the general public, ensuring all visits to the museum were positive and memorable

EDUCATION

2022 TO 2024 (IN PROGRESS)

Master of Arts – Learning and Technology

Royal Roads University
    • Learning theory, learning experience design, critical issues in digital learning environments
    • Research focus on sustainable postsecondary digital learning, strategic foresight, speculative futures
    • Completed: June 2024 

1990 TO 1994

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Specialized Honours (Visual Arts / Design)

York University
    • Studied design, typography, communication theory, among other areas
    • Graduated First-Class Honours with Distinction

Updated June 2024