Natalie Gagnon is a Vancouver-based art director, publication designer, brand strategist + design educator who brings brands, content and minds to life with strategic design, multi-platform publishing and clear communication style. With over a decade of art direction and marketing experience in the magazine

(most notably as an art director for Vancouver, Western Living, Modern Dog and Modern Cat magazines) and advertising industries, six years teaching post-secondary design courses, certificates in copywriting and book binding, and holding

a Masters of Arts (Graphic Branding and Identity) from the London College of Communication as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Honours from the University of British Columbia, she is well-equipped to solve a diverse variety of communication needs. Natalie empowers brands to live their most distinct life and inspires students to be passionate designers.

Natalie maintains a strong respect for an efficient workflow and the need to continually learn. When not busy designing for clients in the private sector or teaching communication design courses at LaSalle College, Simon Fraser University, and Emily Carr University of Art and Design, she is likely heading to her pottery studio to make pieces for her small ceramic business, Nima Stoneware.

Natalie believes that successful design is achieved through the creation of immediacy + icon. Immediacy, the need

to communicate information and ideas effectively, and icon, a strong and memorable visual identity and form