Before graduating from the Illustration & Design program at Dawson College here in Montreal, I had my start at 17 years old, working part-time for Canada Direct - a Canadian Direct Mail/Database marketing firm and freelancing for various local businesses. At CanadaDirect, I worked mostly on healthcare, financial and fund-raising data-based marketing campaigns. Art direction, graphic design, airbrushing, doing marker comps and creating logos -sometimes on the kitchen table- were all part of a day's (or night's) work.

A few years later, with lots of lessons learned, I moved on to do even more art direction and concept development, establishing a small but successful design firm (JB Design), outsourcing for Montreal agencies, or working directly with local and national clients. Then came the itch to become part of something even bigger. 

I cashed in my shares and joined up with a group (Densu-Cadence) that was soon to become Phase V (the Canadian office of Grey Healthcare Group). Growing there from Sr. Designer to Associate Creative Director over my 10+ years there was an experience that I'll never forget. It was a springboard for great ideas.

After parting ways with Phase V/GHG in the spring of '09, I decided to take a break for a few years from agency life and go back to my entrepreneurial roots and hustle up some business for myself - offering creative consulting services (freelancing). Knowing I would someday return to the agency world, I needed some fresh insight into different industries and with a whole new set of people. 

Since then, I've been working with boutique pharma agencies and with direct clients in fundraising, b2b, real-estate & construction materials. With over 25 years of creative experience, a lot of it in healthcare, the rest in direct mail, consumer and business-to-business, I definitely know the industry... and I still love it!

Please, feel free to contact me at any time… Cheers!

2009 - Present: Freelance Art Director & Graphic Designer
Jon Bernstein   creative | brand | design   (Self Employed)
• Business development and project management of all projects from A-Z
• Concept development, art direction and graphic design on all projects.
• Projects:­­­ journal ads, detail aids, web sites, direct mail, corporate I.D - branding, packaging, catalogues, posters and ­­pitches.
• Maintain a balance of workflow in studio (and out of studio) to better serve client needs.
• Work with and hire , writers, web developers, graphic designers, freelance artists & photographers.
Clients (Brands):
PHARMA: Stiefel (Clindoxyl), EMD Serono (EcoProgram), Novartis (Aclasta, Lucentis), Takeda (Daxas), Valeant Pharma (Laboratoires Dr. Renaud, Obagi),
OTHER: Auberge Transition Woman's Shelter, Permacon (Permacon, BE.ON Stone), Pierres JR, McGill Law Journal, STi Tassimco/OrangeTraffic, Anzie, Bouty, Otéra, Techniseal, Toronto Zoo, Trillium Health Center, NovaBrik, Café Lavica.

2001 - 2009: Associate Creative Director
Phase V Communications Canada (Grey Healthcare Group - Canada)
• Concept development and design of: journal ads, detail aids, direct mail, promotional items, corporate identity packages, packaging, catalogues and posters.
• Actively participated in concept development for successful new business pitches (Avodart, Axert, Concerta, Elidel, Exubera, Prevacid, Protos, Risperdal, Tylenol) and production of launch and ongoing marketing and communication materials.
• Interview, direct and manage designers & freelancers.
Clients (Brands): Abbott (Prevacid), Brewers Association of Canada, CCPE (Council for Continuing Pharmaceutical Education), Gambro (North American Product Catalog), GSK (Avodart, Polident, Poli-Grip, Kivexa, 3TC, Telzir), Janssen Ortho (Concerta, Risperdal, Risperdal M-TAB), Johnson & Johnson (RETIN-A Micro, PENATEN), McNeil (Axert, Tylenol) Organon (Andriol, Zemuron), Steifel (Impruv, Rososol, Clindets), Unilever (Slim-Fast).

1998 - 2001: Senior Art Director
Dentsu-Cadence Advertising - Montreal, Quebec.
• Creative concept development and graphic design direction for various print marketing tools (journal ads, detail aids, direct mail, promotional items, corporate identity packages...)
• Developed creative and branding for large international medical/healthcare conferences, world congresses and meetings.
• Instrumental in building and growing creative department (staff and new office space)

1990 - 1998: V.P. Creative Director (Partner)
Jaibea Design Inc.- Montreal, Quebec. Design Studio
• Concept development, design, and production of: advertising material, direct mail packages, corporate identity packages, retail packaging, calogues, posters, signage and fleet graphics packages.
• Studio management & scheduling.
• Coordinate with printers, service bureaus, sign & display companies, copywriters, photographers and illustrators.
• Client presentation and account management.
• Oversee all stages of print production.
Clients: Alcan, Alouettes de Montreal, CanadaDirect, Canadian Football League, Canadian Pacific, Hotels, Crescent Auctioneers, Canadian Allied Diesel, Comedy Nest, CommunicAction, Coop Concordia, Distribution Directe, The Montreal Dome, Envipco ARI Canada, Grinnel, Menz Magazine, Montreal Golden Age Assn., Sadie Bronfman
Center, Sir Winston Churchill Pub, Ultramar, Videotron, Wire Rope Industries.

1987 - 1990: Art Director
Canada Direct - Montreal, Quebec. Direct Response Agency
• Concept development, design and layout.
• Design and produce working comps for presentations.
• Conceptualize with copywriters and other creative and marketing staff.
• Prepare and spec camera ready artwork for printer and order printing.
• Oversee all stages of typesetting and printing.
Clients: Abbott, Ayerst, Berlex, Glaxo, Miles Pharmaceuticals, Montreal General Hospital, Pfizer, Royal Trust, Royal Victoria Hospital.

Skills:
Computers: 19+ years of Mac experience; Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Quark XPress…etc.
Languages: English and French, both spoken and written.
Display & signage: Five years of experience in the conception, marketing, design and production associated with display and outdoor & indoor signage of all types.

Awards: 
2003 Rx Club -Award of Excellence- for Risperdal PYRAMID Campaign.
2005 Rx Club -Award of Excellence- for IMPRUV Cream - Logo Design.
2005 Rx Club -Award of Excellence- for Andriol 'Lost & Found' Campaign.
2006 Rx Club -Award of Excellence- for Andriol 'Myth & Fact' Campaign.
2007 Rx Club -Award of Excellence- for Prevacid 'Versatile' Campaign.

Education:
1986 - 1989: Dawson College - Montreal, Quebec
Diploma in Illustration & Design (D.E.C)