01Ongoing brand partnership
BuildSky
Repositioning a growing cladding specialist, then supporting its expanding commercial brand.
David Mantegh
Creative thinking,
brand systems
& visual design. by David Mantegh, Toronto creative director and brand designer
Creative thinking and hands-on design, supported by the experience to guide teams, manage brands and carry work through delivery.
- 25+
Years in creative direction, branding and multidisciplinary design
- 50+
Client organizations across multiple industries and markets
- 200+
Startup brands created or creatively directed
- 10+ Years
Longest ongoing client partnership
- Creative Direction
- Brand Strategy
- Brand Positioning
- Identity Systems
- Brand Audits
- Graphic Design
- Digital Product Design
- Illustration & Character
- Environmental Graphics
Featured stories · 01
Selected work.
Thinking and impact.
Three projects showing how ideas develop through design, direction and real-world delivery.
01
02Two phases · one evolving brand
YLG
Building Yazdani Law Group’s original identity, then returning to guide its rebrand and expanding ecosystem.
03Founder & Product Owner
Founder-led audio-visual brand
AEØNEX
A conceptual brand joining identity, cinematic worldbuilding, music and AI-assisted production.
Experience · 02
Independent practice.
Team experience.
David Mantegh is a multidisciplinary creative director and designer working across brand, image, environment and emerging technology. His practice begins with ideas and hands-on experimentation, then develops them into visual systems. Depending on the engagement, he works independently, collaborates within teams, or leads creative direction and delivery.
Available for select projects, team collaborations, and the right full-time opportunity.
- 2023 — NowIndependent practice
AI Creative Technology
Hands-on development across generative media, websites, agents and creative workflows.
- 2022 — 2024Management role
YLG Professional Corporation
Art Director & Marketing Manager leading brand systems, campaigns and hands-on creative delivery.
- 2020 — 2022Company role
Toronto Signage & Car Wrap
Project Manager & Senior Designer managing large-scale branding through production and installation.
- 2018 — 2020Remote company role
Trix Media, Los Angeles
Senior Graphic Designer developing brand assets, packaging and visual systems across digital and print.
- 2012 — NowIndependent practice
Mantegh Studio
Founded in 1999 and Toronto-based since 2012. Hands-on creative direction and multidisciplinary design across brand, print, environmental and digital work.
- 1999 — NowAdditional Experience
Independent Practice & Agency Experience
Independent creative practice alongside roles within several design agencies.
Practice areas · 03
One practice.
Six disciplines.
Choose an area to understand where I contribute—from direction and systems to detailed visual execution.
Creative Direction
Shaping ideas, visual standards and campaign systems.
Brand Strategy & Systems
Turning positioning into coherent, distinctive identities.
Graphic Design
Editorial, marketing and production communication.
Illustration & Character
Ownable characters and narrative image systems.
AI Creative Technology
Generative media, sites, agents and workflows.
Environmental Graphics
Signage, wayfinding and branded environments.
Approach · 01 / 04
Think first.
Build to ship.
I define the audience, positioning and message first, then develop the voice and visual system the brand actually needs.
Branding · 02 / 04
Branding
Build the foundation before the identity.
Frame
Align the business outcome, audience, scope, stakeholders, constraints and definition of done.
Gate · Brief and backlog approvedDiscover
Research the business, audience, category and competitors; surface the central tension the brand must solve.
Gate · Evidence synthesizedDefine
Translate findings into positioning, promise, personality, message hierarchy and design principles.
Gate · Strategy acceptedPrototype
Create two to four genuinely different visual territories and test them against the brief.
Gate · Direction selectedBuild & test
Develop the identity and visual system; stress-test it across priority applications.
Gate · System approvedLaunch & govern
Document standards, package production assets and support rollout, adoption and consistency.
Gate · Launch ready
Rebranding · 03 / 04
Rebranding
Keep the equity. Fix what no longer works.
Frame
Agree on the business reason for change, decision-makers, risk, scope and measures of success.
Gate · Rebrand brief approvedAudit
Review identity, communication, touchpoints, audience perception and operational pain points.
Gate · Audit findings alignedDiagnose
Identify what to retain, remove, clarify or strengthen across strategy and expression.
Gate · Rebrand criteria acceptedReposition
Refine positioning, architecture, messaging and creative principles before styling begins.
Gate · Strategic direction selectedRefresh & test
Develop and test the evolved identity across the applications that matter most.
Gate · System validatedRelaunch & govern
Plan migration, document standards and support teams through phased implementation.
Gate · Transition ready
Product Design & Management · 04 / 04
Product Design & Management
Turn complex needs into products people can use and teams can ship.
Frame
Align the business outcome, users, stakeholders, constraints, risks and definition of done.
Gate · Product brief approvedDiscover
Research users, context, competitors and existing workflows; identify the problem worth solving.
Gate · Insights synthesizedPrioritize
Translate findings into requirements, journeys, success criteria and a focused MVP backlog.
Gate · MVP scope acceptedPrototype
Make flows and interfaces tangible, then test assumptions before expensive production begins.
Gate · Experience validatedBuild & test
Work with the delivery team in short cycles, reviewing quality, usability and consistency.
Gate · Release candidate approvedLaunch & improve
Measure real use, manage feedback and prioritize the next improvements.
Gate · Learning loop active
Start a conversation · 05
What does your team need?
Let’s discuss project-based collaboration, embedded support, or the right full-time role.