TORONTO | CANADA
GRAHAM NHLAMBA �SENIOR DESIGNER & ART DIRECTOR
BOOK, IMPACT REPORT & RESUME
I am an Interdisciplinary Designer and Art Director - seamlessly blending strategy, creativity, �and New Media to bring ideas to life. A specialist in creating world-class visuals, narratives and experiences. With over 7 years of experience in various creative industries, including Advertising, Art & Design Education and Events, a specialist in crafting immersive experiences that captivate audiences and deliver measurable impact at a mass scale.
‘An empathetic listener with a keen eye for detail.’
Over the years, I’ve had incredible experiences that have led to insightful and memorable creative outcomes. One such instance was the opportunity to work on Budweiser’s #TAPEOUTHATE.
The campaign spotlighted the experiences of racialized professional hockey players in the NHL, uncensored, in a powerful two-minute video, that called on fans to take action and stand in solidarity against racism in the world of hockey and beyond – and the design mechanism we used was the tape itself. Over 2,000 rolls of physical #TAPEOUTHATE hockey tape sold out online within 6 hours of launch and continue to be sold at Canadian Tire across Canada today.
As a young Black creative, being able to bring forward proactive ideas that directly impact the communities and individuals I surround myself with is really important to me. Moreover, being able to bring others along for that journey, to collaborate, ideate and broaden perspectives, is just as important. As both mentor and mentee, I know first-hand what fostering a positive work environment can do for a creative community.
In 2021, in the midst of the pandemic, I co-founded and began to lead Equal Advantage – created by a few creatives within Anomaly’s walls to express our DE+I ambitions by offering up the agency services for free to businesses owned and led by people of colour, to address the unique challenges that their non-POC counterparts don’t face – ensuring the agency’s values and intentions were authentic and driven by empathy while holding them accountable to that. In 2022, we completed our business partnership with our first Equal Advantage client ISRAELLA KOBLA – taking the brand’s technical and artistic design vision, and reimagining their modern minimalistic approach, after a strategic audit and visual identity exercise. The initiative continues.
What follows is a snapshot of my work, (some confidential). Have a look, and I hope it sparks intrigue!
On this project I worked to create a strategic positioning and iconic brand identity that encapsulates the values and philosophy of the late Chadwick Boseman – A career highlight!
The Challenge
Anomaly Collaborators
Shawn Lambino�Mel Zeta
Chadwick Boseman Foundation for the Arts
We created an immersive stadium-style performance platform where fans got the chance to bring their team’s anthem to life. Upon registering via RFID, fans got a moment to invite their squad, select their favourite team and perform their iconic fight song. Each session synced to the official team colours, logos and banners giving fans their own unique shareable asset to takeaway.
The Challenge
Thinkingbox Collaborators
Kevin Mak
Coca-Cola – SHAKE THE STADIUM
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Our team worked to rapid prototype a protein powered experience to help young footballers get their edge – a project we put together in the span of 2 weeks! Journey mapping, designing collateral, and putting together the production.
The Challenge
Thinkingbox Collaborators
David Palmer�Ryan Booth
Chobani
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
I conceptualized and executed the look and feel for two seasons of the most equitable Live Music Experience in the US alongside Afropunk founders – LETSGETFREE – a conscious carnival.
The Challenge
Anomaly US Collaborators
Kristi Henderson�Nani Harakawa
LETSGETFREE
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
MORE WORKS BELOW
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Tape Out Hate images here
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
Anomaly Toronto
MAYANA images here
PLACEHOLDER
Anomaly Toronto
MAYANA images here
PLACEHOLDER
Anomaly Toronto
MAYANA images here
PLACEHOLDER
Anomaly Toronto
MAYANA images here
PLACEHOLDER
Anomaly Toronto