Biography

Mikey Richardson is an award-winning artist and designer whose expansive career spans fine art, illustration, design, branding, film, and advertising. Beyond his professional creative work, Mikey is a dedicated educator and has lectured at prominent institutions, including OCAD University, the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), Communitech, FITC, and Ryerson University.

Growing up in Kitchener, Ontario, Mikey moved to Toronto in 1992 to study at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University). He honed his drawing, painting, and conceptual skills there, which have become integral to his diverse creative pursuits over the past three decades. Since graduating, Mikey has continued to paint and periodically exhibits his work publicly.

In 1996, shortly after graduating, Mikey co-founded AmoebaCorp, a design firm that later evolved into the renowned brand agency Jacknife in 2013. His studio's work has developed an international reputation for its creativity and breadth of work across the entire communication spectrum.

His passion for the arts extended into curation. In 2005, he co-founded and co-curated the Toronto gallery ArtLab, which showcased a wide range of emerging artists alongside his own work.

Mikey resides in Carlisle, Ontario, and continues to create and innovate from both Carlisle and Toronto.

Education

Ontario College of Art, 1992-1996, graduated AOCA

Awards & Scholarships:

• “Klaus Schoenfeld Memorial Award”, 1995

• “Herb McCarthy Memorial Award”, 1995

• “Mediacom Scholarship”, 1994

• “Southam Award”, 1994

• “Alan Collier Alumni Association Award”, 1993

Teaching Experience

Mikey has worked as a design, illustration and creativity educator at OCAD University, including several courses:

• "Illustrative Concepts 2", 2014

• "Illustration Thesis", 2010

• "New Directions in Pictorial Design", 2009

• "Illustration 1 & 2", 2008

• "Illustration 1 & 2", 2007

• “Guerrilla Entrepreneurism 1”, 2005

• "Introduction to Art Direction", 2004

• "Illustration Art Director's Studio Workshop", 2003

• "Illustration Art Director's Studio Workshop", 2002

• "Graphic Design Studio Workshop", 2001

Podcast Interviews

Mikey has been interviewed on topics such as creativity and inspiration, the intersection of art and design, and his experiences as a creative entrepreneur.

• "Inspired Insider" by Dr. Jeremy Weisz, 2024

• "DesignThinkers Podcast" by RGD The Association of Registered Graphic Designers, 2024

• "Created" by the Advertising & Design Club of Canada, 2022

Speaking Engagements

He enjoys public speaking and has had the honour of doing so at events for organizations including:

• "Headstart", RGD, Toronto, 2015

• "Women Entrepreneur's Summer Bootcamp”, Communitech, Waterloo, 2014

• "Lateral Thinkers", RGD, Toronto, 2010 

• "Time Management for Creatives”, OCAD University, 2009

• "FITC Design & Technology Festival", Toronto, 2007 & 2009

• The Bell Globemedia Interactive Project Lab, L'Institut National de L'Image et du Son, Montreal, 2003

• The Schulich School of Business at York University, Toronto, date unknown

• Ryerson University/Humber College Fashion and Design Forum, Toronto, date unknown

Creative Jury Member

Mikey has been invited to participate as a creative jury member for various events:

• The Marketing Awards, Design Jury Co-Chair, 2020

• Shopper Innovation Awards, 2016

• Cannes Young Lions Canada 2010

• The Digital Marketing Awards 2009

• The Cut&Paste Digital Design Tournament 2009

• RGD's Design at Work 2009

• Air Canada's 70th Anniversary Art & Design Competition, 2007

• The Atlantic Journalism Awards, 2006

• Nike's Art of Speed / Ryerson University Student Film Competition, 2004

• OCAD University Scholarships, multiple years

Accolades & Awards

In addition to many design industry-specific awards from organizations such as Applied Arts Magazine, Coupe Magazine, The Advertising and Design Club of Canada, Strategy Awards, The Marketing Awards, RGD, and How magazine, Mikey's work as a creative person has been recognized in some other notable ways:

• "Webby Award", 2010

• "Summit International Awards", 2010

• "W3 International Awarda", 2010

• Strategy Magazine's "Brand of the Year" (for creating Toronto FC), 2009

• FITC's "Best Canadian Studio Award”, 2008

• Selected as one of the "Top 50 Emerging Artists in Toronto" featured in BlogTO, 2004

• Juno Nomination for the design of the I Mother Earth album "Blue Green Orange”, 2000

Additionally, his work has been featured in numerous books by international publishers PIE Books (Japan), Laurence King Publishing (UK), HOW Design Books (US), Rockport Publishers (US), Rotovision Books (US), ASCII (Japan) and Writer's Digest Books (US).

Editorial Contributor

"Shift Japan" (International online magazine of creative culture), Monthly Toronto correspondent, 2002-2004, www.shift.jp.org

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