Michael Volkwijn

HYBRID CREATIVE

Design • Photography • Digital Experiences • Visual Storytelling

Visual & UX Designer | Photographer | Content & Workflow Specialist

Toronto, ON · Remote-ready
[email protected]

Profile

I’m a Toronto-based Hybrid Creative working across design, photography, digital experiences, visual storytelling, and visual art.

My practice combines UX/UI and visual design, brand systems, photography, content creation, and creative workflows across commercial, cultural, community, and independent projects.

Since 2015, I have maintained an independent freelance practice alongside professional roles in agency, startup, enterprise, and in-house environments.

My work focuses on translating complex ideas into clear visual experiences — whether through a digital interface, brand identity, campaign, photograph, training system, or creative project.

Professional Experience

Freelance — Hybrid Creative

Design, Photography, Digital Experiences & Visual Storytelling
Toronto, ON · 2015–Present

Independent creative practice spanning design, photography, digital experiences, content creation, and visual storytelling for SMBs, agencies, nonprofits, and organizations.

Delivered 45+ cross-functional projects spanning UX/UI, branding, digital design, content systems, and visual storytelling.
Designed 10+ brand identities and scalable visual systems that improved consistency across websites, marketing materials, training content, and digital communications.
Created UX flows, wireframes, interfaces, and landing pages contributing to 20–30% increases in engagement for returning client platforms.
Produced photography and visual assets for 60+ clients across events, brands, conferences, editorial projects, and marketing campaigns.
Created social content, motion graphics, digital advertising, and short-form video using AI-assisted workflows to improve production speed and iteration.
Supported client growth through pitch decks, marketing assets, content systems, and visual materials used to communicate products, services, and partnerships.

Enterprise Highlight: Created and structured 40+ training visuals for Toyota Canada, improving onboarding clarity and enabling translation-ready delivery.

SiteDudes Inc. — Web Designer

Toronto, ON · Jan 2019–Mar 2019

Designed and maintained 50+ responsive websites across healthcare, finance, technology, and service industries.
Improved 10 reusable website templates, increasing design consistency and supporting faster production across client projects.
Delivered fast-turnaround website updates within 3–5 day production cycles while balancing visual quality, responsive behaviour, and client requirements.
Streamlined file organization and cross-team handoffs, reducing production friction and supporting efficient delivery.

Pixel Dreams — Designer

UX, Visual & Marketing Intern
Toronto, ON · Jan 2017–Mar 2017

Produced digital and print assets for 7+ clients, including campaigns, advertising, social content, and web experiences.
Contributed to a website redesign that improved information architecture, content clarity, and overall user experience.
Conducted user testing and translated findings into design recommendations that improved usability and product adoption.
Collaborated with design, strategy, and development teams across multiple client projects and creative priorities.

TouchLogic Corp. — UI & Visual Designer

Product & Systems Design Intern
Richmond Hill, ON · Jun 2016–Nov 2016

Contributed to the redesign of a 20-page enterprise SaaS platform, supporting an approximately 50% increase in post-launch engagement.
Reduced friction in key workflows by approximately 30% fewer steps, improving usability and task efficiency.
Designed UX flows, wireframes, high-fidelity UI, and reusable components for multi-channel communication tools spanning IVR, SMS, and email.
Collaborated with stakeholders to simplify complex workflows, improve navigation, and increase feature discoverability.

Reliance Home Comfort — Analyst

Contract
Toronto, ON · 2012–2013

Organized and catalogued 500+ HR, legal, and financial documents, improving information accessibility and operational efficiency.
Designed internal systems and communication materials that improved clarity across administrative and business workflows.
Supported data quality initiatives across HR, finance, and marketing teams, enabling more accurate reporting and information management.
Conducted quality assurance on 600+ customer interactions and materials, helping maintain brand and regulatory standards.

Selected Clients & Projects

Toyota Canada · Bell Canada · Toronto Hydro · FITC · XP Gaming Inc. · LightForm Canada · Winterhouse Films · Craft Delivery · Namara Technologies · WordCamp Toronto · Canada Learning Code · Tanya Lukezic Design

Education

University of Toronto
Honours Bachelor of Arts — Communication, Culture, Information & Technology and Art & Art History · 2015

Sheridan College
Ontario College Advanced Diploma — Art & Art History · 2015

Sheridan College
Certificate — Digital Communications · 2015

Certifications

AODA Certification · 2022

Group Exhibitions

2023 — Swash & Serif 7: You are Not a Slave to Fear
Toronto Design Directory · Northern Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, ON

2015 — Latent Being
Vtape, Toronto, ON

2014 — ArtsideOUT Art Festival
University of Toronto Scarborough Campus

2014 — Cache: Re(collecting)
University of Toronto Mississauga Campus

2014 — ArtsFest 2014
University of Toronto Mississauga Campus

2012 — Student Exhibition
Sheridan College, Oakville, ON

2010 — Fast Forward Rewind
Gallery 44, Toronto, ON

Publications

2015 — U of T Students Take Facebook Prize at #DementiaHack, Win Invitation to Silicon Valley
University of Toronto, Faculty of Arts & Science · Photography

2015 — Nuit Blanche Transforms Toronto into Living Art Gallery
CityNews · Photography of Les Bosquets, 2015

2015 — Untitled, 2015
BUFF Art & Art History Student Online Publication

2014 — Dark Architecture
OpenArtsTumblr · Photography

2014 — Bellatrix / Helana Bohman Fan Art
EatSleepDraw · Design / Illustration

2014 — Seaweed Blue
OpenArtsTumblr · Photography

Grants & Awards

2014
Vincent Bob and Orlie Memorial Bursary

Community & Volunteer Practice

Photographer — New Apostolic Church Canada

2011–Present

Long-term photography practice documenting community events, conferences, and organizational activities for communications, archival, and storytelling purposes.

Assistant Youth Leader — New Apostolic Church Canada

2014–Present

Lead programs for 150+ participants while coordinating 15–20 volunteers and supporting long-term community engagement.

Volunteer Photographer — HackerNest

2015–2019

Photographed community and technology events, including DementiaHack, producing visual documentation and communications assets.

Volunteer — Startupfest / ResolveTO

2017

Photographer — The Word On The Street Toronto

2014