Elevator pitch

1:29:56 AM

Leslie Zani is a 20-something year old Kenyan-born, full-stack designer specializing in video editing, marketing, branding and advertising with a passion for equal parts creative, business and tech.

Leslie Zani is a 20-something year old Kenyan-born, full-stack designer specializing in video editing, marketing, branding and advertising with a passion for equal parts creative, business and tech.

Over the years, he's gained experience with everyone from startups to top ad agencies & Fortune 500s. Currently freelancing in Toronto, ON.

I moved to Canada all by myself in 2017 to immerse myself in the advertising and design industry (architecture, environmental design, automotive marketing, branding, UX/UI, design systems. A+ content and D2C/B2C models and more). And I'm proud to have since amassed a growing, robust network of connections and peers at some of Canada’s top ad agencies including Cossette, Bruce Mau Design, Forsman & Bodenfors, TAXI, VML (J. Walter Thompson), The Mint Agency & Arrivals + Departures; but I'm only just getting started. As an aspiring ECD/CCO, my aim is to create harmony and bridge the gap between c-suite decisions and creative integrity.

As a Jr. AD at Kuruza, my job is to foster an ever-growing community of tastemakers at the intersection of music, arts and immersive experiences. Here, I collaborate on promotional collateral and creative direction initiatives (AKA we throw sick parties). I'm a self-described cultural archaeologist and an advocate of the aspects of everyday life that allow us to live well-rounded and fulfilling experiences. TLDR, I want to create work that matters & makes the world a better place.

Selected Experience

The Challenge

Summer Intern (Finalist)

Cossette

2024 - Summer

Junior Designer

Richmond Day

2024 - Fall

Education

The Challenge

OCAD University

Environmental Design

2017 - 2018

George Brown College

Graphic Design

2019 - 2022

Awards + Recognitions

Hxouse Tenant - Blxck House Labs

D&AD New Blood Awards, Finalist (2019)

George Brown College (GBC) Dean’s List (2020)

GBC President's Honour Roll (2018-2020)

GBC Illustration Competition, Winner (2019)

RGD Student Awards, Top Pick for website design (2019)

GBC Intl' Student Academic Achievement Award (2018, 2019)

Institute Without Boundaries, Design Charrette (2019)

RGD Student Awards, Top Pick for website design (2019)

Cossette Summer BIPOC Internship (Finalist)

What makes me special?

1. I'm not just good with a bunch of apps, I'm a reliable creative resource. Meaning, you name it, weekends, early mornings, late nights, I'm your guy. I'll be there!

2. I bring a fresh, globally informed perspective having navigated a unique path as a Kenyan-born designer who grew up in the UK and currently lives in Toronto.

3. I want to make things that matter with cool people for cool people. I love pushing boundaries, whether it’s mixing cultural influences with contemporary design or working on projects that open up access for marginalized voices in the industry, I'm a mixologist. A people person. And this journey has made me adaptable, culturally aware, and gritty.

Clients

BMW Canada
BMW Motorrad
MINI
Shoppers Drugmart
McCafe (Cossette)
Stackt Market
Kenya Airways
Fat Bastard Burritos
Instagram (Meta)
The GiftShop
SKIP (fka Skip the Dishes)
Boiler Room
Soho House

Clients

BMW Canada
BMW Motorrad
MINI
Shoppers Drugmart
McCafe (Cossette)
Stackt Market
Kenya Airways
Fat Bastard Burritos
Instagram (Meta)
The GiftShop
SKIP (fka Skip the Dishes)
Boiler Room
Soho House

Services

Graphic Design
Product Design (UX/UI)
Packaging Design
Promotional Collateral
Art Direction
Brand & Creative Strategy
Copywriting
Video Editing
Motion Graphics

Memberships

Arrivals + Departures Mentee (2024-Present)

HXOUSE Tenant (2022-Present)

Where are the Black Designers? (WATBD) (2020-Present)

Provisional RGD (2020-Present)

Student RGD (2018-2020)

RAW Artists Canada (2024)

My Stack

The Challenge

McCafé aims to celebrate the Holiday season with a new festive cup design that connects with their audience. My job is to Identify how McCafé Cups can stand out from the rest of the competition - identifying feel-good moments that McCafé can own during the busy Festive period.

Figma

Framer

WebFlow

Google Ad Manager

Google Web Designer

Autodesk 3ds Max

Adobe Creative Suite

Spline

Visual Studio Code

FL Studio

Rekordbox

CMS

Creative / Marketing

Brand Identity

Motion Graphics

UX & UI

Illustration

Audio Engineering

Film & Production

Video Editing

Cinema 4D

Blender

Notion

HTML 5 / CSS 3

psst...Craving some fresh jams to listen to while working?

Check out some of my tracks below….