# Ben Weeks — Illustrator, Art Director & Motion Designer

> Toronto-based illustrator, art director, and motion designer with 20+ years of
> independent practice. Clients include The New York Times, Wealthsimple, Canada
> Goose, Honda, BMO, RBC, TD, Disney, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Pentagram, and
> Stanford School of Business. D&AD and ADCC award winner. 
> Available for illustration & motion design work.

## About

Ben Weeks runs Ben Weeks Art & Design, a Toronto-based creative studio founded
in 2005. His practice spans editorial illustration, advertising, motion design,
lettering, murals, and creative direction. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative
Imaging from the University of Huddersfield (UK, 2004, full scholarship) and a
Diploma in Illustration from Sheridan College (2003).

He taught Motion Design, (Brand Strategy, Typography, Motion and Design Principles) at
Miami Ad School Toronto / M.AD School of Ideas from 2017 to 2025. He also served
as Partial Load Faculty and Course Leader at Sheridan College (2010), teaching
digital media and design for the Honours Bachelor of Illustration program, and
chaired the grad-show awards judging. He wrote graphic design curriculum for Redeemer University (2025).

He is the author of Drawing Upgrade, a visually driven guide for life drawing
artists. Available as an ebook (PDF, $12 USD), audiobook ($24 USD), and video
walkthrough bundle ($55 USD) at benweeks.ca/drawing_upgrade.

He serves as Treasurer on the board of a non-profit affordable housing
co-operative.

## Recognition & Awards

- D&AD Wood Pencil, Illustration / Graphic Design — Pen Canada (2006)
- D&AD Wood Pencil, Graphic Design / Posters — Ben Weeks Has Many Loves (2010)
- Advertising and Design Club of Canada (ADCC), Gold — Pen Canada (2007)
- Communication Arts Design Annual 48 — Pen Canada (2007)
- Applied Arts Illustration Award — Rocketman (2002)
- Applied Arts Illustration Award — Performance Enhancement, New York Times (2008)
- Applied Arts Illustration Award — ALS (2010)
- Applied Arts Illustration Award — Algonquin College Cover (2012)
- Applied Arts Illustration Award — All That Glitters is Gold (2012)
- Applied Arts Illustration Award — Juniper Park Mural (2012)
- Association of Illustrators Awards, Silver — Smoke Signal (2006)
- UK Prospects Contemporary Drawing Prize, Finalist (2004)
- Canada Arts Council Artist Profile Approval (2022)
- Full Scholarship, Strategy Bootcamp, M.AD School (2019)
- MA Degree Full Scholarship, Yorkshire Forward / European Union (2003)

## American Illustration

- AI 22 — Gemini, Selected (2002)
- AI 23 — Space Race Semiotics, Chosen (2003)
- AI 26 — Honda Fit, Selected (2007)
- AI 29 — Depression's Upside, Selected (2010)
- AI 31 — Holiday Essentials, Selected (2012)
- AI 35 — Teepee Bird, Chosen (2016)
- AI 38 — Phages Save Us, Chosen (2019)

## Selected Clients by Year

2025: BMO (motion graphics, Los Angeles and Canada-wide branch screens including 
Yonge-Dundas Square and First Canadian Place)
2024: University of Toronto (via The Office of Gilbert Li)
2023: Canada Goose, Canada Post (via Sputnik), Canadian Cancer Society (via Juliette)
2022: Wealthsimple Magazine (Editorial Art Director, contract)
2021: AARP / The Arrow
2020: Dwell, Atlantic Council for International Cooperation, Disney / Peoples /
Zales (via Juliet Creative)
2019: Seneca College
2018: Pizza Pops (via Cossette), Pentagram
2017: Mozilla, University of Waterloo, Ryerson University, Reader's Digest Canada
2016: TD Bank First Nations School Programs
2015: Canadian Olympic Committee (via Cossette), on-set art direction
2014: College Track (pro bono brand consulting; non-profit founded by Laurene Powell-Jobs), Stanford School of Business Magazine
Art Directors Club Global
2013: Wharton Alumni Magazine (via Pentagram), The Walrus, Rotman School of
Business UofT (via Underline)
2012: RBC Investor Services, Canadian Cancer Society, Parks Canada
2011: Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Cottage Life, Air Canada / enRoute, Juniper Park
(now TBWA/Canada)
2010: Random House Canada / Roméo Dallaire, National Post, New York Times
Magazine, Future Shop (via Anomaly), TIME Magazine
2009: The Atlantic, Esquire Black Book, Concrete Design Communications
2008: Penguin Canada, Microsoft, Victoria Symphony (via Wax), YMCA Canada,
Toronto Life, New York Times, SickKids Hospital Foundation, Chevrolet Malibu
(via McCann Canada)
2006: Honda, Xbox 360, Toronto Star, Pen Canada

## Key Pages

- [Home](https://benweeks.ca): Studio overview, practice areas, and recent work
- [Illustration](https://benweeks.ca/illustration): Editorial, advertising, and lettering portfolio
- [Design](https://benweeks.ca/design): Visual systems, brand, and product design work
- [Chalk Murals](https://benweeks.ca/chalkmurals): Large-scale live illustration and installation work
- [Wealthsimple](https://benweeks.ca/wealthsimple): Editorial art direction case study
- [Canada Goose](https://benweeks.ca/canadagoose): Motion design and lettering case study
- [RBC Investor Services](https://benweeks.ca/rbc-investor-services): Icon system design
- [Scientia Digital](https://benweeks.ca/scientia-digital): Corporate identity
- [Ben Weeks Studio](https://benweeks.ca/ben-weeks-studio): Illustration studio overview
- [Drawing Upgrade](https://benweeks.ca/drawing_upgrade): Book — life drawing guide, 3 formats
- [Paintings](https://benweeks.ca/paintings): Abstract painting practice

## Contact

- Email: ben@benweeks.ca
- Phone: +1-416-845-8696

## External Links

- [IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5697166/)
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q140234263)
- [EverybodyWiki](https://en.everybodywiki.com/Ben_Weeks)
- [llms.txt](https://benweeks.github.io/llms.txt)
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benweeks)
- [Behance](https://www.behance.net/benweeks)
- [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ben_weeks)
- [Vimeo](https://vimeo.com/benweeks)