Scott Cressman

Lecturer, Visual Communications

“You can't change people's behavior today with facts and information alone. People don't want to be told. You need to connect with them emotionally and you need to matter on a human level in a world of mediocre content and brand storytelling. Human thinking, not design thinking, is the key to better design and a better world.”

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I work with organizations to develop effective strategies, motivating ideas and impact through human-centered design thinking. I mentor and inspire new generations of creatives and communicators to think critically, solve complex problems and drive change as an educator.

I am interested in people, what influences them and how they shape their perceptions, beliefs and choices. For 26 years I have worked with organizations in Canada and USA in marketing, public relations and digital communications. I have embraced complex challenges and introduced creative innovation and transformational thinking that has resulted in client program performance and success. 

I am an award-winning, disciplined, dual hemisphere thinker. I love complex challenges, continual learning and strategic and creative processes.

 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scressman/ 

Education

Visual Communications Diploma (with distinction), Alberta College of Art + Design, 1989 – 1992

Petroleum Technology – Production Major, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, 1981 – 1983

Selected Professional Activity

Professional

Director, Integrated Strategy, V Strategies Inc. 2013 –Mentor, Digital Experience, Ellen Parker Public Relations  2014 – 2017

Brand, Strategy and Content Marketing Advisor, Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund  2016 – 2017

Sessional Instructor, Public Relations, Mount Royal University 2003 –  2017

Director of Strategy and Digital Development, Park Digital  2013 – 2015

Creative Director, University of Calgary  2012 – 2013

Director, Strategic Communications, LPi Communications Group  2009 – 2012

National Director – Digital Communications, National Public Relation  2008 – 2009

Creative Director, Canadian Centre for Energy Information  2003 – 2007

Creative Director, NATIONAL Public Relations and Cohn & Wolfe Canada  2002 – 2007

Director, Product Design, Getty Images  2000 – 2002

Creative Director, EyeWire Inc.  1999 – 2000

Art Director, Adobe  1997 – 1999

Art Director, Image Club Graphics  1996 – 1997

Art Director, Digital Explorer Media Inc.1996

Art Director, Western International Communications (WIC - now Shaw Media) 1992 – 1996

Teaching

Graphic Design Stream Lead and Lecturer, Alberta College of Art + Design, Calgary 2015 - 2016

Sessional Instructor – Web and Social Mediated Communications, Centre for Communications Studies, Mount Royal University, Calgary 2003 – 2017 

Sessional Instructor – Visual Communications, Alberta College of Art + Design, Calgary 1997 – 2001

Selected Publications

Public Speaking and Workshops

Speaker: International Association of Design Research Societies (IADRS): Presentation of research paper: Applying Design Thinking for Business Model Innovation for Nonprofit Organizations, Cincinnati 2017

CICan Conference: Speaker: How Design Thinking Succeeds, Ottawa 2017

Bell Media: Speaker: The Power of Visual Communications, Bell Centre, Calgary, 2017

Speaker: ATB Business Innovators Series, 2017

Speaker: Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD): Case Study on Public Design, Sarasota, 2017

Guest Lecturer: Bissett School of Business, 2010 - present, Digital Research Tools for Marketers and Communicators, Calgary

Speaker: Investor Relations in the Energy Industry Web Workshop, Calgary, 2008

Speaker: The Canadian Institute, Investor Relations in the Digital Age, Calgary, 2006

Speaker: Maximizing the Power of Online Communications, National Public Relations and Burson Marstellar, Toronto, 2006

Speaker: Case Study: Canadian Centre for Energy Information AAEIC Conference, Calgary, 2004 

Speaker: Home on the Web: New ways to approach your web site, Vancouver, 2004

International Association of Business Communicators, Calgary, 2004 

Guest Speaker: Alberta College of Art and Design, 1998 – 2002 

Speaker: Banff Centre For The Arts, 1997 

Selected Awards

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Awards, District 8

  • University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine Publications Suite, 2015
  • University of Calgary Master Identity Refresh, 2015
  • University of Calgary The Greatest Outdoor Show ABOVE Earth, 2014

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)

  • Silver Leaf Award of Excellence Precision Drilling Recruitment Program, 2009

Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS)

  • Gold, Precision Drilling Recruitment Program, 2009

National Public Relations

  • NATIONAL, Chairman’s Award 2007
  • NATIONAL, Innovation Award 2007
  • NATIONAL, Business Development and Management Achievement Award, 2004

Direct Marketing Association (DMA), Echo Awards 1998, 1999, 2000

CanPro Awards, Broadcast Promotion, 1994, 1996

Promax, Los Angeles – Gold, 1995

Promax/Broadcast Designers Association, New Orleans – Silver and bronze, 1994

Promax/Broadcast Designers Association, Washington D.C. – Silver, 1993

Alberta College of Art and Design – Board of Governors Award (academic achievement), 1992