Whitman Emorson is a Toronto-based design studio. We solve complex problems with a human touch. Clients become partners – creative collaborators in a process rooted in research, strategy and critical thinking. We’re a team of designers, strategists, writers, editors and creative thinkers bound by the desire to produce thoughtful and responsive work. We work across sectors and geographies to deliver innovative solutions; communication strategies, brand and visual identities, packaging, signage, books, magazines, exhibitions and more.

  • Yasemin Emory & Whitney Geller Yasemin Emory & Whitney Geller Partners

  • Whitman Emorson was founded by Whitney and Yasemin – long time friends and creative collaborators – in New York in 2011. As entrepreneurial self-starters, they’re driven by the idea that design should support a multiplicity of voices and set out to create a studio to pursue projects of value. Their desire to produce good work and create meaning in the world underpins the studio’s approach and collaborative culture.

  • Jacqueline Lane Jacqueline Lane Executive Creative Director

    Jacqueline brings nearly two decades of experience to Whitman Emorson as Creative Director. She’s worked at some of Canada’s most renowned agencies, including john st., Bruce Mau Design, Jackman and Public Address where she fostered strong relationships working with global brands like GE, Netflix, MGM Studios and SONOS. Her work has been recognized nationally and internationally by D&AD, ADCC, Communication Arts and Applied Arts, and has won Strategy’s AOY. A design educator at heart, Jacqueline teaches at Miami Ad School, where she nurtures the next generation of creatives and brings her infectious enthusiasm and ingenuity to every interaction and project.

  • Paul Kawai Paul Kawai Creative Director

    Paul has over 15 years experience designing and building brand identities, architectural environments, print publications and digital tools across a range of sectors. As Creative Director, he leads creative across all WE design projects. Paul’s past clients include Unilever, Toronto International Film Festival, FIFA, the Bentway, Electronic Arts and the Fogo Island Inn.

  • Hannah Siklos Hannah Siklos Business Director

    A force of positivity and creativity, Hannah brings a proven track record of success and nearly a decade of experience collaborating with leading global brands including Netflix, FIFA, EJ Gallo Wines, and Proctor and Gamble. As Whitman Emorson’s Account Director, Hannah leads complex projects and oversees client services with the personal attention they require. Emboldened by the groundswell of social movements, Hannah is a motivated activist who aims to bring social and environmental consciousness to her work.

  • Claire Reis Claire Reis Senior Account Manager

    Claire began her career at Concrete, managing branding projects across the food and beverage, beauty and real estate industries. Her experience centres on nurturing client relationships and communications; she has a deep appreciation for beautifully designed brands and a flair for bringing them to life. Always on a mission to find creative solutions on-brief and within budget, Claire thrills in exceeding client objectives while ensuring the highest quality output.

  • Kristina Ljubanovic Kristina Ljubanovic Strategy Director

    A longtime Whitman Emorson collaborator, focusing on everything from brand visions to wayfinding to magazine writing, Kristina joined as strategy director in 2018. Guided by empathy and her journalistic instincts, she leads the studio’s strategic approach to problem solving. Kristina trained as an architect and journalist, and she continues to teach at George Brown College’s School of Design and write for The Globe and Mail, where she contributed a weekly interior design column for several years.

  • Helaena Pezzano Helaena Pezzano Senior Design Strategist

    Helaena is an experienced strategist driven by solving complex problems through human-centred design. She holds a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Design Strategy and brings a breadth of experience working with some of Canada’s most trusted brands. At Whitman Emorson, Helaena approaches each project as a challenge, thoughtfully weaving research, intuition and storytelling to build meaningful brands and drive their success.

  • Jeremy Paul Jeremy Paul Design Strategist

    Guided by curiosity, Jeremy uses his diverse creative experience as a foundation and guidepost when approaching projects. With a background in fashion, he’s expanded his work to the world of branding and design with partners such as SSENSE, Apple and Loblaw Companies. As a Strategist at WE, he strives to create compelling stories that resonate with brands and their audiences.

  • Julie MacKinnon Julie MacKinnon Lead Designer

    Coming from some award-winning agencies and studios—Cossette and Underline amongst them—Julie brings her diverse design experience to Whitman Emorson. She’s worked with clients like SickKids, The Bentway and QuoBeauty and has a particular soft spot for cultural and educational institutions.

  • Laura Soper Laura Soper Senior Designer

    Laura studied fashion design and graphic design, and worked at Sid Lee, before joining Whitman Emorson in 2018. At WE, she creates smart, beautiful visual identities for culturally significant clients like the One of a Kind show and SeeChange. She’s a mean illustrator and climbs rocks in her spare time.

  • Julie-Rose Pagnotta Julie-Rose Pagnotta Senior Designer

    JR studied psychology, visual art and finally graphic design before joining Whitman Emorson. She brings her critical, systematic and creative thinking to bear on projects like Arts Brookfield event materials. JR says every design challenge is like a “puzzle that requires a clever and meaningful solution” with the potential to change human behaviour.

  • Emmi Ojansivu Emmi Ojansivu Designer, Jems Creative Director

    Originally from Finland, Emmi studied fashion before discovering her love of graphic design. After a stint at 358, a creative agency in Helsinki, Emmi landed at Van Der Pop, a female-centric cannabis brand in Toronto. As a member of the WE team, she brings her passion for typography and a bold and graphic style to the table. Emmi loves to tackle meaningful projects, driven by the belief that design is a tool to amplify important voices. Emmi still dabbles in fashion, making knit-wear; her craft is always an extension of her design practice.

  • Noah Melrose Noah Melrose Designer

    Noah came to Whitman Emorson from Jam3 where he honed his skill and passion for production design and worked on immersive brand experiences for clients like Netflix, Spotify, Adidas and Samsung. With a keen eye for detail and a desire to create meaningful work, he applies precision, care and personal attention to every project. When Noah’s not working, you can find him playing guitar, reading non-fiction or out with his camera.

  • Emily Charles Emily Charles Director of Finance

    After leaving a career in public accounting, Emily jumped headfirst into the retail world. She ran and operated her own store for over ten years and launched Fashion Truck Canada, the first mobile retail store in Canada. She brings her strategic approach and wealth of knowledge and experience around all things brand and finance to WE, overseeing financial reporting and strategy, as well as internal controls. When Emily’s not problem-solving for us, she’s likely obsessing over a true-crime podcast or kickin’ it with her family.