Combining his creative background in photography and graphic arts with a commerce degree from the University of Toronto, Ben began his career in client services in the marketing and advertising field. He acquired his expertise in creative and strategic thinking, branding and direct marketing with Vancouver advertising agencies Bryant Fulton & Shee, BBDO and Lanyon Phillips Communications, working with such clients as Molson, BC Childrens Hospital, HSBC and Citizens Bank of Canada.

Ben is also involved in supporting numerous not-for-profit and charitable organizations including Beth Tikvah / C.H.I.L.D. Foundation Annual Fundraising Auction, Room to Read, University of Toronto Alumni Association and sits on the planning committee for Canstruction Vancouver.

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Although never really into heavy metal music as a child, the Van Halen logo fascinated Ben with its simplicity. He drew it all over his class notes. Not daydreaming so much as wondering how the hell Eddie scored with “One Day at a Time” star Valerie Bertinelli, it gave Ben hope.

Not particularly gifted musically, Ben took up photography, which is where his sense of spatial relationships and strong visual acuity are derived. After graduation from Commerce at the University of Toronto, Ben devised a plan to harvest organs from urban scrap animals such as raccoons, squirrels and seagulls and re-sell them as medical-grade donor parts to foreign countries. There are now people all over the world who can’t figure out why they hoard nuts.

Fed up with the constant questions, this led Ben into the world of advertising and marketing. He did stuff that you can´t get away with anymore. So, many years after picking Mark Busse as a friend because his parents had gasoline to play with, Ben and he joined creative forces, combined their talents and are now well on the way to changing the way it (i.e. stuff) is done.

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Mark´s diverse education and experience in business management and visual arts led him to co-found Industrial Brand Creative nearly ten years ago. A visual artist, strategist and writer, Mark´s communication design talent is augmented by his skills in typography, illustration, photographic manipulation, page layout and electronic pre-press.

Actively involved in design education, Mark lectures at Vancouver Film School and Langara College as well as serving as an advisor and mentor to a number of schools. He is also actively involved in his community, volunteering for a number of charitable organizations such as the Vancouver Food Bank, the Compassion Project and serving on the Advisory Committee for Common Ground.

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Born in a trailer park in Manitoba, Canada in the late sixties, Mark was raised in a cage lined with newspaper. This provided not only his education, but an affinity for print. During his adolescence, he discovered the joys of processed meat products and his love affair with capitalism simply sky rocketed.

Always known as the kid “who drew good”, Mark originally dreamt of a career as an architect. His first branding project came in 1984 when he earned himself the coveted opportunity to re-name the athletics program and design the logo for his junior high school. It didn’t increase his popularity. Then, while studying art and business in university (enough to fry both sides of anyone’s brain), Mark was forced to get his fingers dirty in a print shop in order to feed his escalating pay-per-view habit.

In his early twenties Mark was coerced into a production management position with a large commercial printer while continuing to freelance as a graphic designer and production artist. After 12 years in the printing industry, he retired to merge his growing freelance business with a successful marketing and advertising specialist, Ben Garfinkel, with whom he shared a fondness for… something (can’t remember anymore).

Mark has helped produce many award-winning projects for clients in Canada and internationally. He has been alternatively described as clever, resourceful, tenacious and weird. He is known for his forthright, “tell it like it is” style, cool sneakers and funky dance moves.

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Since Graduating with his Masters from the Royal College of Art in London, England, Matt has strategically chosen different carrier options resulting in one well-rounded individual. With his experience in branding, graphic design, art direction, management, business ownership, sales training and marketing. With a passion for leadership Matt brings out the best in his teams often challenging them to grow to new heights; whilst creating great work on time and on budget. Matt places great value on research and understanding. He rolls up his sleeves and gets dug in to see what makes the client tick. Fully understanding who they are, what they want to achieve and also their reasoning behind why they are doing what they are doing.

Hailing from Australia, Simon graduated from high school with art prize in tow. With those humble and humid beginnings, Simon took his fascination of shapes and intrigue with letterforms south to attend one of the banana republic’s top design colleges–and launched into the world of popular culture.

Simon’s passion for illustration led him to one of his most cherished artists, Salvador Dali, and became the catalyst for global travels with a thirst for all things design. With aspirations to sow creative seeds abroad, he took his desire for edgy, inspired and unexpected design to the world at large, arriving in Vancouver, Canada in 1998.

Partnering with some of Vancouver’s best talents he produced award winning annuals for the Albertan energy sector, identities for Olympic-bound ski resort municipalities and promotional print for North America’s most successful property developments.

Following the better part of eight years developing a thorough affluence in production techniques and dynamic collaboration, Simon moved to London, UK to spike his curiosity for European design. Under contract with Wolff Olins, Joshua G2, Procter & Gamble and BBDO, some of the largest design agencies in the world, he quickly became a regular and trusted face in the studio. His work has been seen across many sectors with the likes of Sony Ericsson, Proctor & Gamble, Microsoft, Barclays, Worldcard, and Manor.

After working with the team responsible for creating the London 2012 Olympics logo, Simon set his sights back to Vancouver where the 2010 Winter Olympics is starting to get fired up. Look out!

Simon’s other passions include music, snowboarding, cycling, climbing, hiking, traveling and just plain socialising over a pint or two.

Stephanie’s journey to the design industry was a fun ride. After spending years collecting movie stubs, she went on studying civil law until fate stepped in and smacked her across the face. Upon graduating from VFS’ Foundation of Visual Arts and Design program, Stephanie interned at IBC as a Junior Designer. After working for various other companies and traveling in South America and Asia, she managed to find her way back to IBC this time as Project Manager.

Brought up and educated in Vancouver, BC, she is tea-fueled, vinyl toy-obsessed, dodgeball playing Chinese-Filipino Canadian in love with all things photography and enjoys kickboxing while listening to old school Michael Jackson.

Charlie will no doubt be the first person you meet when you come to the studio. He is a very vocal member of the team, however we don’t take his graphic design opinions too seriously seeing as he is blind.

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Charlie will no doubt be the first person you meet when you come to the studio. He is a very vocal member of the team, however we don’t take his graphic design opinions too seriously seeing as he is blind.

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