

Mir Sohail Ali
Creative Director & Strategist |
Graphic, Web & Interaction Design Expert |
Marketing & Communications Specialist |
Growth Hacker in B2B, B2C & D2C segments |
Brand Expert for SMB's & not-for-profits
Phone:
+1 (289) 962 0504; +1 (647) 676 7371
Email:
A Bit About Me
I'm a result-oriented design, marketing & technical unicorn with 8+ years of experience, focused on helping organizations embrace technology, transform digitally, and share their stories using a strategic blend of emerging technologies and traditional mediums. I specialize in crafting compelling narratives for diverse organizations — from large agencies to academic institutions, complex start-ups and not-for-profits, to form relationships between ideas and reality, and methods for improving the connections between people, cultures, and the products they use.
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My interests span across the fields of Experiential & Interactive Design, AI & Gamification, Data Visualization, Digital Marketing and Ethics of Technology, which have driven me to create points of interaction for organizations who prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in their mission, their workplace and their audience. I’m committed to continuous learning, team success and meaningful social impact while working on cutting-edge design innovation and marketing trends.

Areas of Expertise
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Creative & Art Direction
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UI/UX & Interaction Design
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Web & App Design
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Brand Design & Positioning
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Video Editing & Colour Grading
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Animation & Motion Graphics
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​​Mentorship & Team Building
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Digital, Email & Content Marketing
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Project & Stakeholder Management
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Account & Financial Management
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​Search Engine Optimization
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Digital Ad Campaigns & Sales Funnels
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Inbound Marketing Strategy & Optimization
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Search Engine Marketing
Education & Certifications
University of Wales, Cardiff
B.A. Digital Media (majors Game Design) (Hons.)
Seneca College, Ontario
Diploma Interactive Media Design (Hons.)
Harvard Business School Online
Market Disruption and Strategic Planning for Growth & Innovation
Harvard Business School Online
HBX Core: Business Analytics, Economics for Managers and Financial Accounting
Google Analytics, DV 360, Search Ads 360, Campaign Manager 360
LinkedIn Learning, PMI
Six Sigma Black Belt
Interaction Design Foundation
Member
HubSpot
Content Marketing, Inbound Marketing, Email Marketing, Inbound Marketing Optimization, Digital Advertising, Marketing Hub Software

Technical Skillset
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Creative: Adobe Creative Suite — InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, XD, Figma, Sketch; Autodesk — Maya, 3DS Max, Keyshot
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Web Design & Dev: WordPress (Elementor & Jetpack), HTML, CSS, JavaScript, WCAG 2.0, SEO, SEM
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Marketing & Analytics: Google Analytics, Display & Video 360, Search Ads 360, Google Ad Manager, CASL
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CMS Softwares: Adobe Experience Manager, Webflow, WordPress, WIX
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CRM Softwares: HubSpot, Salesforce, Copper, Mailchimp, Zoho
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LMS Platforms: Class 365, Blackboard, D2L Brightspace
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Project Management: Monday, Jira, MS Project
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MS Office: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint
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Meeting & Event Softwares: MS Teams, Zoom Webinars, Pheedloop, Clickmeeting
Work Experience
Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University
Oct 2019 – Mar 2024
Web & Interactive Media Design Specialist​
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Spearheaded the establishment of comprehensive design guidelines, standardized visual UI components and best practices, ensuring brand alignment and consistency across all initiatives, with tools like Figma and Adobe XD, increasing user engagement by 35%.
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Directed the web design and development process, translating user requirements into logical user flows, storyboards, information architecture, and website mock-ups streamlining the deployment process by 25%. Implemented cross-platform responsive design, boosting mobile traffic by 40%.
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Conducted user research, surveys, and usability testing to understand user needs, behaviours, and pain points, leading to a 25% improvement in user satisfaction scores. Optimized navigation and information architecture flow improving accessibility and usability, resulting in a 30% decrease in bounce rates on the main website and the landing pages.
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Integrated and deployed Google Analytics, SEMrush and Hotjar analyzing user behavior such as time-on-page and scroll depth and addressing pain points that lead to a 15% increase in task completion rates. Conducted A/B testing on design elements, achieving a 12% higher click-through rate on redesigned CTAs.
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Oversaw end-to-end planning, design, and delivery of communication products, including the newsletter — The Catalyst Connect, digital assets, reports, presentations, 2D & 3D animations and video ads, achieving a 34% increase in user engagement across all platforms.
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Led the setup and optimization of marketing & event operations, including migration to HubSpot and development of comprehensive digital marketing strategies, sales pipelines, and ad campaigns for free & paid programs for individuals (B2C), SMB & large organizations (B2B).
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Designed and developed customer-facing chatbot, training sessions and onboarding materials, converting high ticket sales (selling $15,000 program), and coordinated with internal product teams to ensure implementation of conversion strategies resulting in a 32% increase in conversions.
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Led content marketing initiatives, producing high-quality blog posts, articles, and multimedia content, leading to a 31% increase in website traffic, a 36% improvement in organic search rankings, a 25% increase in conversion rates and a 23% decrease in customer acquisition costs.
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Led the development, implementation, and evaluation of communication strategies and assisted in planning, designing, and launching 12 programs that fostered collaboration across individuals, private and broader public sector, and academia, filling over 800 job vacancies in cyber.
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Led event planning, communication, execution, and delivery of events, building an audience of over 19,000 individuals, businesses, researchers, participants, and partners. Managed budgets for web, production and interaction design, marketing & events of up to $3 million while supervising subcontractors and ensuring quality standards.
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Collaborated on drafting and developing funding proposals and pitches that resulted in investment commitments of $15 million over 5 years from Rogers Communications, $1 million from RBC and $1 million from Mastercard towards supporting Catalyst initiatives.
Seneca College
Jun 2018 – Aug 2019
Technologist & Course Instructor FYE 101
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Directed the production and curation of print and digital advertisement content for FCAD, resulting in a 20% increase in engagement and program applications under the guidance of the Dean of Studies.
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Mentored students on academic and career-related matters, offering guidance on course selection, portfolio development, internships, and job search strategies, resulting in a 15% increase in student internship placements and job placements post-graduation.
Teaching Assistant
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Collaborated with the course instructor to prepare and assess student work for the Interactive Media tools course, impacting 27 students in Fall 2018 and 23 students in Winter 2019 terms, achieving a 85% average student satisfaction rating.
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Provided comprehensive and timely feedback through online and in-person sessions to facilitate course discussions on student assignments, projects, and portfolio development, leading to 17% improved academic grades and better-quality student projects for portfolios.
Jessi Publications
Chennai, IN
Oct 2016 – Dec 2017
Marketing & Design Lead
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Led the creation of educational materials, such as textbooks and workbooks, in line with the Tamil Nadu School State Board curriculum. Managed a team of 10, including graphic, motion & interactive designers, artists, video editors and writers, offering guidance and feedback, and collaborated with subject matter experts to ensure timely delivery of high-quality design work.
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Developed and implemented a style guide and design standards, ensuring consistency across all educational materials and enhancing brand identity. Ensured all educational materials met accessibility standards, making them suitable for a diverse range of learners and enhancing inclusivity, increasing gross sales by 12%.
Sruthika Entertainment
Hyderabad, IN
Feb 2015 – Aug 2016
Game Designer
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Created and developed the game's concept and designed its gameplay mechanics and features.
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Designed the game's core mechanics, including character movement, combat, AI behaviours, and physics.
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Designed the levels, environments, and gameplay scenarios that players will encounter in the game.
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Collaborated with artists, sound designers, and other team members to ensure the game's visual and audio elements aligned with the design vision.
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Developed the game's story and narrative, including the characters, plot, and dialogues.
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Designed the game's user interface, including menus, HUD elements, and controls.
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Managed project timelines, budgets, and resources and ensuring the game's development stays on track.
Self-employed
Chennai, IN
Sep 2014 – Jan 2015
Freelance Illustrator & Concept Artist
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Collaborated with the creative team to brainstorm and develop original concepts, ensuring alignment with project goals and artistic vision.
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Created detailed sketches, storyboards, and illustrations that accurately represent the concepts and ideas, contributing to the visual storytelling process, utilizing digital tools and software to produce high-quality, polished illustrations and concept art, and maintaining consistency with the overall style and aesthetics.
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Implemented feedback from senior artists and clients to refine and improve artwork, demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to adapt.
We Must
September 2024 – November 2024
Senior Manager, Product & Marketing
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Defined and executed product vision, strategy, and roadmap, aligning with business goals and market trends. Led end-to-end product development, prioritizing features and managing the product lifecycle, achieving user adoption growth of 35% and a 28% increase in revenue.
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Spearheaded the creation and maintenance of a scalable design system, fostering consistency across all user interfaces and reducing design-to-development time by 20%. Integrated branding guidelines into UI/UX frameworks, enhancing brand cohesion & boosting user retention by 15%.
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Designed and implemented a user-centered design strategy to align with product goals and market needs, ensuring seamless customer experiences across digital platforms resulting in a 25% increase in task completion rates. Streamlined the feedback process, reducing iteration cycles by 25%, and ensured alignment between business goals and user needs.
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Monitored and analyzed design performance through key metrics like bounce rate, conversion rate, and time-on-task by conducting A/B and usability tests. Implemented data-driven WCAG 2.1 compliant design changes that boosted conversion rates by 33% and reduced cart abandonment rates by 18%.
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Oversaw product and marketing budgets and optimized resources, leading to a 25% increase in driving campaign success. Led and mentored cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative environment focused on innovation and growth.
Mir Sohail Ali Studios
Jan 2018 – Present
Founder & Creative Director
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Providing ad-hoc creative and marketing services in the SaaS & not-for-profit sector. Notable clients include: Rogers Communications, Cybersecure Policy Exchange, Govt. of Ontario, Alkali Partners, Avasam, Battlebet, Clearmove, Immutable, My Motor, Northflank, X-Opia, Zavy 360, FCBSix.