Great news, our Ramp spotlight is back! We know you missed us, so we’re giving you a chance to catch up with the Ramp team and get to know us a little better. Next up we’re speaking with our extremely interesting and talented creative director, David Brouitt. Here’s what we found out about David:

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Montreal, but I’m not sure that I actually grew up.

 As a child, what did you want to be?

My kindergarten report card said I loved colouring, but I suspect that may have been printed directly on the report card for all kids in order to save the teacher time. I always liked to draw though, and I can remember sitting with my dad (he was a very accomplished artist) when I was very young and drawing with him on a fairly regular basis, or watching him paint. I used to do cartoons of my family and for some reason, I always depicted my dad on skates. He wasn’t even a skater. Weird.

How did you get into marketing/advertising?

My first job out of art school was in the in-house marketing department of Avon Canada in Montreal. It was an amazing training ground for an aspiring art director because those nifty little Avon brochures were packed with creative and design challenges that included product photography and live model shoots. If an Avon lady came to your door, chances are I played a small role in your purchase of Skin So Soft (known for its moisturizing qualities, but even more so as an effective mosquito repellant. That’s a true fact. You can look it up.)

You’ve been at Ramp for a while, now. What do you like about working here?

Certainly the fact that we’re values-driven and we don’t just pay lip-service. We really are about our values, it’s apparent in how we work together and the kinds of clients we choose to work with. Using our strategic and creative skills to help clients that making the world a better place is a pretty swell way to make a living.

Do you have any favourite hobbies, if so what are they?

New Yorker-style cartoons! (and I’ve got the rejection slips to prove it) Go here to check them out. Enjoy. Share. Like. 500 followers by Christmas? We can do it!

Do you have any hidden talents?

I play a very medium piano.

What’s your favourite movie and why?

Ordinary People. Why? Evil Mary. Beleaguered Dad. Timothy Hutton is great in this. And the soundtrack: Pachelbel Canon before it was played into the ground.

Been to any good events lately?

Chris Rock was a highlight recently. No phones in the arena. Weird feeling, but not altogether bad to be removed from that distraction for a couple of hours.

Where is your favourite travel destination?

Warmth.

What’s your favourite ad or campaign of all time?

Cliche perhaps but Volkswagen, not just because of the original “think small” campaign at launch which revolutionized print, but when you consider the way they have maintained the spirit of that brand for 60 years, it’s pretty impressive.

Image source: guity-novin.blogspot.ca

What’s one thing not a lot of people know about you?

I can run a mile in under 20 minutes.

What’s your favourite hidden gem in Toronto?

My wife.

In case you missed it, check out our spotlight on our art director Sheree Stephenson and director of client services, Doug Harrison. Up next, we’ll be catching up with our graphic designer, Kelsey Blake. Don’t miss it!