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Max May | CREATIVE DIRECTOR / WRITER

  • Work
  • About
  • NOTES TO SELF




Max May is an internationally recognized writer and creative director. For over a decade he has created and led campaigns alongside some of North America’s best creatives. Most recently, Max has worked with agencies and clients in Toronto, Chicago, Vancouver and Los Angeles as an independent freelancer. 

The seeds of his career in advertising were formed through the wasted hours of youth, whether it was staying up every night to watch Letterman and Conan, or playing pranks on his friends. This all culminated in the eventual post-undergrad realization he wasn’t like the other people in his $350 LSAT prep course.

When he’s able to wrest himself from the grips of the algorithm, you can find him following the Calgary Flames or the pride of North London, Arsenal. Much to his Tottenham supporting father’s dismay.

Max is a Canadian, British and Irish citizen.



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Contact

iammaxmay@gmail.com

LinkedIn



Experience

Miami Ad School, Toronto, ON
2024
Teaching impressionable creatives how to shape campaigns.

Freelance
2022 - Present
Working directly with agencies and brands to create great things.

Agency: Rethink, Highdive, 123w, ThinkingBox and more.

Brand: lululemon, The Kitchen (Kraft-Heinz)

Momentum, Toronto, ON
2019 - 2022
Tagged by Raul Garcia to build Momentum’s first dedicated Canadian creative department.

Anomaly, Toronto, ON
2017 - 2018
Discovered sneaker culture and the ins and outs of nimble production while working on Sport Chek, Nike, Can-Am and Hershey.

Rethink, Vancouver, BC
2013 - 2017
Acted as a lead creative on A&W while upping my award game.

CP+B / UNION , Toronto, ON
2012 - 2013
Arrived at my dream agency only to discover it was folding and I’d be helping launch a new agency from the ashes.

WAX, Calgary, AB
2011 - 2012
Punched above our weight on teeny-tiny budgets.

Cossette West, Vancouver, BC
2010
Earned my stripes on McDonald’s and Tourism BC.




Education

Chicago Portfolio School, Chicago
Copywriting

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
History



Awards

2022

Clio Sports - Silver - American Express x NBA 2K22, E-sports, Experiential

Clio Sports - Silver - American Express x NBA 2K22, Fan Engagement, Design

Clio Sports - Silver - American Express x NBA 2K22, Fan Engagement, Experiential

Clio Sports - Bronze - American Express x NBA 2K22, Design, Event Exhibit Design

Clio Sports - Bronze - American Express x NBA 2K22, Innovation, Medium Innovation

Effie Awards - Finalist - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Crisis Response & Critical Pivot

Effie Awards - Finalist - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Crisis Response & Critical Pivot, Consumer & Shopper

HSMAI Awards - President’s Award - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Best Recovery Marketing Campaign

HSMAI Awards - Gold - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Recovery Marketing

HSMAI Awards - Bronze - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Multimedia (Video, Animation) Series

HSMAI Awards - Bronze - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Integrated Marketing Campaign

HSMAI Awards - Bronze - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Social Media Campaign

HSMAI Awards - Bronze - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Video

2020

Atomic Awards - Silver - 5Gum, The Self Controller, Immersive Reality

Atomic Awards - Bronze - Reese’s Pieces Peanut, Peanutception, OOH/Print

Marketing Awards - Merit - 5Gum, The Self Controller, Augmented/Virtual Reality

One Show - Shortlist - 5Gum, The Self Controller, Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality

2019

Applied Arts Design - Spyder, The Joy of Three, Brochure

Media Innovation Awards - Bronze - Reese’s Pieces Peanut, Peanutception, Consumer Goods

2018

ADCC Awards - Silver - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Non-profit Interactive

ADCC Awards - Silver - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Non-profit Campaign

Applied Arts Design Awards - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Viral Single

Atomic Awards - Silver - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Idea

Atomic Awards - Silver - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Cause and Action 

Atomic Awards - Bronze - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Social 

Clio Awards - Shortlist - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Single Platform Campaign 

Communication Arts - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Digital Advertising Political/Social

Marketing Awards - Gold - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Public Service Film 

One Show - Merit - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Pre-roll Campaign 

Shopper Marketing Awards - Bronze - A&W, Root Brewery

2016 

ADCC - Merit - Variety, Medication TSA, OOH

Applied Arts - Science World, TV Campaign 

Cassies - Gold - A&W, Better Ingredients, Campaign 

Cassies - Silver - A&W, Better Ingredients, Launch  

Marketing Awards - Shortlist - Variety, Special Needs Billboard, OOH

Marketing Awards - Bronze -  Science World, TV Campaign 

Marketing Awards - Bronze - Science World, Online Campaign

2015

Lotus Awards - Bronze - Variety, TV Campaign 

Lotus Awards - Bronze - Variety, Special Needs Billboard 

Lotus Awards - Bronze - The Blacklist, Billboard 

Lotus Awards - Bronze - Rickard's Beer, TV Single 

One Show - Merit - King Pong, Logo

2014

Applied Arts - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Campaign

Applied Arts Interactive - Rethink Holiday Card

Applied Arts Interactive - The Blacklist, Billboard

Communication Arts - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Single 

Extra Awards - Bronze - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Campaign 

Lotus Awards - Gold - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Single 

Lotus Awards - Merit - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Campaign 

Lotus Awards - Merit - Splashdown Waterpark, Radio Single 

Marketing Awards - Bronze - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Campaign 

Marketing Awards - Bronze - Splashdown Waterpark, Poster 

Marketing Awards - Bronze - The Blacklist, Billboard 

2013

ADCC - Merit - CSPD, Annual Report 

Crystals - Gold - Fas Gas, Radio Campaign 

Crystals - Gold - Fas Gas, Radio Single 

Communication Arts - CSPD, Annual Report 

Marketing Awards - Bronze - Fas Gas, Radio Campaign 

2012

ADCC - Gold - CSPD, Annual Report 

Cannes Lions - Shortlist - CSPD, Annual Report 

Communication Arts - CSPD, Annual Report

Extra Awards - Honourable Mention - Honda Dealers, Print Campaign 

 


iammaxmay@gmail.com