Canada

Service Design

Graphic Design

UX Design

Branding and Identity Design

UX Research

Masters of Arts

Bachelor's degree

Visual Communication

Harry Olson

Senior Service Designer

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Critical-thinking

Brand strategy

Figma

Adobe Creative Suite

Introduce yourself, define mentoring expectations and goals. Learn and grow together.

General mentorship

Making remote and globally distributed teams work for you and your needs.

Working remotely

Learn essential burnout prevention techniques and replenish physical and emotional energy.

Managing burnout

Talk to people who have learned to manage their imposter syndrome.

Dealing with imposter syndrome

Understanding factors that lead to a motivated team - recognition, communication and more.

Keeping team members motivated

How to create a positive workplace culture that drives collaboration and productivity?

Fostering a good team culture

Steps to building and maintaining a strong, cohesive and effective team.

Building an effective team

Learn the tips to successfully manage a team in a remote environment.

Managing a remote team

Get actionable feedback on your resume or portfolio.

Resume and portfolio review

Practice HR, technical and behavioural interviews with mentors.

Practice mock interviews

Manage team expectations and get the most out of your meetings.

Running effective meetings

How to work with team members with different skill sets but towards a common goal?

Working cross-functionally

Methods and models of exploring, deciding and delivering design.

Building a design process

Explore different generative and evaluative research techniques. User research synthesis and presentation.

Conducting good user research

Ways and resources to improve your design skills.

Improving design skills

How to create personas, and leverage them in design.

Creating and leveraging user personas

Ways to provide constructive feedback to team members.

Giving effective feedback

How to conduct interviews, what to ask, and how to analyze your results? (eg. user interview)

Conducting effective customer interviews

How to think about design career paths and what progression looks like for designers?

Design career path

I help communicate complex systems and frameworks for a public audience. Working with the core team of urban planners, architects, and research specialists – I help translate insights into action by using a series of design methods and strategies.Projects:Vancouver Breweries Wellbeing Patio StudyNational Policy for Happier, Healthier Communities in United Arab EmiratesRapid Placemaking to Bring Back Main StreetMajor Urban Parks Audit in Mexico City

Vancouver Design Week (VDW) is the region’s official interdisciplinary design festival — at once a city-wide platform, invitation and call to action! VDW is a unique opportunity to: celebrate local design talent; connect design makers and users, and to support design’s capacity for improving the quality of our everyday lives.Over the last three festivals, I was involved in a leadership role managing Special Projects and Teams. I was responsible for managing teams, budgets, and execution of projects. I used agile leadership models comprised of informed decision making, fast execution, and hyper-awareness. The projects demanded work on-call and extended hours outside of full-time employment on a volunteer basis.2020: Mentor & Advisor, Social Media Management2017: Event Planning & Design: VIP Party, Launch Party, Social Media Content Creation2014: Event Planning & Design: Architecture Walking Tours, Social Media Content Creation

MGA is an Architecture + Interior Design firm working on large and small projects here at home and around the world. We are motivated to design with meaning. MGA provides a full scope of architectural services, from pre-design through to completion. Landscape architecture, interior design and wayfinding are integrated into our process. We are adept at reinvigorating existing buildings through renovation, and we pursue high-performing, environmentally sensitive buildings for our clients. Graphic design, architectural rendering, and high quality architectural model-making round out our services.I was responsible for identifying and promoting opportunities for proactive online and offline communications strategies to raise awareness of new wood building technologies and architecture projects. I was also responsible for developing and refining design systems in the Communications Department reporting to the Director of Communications and who led all PR and Media Releases.Other responsibilities included designing all external and internal communications for the architecture firm (e.g.: keynote presentations, social media management and content creation, website content management, photography, and user experience design), and coordinating with subconsultants, suppliers, and photographers.

Public is a multi-disciplinary design firm—a partnership between architects, interiors specialists and communication designers. Public works at the intersection of media and the built environment. We build dynamic public spaces that people feel connected to.I was responsible for leading communication and wayfinding projects working directly with municipal governments and sub-consultants. I reported directly to the founding partners (architecture and communication) while managing timelines, budgets, and clear deliverables. Projects also included user experience design, website content management, internal marketing, and vendor coordination (printing and web development).

Megaphone is a magazine sold on the streets of Vancouver and Victoria by homeless and low-income vendors. Published monthly by the not-for-profit Street Corner Media Foundation, vendors buy the paper for 75 cents and sell the magazine for $2. All money from the transaction goes into the pocket of the vendor.The magazine covers important social justice issues, general interest stories and independent arts in Vancouver and Victoria. Megaphone’s goal is to provide a voice and an economic opportunity for homeless and low-income people while building grassroots support to end poverty.

Designer working on large scale point-of-purchase retail marketing for Nintendo of Canada Ltd. and local businesses.

Graphic designer working with a multi-disciplinary team, rolling out large-scale retail store design and brand strategy through concept development, creative direction, and design.

Managed projects independently and collaboratively, establishing goals and timelines. Responsibilities included concept development, creative direction, design, and final production for both online and offline projects.

HAO is a multidisciplinary design studio with a focus on physical and digital experiences spanning brand, product and environment. We craft narratives that shape how the world views products and services. Led by Principal/Creative Director Harry Olson, HAO brings a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to convening community through creative work that advances social change, brings civic history to life, and builds community in the public realm.Branding and Service Design in:• Public Service (Design for organizational change, local municipalities, government)• Climate research and science organizations that have a positive impact on a better planet• Agriculture (Food systems)• Renewable Energy (Wind, solar, water)• Education (Up-skilling)• Community (Co-housing, Facilitation)

Harry Olson🇨🇦

About Harry Olson

Expertise

Sessions with Harry Olson

What mentees say