I grew up in Michigan but started my career in Colorado. After working there for a few years, I headed to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Great ideas, regardless of the medium, make the hair on my arms stand up.
I've spent time working on everything from small start-ups, to national brands and everything in between. Some companies I've worked on include: AT&T, Best Buy, L.L. Bean, Pentax, Anheuser-Busch, CellularOne, Donatos Pizza, Payless Shoes, Stride Rite, Marvin Windows, Pfizer, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Telluride Ski Resort, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Zoo and Einstein Bagels.
School:
BFA from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Work:
Best Buy, Minneapolis, MN, 2018 - Present
Senior Creative Lead (Group Creative Director)
Martin|Williams, Minneapolis, MN, 2005 - 2018
Senior Art Director, Creative Director
Extra Strength, Denver, CO, 2003 - 2005
Art Director/ACD
Thomas & Perkins, Denver, CO, 1998 - 2003
Junior Art Director
Recognition:
Cannes, The One Show, Communication Arts, Archive, Print, Creativity, Addys, Effies, Emmy, AIGA, Roseys (Portland), and The Show (Minneapolis).
tobybalai@me.com
Cell: 612-770-6338