Hey there, I’m Tobi Ewing.
I help brands & organizations design long lasting culture & creative impact.
artist, designer, strategist & creative director based in Dayton, Ohio.
I’m a storyteller passionate about & committed to developing stories, products & communities with an intersectional approach to art, design, culture & care.
My Approach
Collaborative
I’m skilled at facilitating the creative process from concept to launch. As an extension of your team, I help discover, organize and implement collective strategy to unlock innovation, problem solve, improve connection and take informed, inspired action.
Experimental
Strategist or alchemist? I take a curious and playful approach which allows me, you and the process to be focused, but flexible to change, open to questions, informed by data and human-centered.
Relational
Whether a workshop series to discover your brand story and strategy or directing the visuals for a new product, resonance is what connects us and connects your service to your community. Implementation builds culture. Only build with what’s real.
I use my diverse background in development, design, strategy and facilitation to help orgs connect the dots between brand story/culture, operations, product and audience.
Strategy & Facilitation
Launch Dayton’s Start Up Week Presented by Fifth Third Bank
Presented original workshop “Designing Your Space for Creative Productivity” for tech and business resource organization, Launch Dayton, with focus on design thinking and human centered problem solving.
Professionally, I’ve held the roles of Brand Manager, Junior Strategist and Product Developer for a non profit, a creative agency and Fortune 500 companies. In 2019, I launched Beyond The Clouds LLC, a creative consulting practice with 10+ years as an experienced facilitator to date. I’ve been recognized by leading organizations to speak and share my insights with their diverse communities via facilitated workshops and panels.
University of Dayton Business Program
Invited to present a Student Wellness Session resulting in students exhibiting how stress shows up in their body, discussing perceptions of the workplace and building a self care practice that can be easily managed on campus.
The Entrepreneurial Artist Initiative Presented by Skidmore College’s Arts Administration Dept
Panelist on Entrepreneurs’ Forum. Led original workshop on multi-service concepts to develop student innovation and creative thinking. Resulting in 6 business concepts with at least 1 being pursued.
Creative Direction & Production
I have 5+ years experience leading creative direction/strategy, full service coordination, graphic design & hosting for wellness & creative events, brand campaigns & dinner parties. My current dream projects to concept for are: media, retail, beauty, wellness, design & hospitality. Holla!
Brand Campaign for The Wonder Jam.
Art & Design
The World Is (Not) My Home Solo Show at The Weston Art Gallery
Commissioned by the Weston Art Gallery to present and produce my 3 month solo show in addition to an artist talk and community tour days.
I am an accomplished artist and designer creating color forward and affirmative visuals inspired by our stories. In November 2023, I closed my solo exhibition “The World Is (Not) My Home” at the Weston Art Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio. February 2024 I was selected for international group show, Art Noire, at the Springfield Museum of Art, Ohio’s only Smithsonian affiliated museum. For 3 years, I ran Frances Bernice Design Studio, a design and installation project. View More.
Legacy of Freedom 2024 Juneteenth Calendar Presented by Dayton Children’s Hospital
Commissioned by the Home of Creative Urban Arts x Dayton Children’s Hospital to join the creative team as Assistant Art Director and Designer for the 2024 city-wide Juneteenth Calendar.
Un-Representation Exhibition Presented by The Tang Teaching Museum
Commissioned by The Tang Teaching Museum for the international group exhibition, Un-Representation, curated by Maria Stacks. As a Skidmore student I worked at The Tang, this was a great full circle moment.
What Clients are Saying About The Tobi Touch
"I had a feeling I got to know my team members better than I did after working with some people for years. As a result, it made me a better leader and I show up with even greater responsibility as I know that I am giving an example to my team. Tobi's questions gave everyone an opportunity to express their appreciation and let senior managers know how to strategize cross functional shadowing opportunities. "
Madina B., Authentic Insurance
Industry leaders like the University of Dayton, Skidmore College and the Tang Teaching Museum, Launch Dayton, Canary Consulting, Co-op Dayton, The Contemporary, Ohio Women’s Alliance, Zora’s House, 614StartUps and more have tapped Tobi for impactful cultural strategy.
Tobi has impacted visual culture for small businesses like Parable Cafe in Columbus, OH and Kota House in Brooklyn, NY, national organizations like Value City and Planned Parenthood and development for Fortune 500 companies, Ralph Lauren and L Brands.
"Your presence and insights truly enriched our learning experience. Your expertise and passion for your field were evident throughout your workshop. The real-world examples and practical advice you provided will undoubtedly stay with us as we continue our academic and professional journeys."
Lily S., Skidmore College Student
Feeling the Vibes?!
Schedule a 1:1 introductory session to discuss your strategy and design needs.
FAQ
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I run an independent, freelance creative design and strategy practice. Some projects are just me and the client advising, training and directly executing goals. However, as a consultant, I also bring access to a team of creative partners that I’ve curated over years of creative production & business development.
Currently, I service solopreneurs, small businesses, non profits and agencies in the creative, wellness, media and hospitality industries.
My clients are authors, musicians, cafe and retail owners, wellness entrepreneurs, tech consultants, art institutions, economic and food justice orgs. We’ve done great work, but I am equally impressed and appreciative of the type of leaders I attract.
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We'll start with a consultation to determine your needs, collaboration expectations, etc. I’ll share more about my approach and answer questions. By the end of the call, we'll have a better idea if we’ll make great collaborators for this specific project. Whether or not we go further, you’ll walk away with a private document of meeting notes and resources for your reference. Consultation fee is $150.
Please review my portfolio to familiarize yourself with my style and perspective.
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I specialize in creative direction and strategy for branding, product development and community experiences.
Design, Creative Direction, Strategy for: Product/Service Launches, Brand Reboot, Campaign Shoots, Events and Experiences.
Workshops for: Brand Reboot, Workplace Wellness and Organizational Culture, Training and Development.
As an extension of your team, I am dedicated to your growth and success. I bring my diverse field and academic experience, my personal creative genius, to create a process/plan to discover, organize and execute the goal.
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Creativity + Data. Strategy is design. Design is problem solving. Design goes beyond aesthetics, it is the function of the products, services, media and spaces we engage with daily. By default and through experience my mind considers them all.
As a creative director, strategist & design consultant, I‘ve executed everything from:
concepting, casting and coordinating, styling and set design for interiors,brand shoots and campaigns
workshops to identify brand story, voice, value and positioning
guide internal operations and development of small businesses
lead product development from ideation to final product, both digital and physical, and creative directed branding and packaging design
curate and plan brand-driven experiences and events
Whether visual assets or programming, from product launches to campaigns, I am passionate about bringing ideas to life for authentic connection.
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As accomplished professionals, picking someone on your team at random to lead the next 12 week project, understandably, seems like a no brainer. However, strategic facilitation is a skill and discipline unique to each person. Hiring a strategist to guide, moderate and track is a solid choice for efficiency and clarity. Allowing your core team to fully be present in the process vs having to balance ideation, organizing and implementation.
A business idea without a strategy is an idea - and a headache. As a strategist, I dream up and implement creative strategies for branding, marketing and development.
Already have a training and development curriculum? No problem, I have facilitated prepared curriculum for organizations that feels engaging and valuable.
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Pricing is based on both the project's scope and desired timeline.
Creative Direction & Strategy | $125 hourly rate. Retainers start at $2500.
Design | $98 hourly rate. Branding and graphic design packages start at $1k. I specialize in colorful, minimalist digital lettering, illustration and interior/event styling. Retainers are available.
Facilitation | workshops start at $2500 and range from 3hr to series workshops. Retainers are available.
*I am constantly learning and refining my skills and services. Rates are subject to evolve.
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Timelines completely depend on the project. For example,
Creative direction, production and strategy projects, after consultation, consider the following general steps: prep/onboarding to create treatment/goal, facilitation or production of project, post production to edit, organize and send report/briefings, review and finalize, off board.
For workshops, consider time for an onboarding/planning call beforehand and a debrief call to review reportings, etc afterwards.
Branding/Design projects could take a few (or several) weeks from conception to production. Consider design time, feedback rounds and customization.
Onboarding and Debrief calls come with/are required for all services post consultation.
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Surely! I am actively designing and exhibiting.