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Creative Director, Co- Founder and Entrepreneur, Kim Tarlo pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a working creative.
Hello, I’m Kim Tarlo. I was born in Toronto, and raised two hours north of it. I studied at Queen's University and have worked as a creative director in Canada, America and England.
Today, I am the Executive Creative Director and Partner at Mint, a creative agency based in Toronto, Co-Founder of Darling Mimosa, an authentic sparkling mimosa in a can and a platform for eternal optimism, and co-founder and creative director of HomeCourt, a place where culture meets creativity for creatives, artists and brands.
I have spent my career largely in creative departments at award-winning creative agencies, but now as an entrepreneur as well, I am really able to push the boundaries of what it means to be a working creative. A large focus of mine has always been culture and how we can interact with or even positively influence it.
For me, being creative involves a sense of restlessness. I am insatiably curious. I truly believe if you ever find yourself wondering why something hasn’t been made, you should just go make it.
A creative person is someone who is fearless with their imagination. Creativity is often a compulsion, and so creative people just can’t help themselves. They’re makers, doers, thinkers, and often more resilient to failure. They dust off and just try again because they can’t help but create. Of course, originality plays a role too, but sometimes that’s simply seeing something that already exists and making it be seen in a new way.
Traveling always leads to an unexpected place for inspiration. There’s something that happens when we are somewhere else, we are more open (eyed and mind) to catch the unexpected. When we’re drudging through our usual day we often miss the unexpected. I also find the world of food and beverage often unexpectedly inspiring. In that world, there’s craft, design, communication, humanity, history, geography, innovation, intersections, and on and on.
When I read this, I asked my husband Adam what he thought. His response is below, and I think he is right:
Work
Your family
The female plight
Large black clothing
Supporting young creatives in advertising
People overestimate what they can do in a year, and underestimate what they can do in ten. As a creative person, patience can be hard. And there will be things along the way in your career that can tempt you off path. But staying focused on craft, rigor, and being a good person (and working with people who do the same), in time your mind will be blown with what you’re able to do. And when you find yourself in those 'arrival' moments in your work, take a beat to take it in.
I love everything about being a creative. I even have a weird fondness of the harder parts. It’s all a part of it.
We get to think, daydream, and invent. We get to study people, communities and humanity. We form opinions, we offer perspective, we provoke. We make beauty.
But the best part for me is working with other creatives. It’s energizing. I feel lucky to get to work with so many amazing creatives.
Bringing people together. I really get a kick out of literally bringing people together around a table to eat (I love to cook and serve good wine), or onto a creative project to collaborate and make magic. But I also really love to mix and match friendships as well. I used to feel I was lacking because I didn’t have that single solid group of friends that have been with me my entire life and I envied those that did. But now I see how fortunate I am to have collected beautiful friendships all over the world from different chapters of my life. I’ve even been able to cross pollinate those friendships too. So now I see friends from different lives becoming friends or even partners. It’s very cool. I’m the opposite of George, I am all for world’s colliding.
If I had that figured out, I’d make it. But I hope I am contributing to making the world a better place for my son. Certainly, the table stakes for all of us should be to combat the trajectory we are on with climate change. Whether in our actions, our votes, or dollars. Because without home, where are we?
I often get told I am tough. I wish more people knew I was also soft. We’re all human, and I think duality is central to being human.
My long standing creative better half, darling business partner, and friend Anna Cumyn. Literally the loveliest human you could meet. But don't twist that, she's ferocious with her craft and a creative Swiss army knife with many talents. She's an incredible art director and even better friend.
My long standing creative better half, darling business partner, and friend Anna Cumyn. Literally the loveliest human you could meet. But don't twist that, she's ferocious with her craft and a creative Swiss army knife with many talents. She's an incredible art director and even better friend.
My sister Mads, she's endlessly talented. But lately she has been bringing her fierce creativity to food. From super conceptual art-driven picnic pop-ups on a farm, to avant-garde cakes, she just has the touch to make an experience around food so, so memorable and creative. Art X Food, all day.
My sister Mads, she's endlessly talented. But lately she has been bringing her fierce creativity to food. From super conceptual art-driven picnic pop-ups on a farm, to avant-garde cakes, she just has the touch to make an experience around food so, so memorable and creative. Art X Food, all day.
The founder of Paraluman, Kim has single handedly raised the bar for Toronto's floral game through pure creativity. I've gotten to work with her many times this year and I just think she brings boundless creativity with such attention to craft. As an often restless creative, I admire her sharp focus area of floral with elevated design.
The founder of Paraluman, Kim has single handedly raised the bar for Toronto's floral game through pure creativity. I've gotten to work with her many times this year and I just think she brings boundless creativity with such attention to craft. As an often restless creative, I admire her sharp focus area of floral with elevated design.
Ashley runs film production for The Bay. She sits in such a special place of creativity as a producer. She gets to bring the magic to life. Ashley in particular inspires me because she is so energetic towards creativity and creative people. Loves to assemble and foster a good vibe to make the creative pour out.
Ashley runs film production for The Bay. She sits in such a special place of creativity as a producer. She gets to bring the magic to life. Ashley in particular inspires me because she is so energetic towards creativity and creative people. Loves to assemble and foster a good vibe to make the creative pour out.