Dennis Houle

Creator

About

As a passionate brand and visual designer, I thrive on transforming ideas into impactful visual stories. With 15 years of experience, my journey has been defined by my commitment to clarity, creativity, and community. I excel in nurturing innovative teams to produce exceptional results that resonate deeply with audiences. For over a decade, I helped grow Village Media from a startup into a national network. I led branding across 50+ markets, launched 90+ newsletters, built sales materials, supported editorial, and collaborated closely with product, tech, and marketing teams. I believe good design isn’t just about how things look. It’s about clarity, purpose, and making things work. I love leading teams, solving messy problems, building brand systems, and delivering work that feels personal instead of automated. Right now, I’m writing and designing Greetings, Earthling, a daily creative newsletter focused on perspective, positivity, and the weirdness of life on Earth. Platforms: Adobe Creative Suite, Basecamp, Beehiiv, Bluesky, Canva, ChatGPT, Facebook, Figma, Google Analytics, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail), Instagram, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, MidJourney, NanoBanana, Perplexity, Salesforce, Twitter/X

Country

City

Canada

Industry

Computer Software

Skill

Beehiiv, Klaviyo, Project Management, Leadership, Creative Direction, Problem Solving, Creativity and Innovation, Adobe Creative Suite, Newsletter Design, Typography, Reliability, Work Ethic, Process Thinking, Attention to Detail, Focus, Accountability, Time Management, Teamwork, Adaptability, Collaboration

Experience

Creator

Greetings, Earthling

2025-5 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

Created Greetings, Earthling, a daily morning newsletter focused on positivity, perspective, and creative reflection. Each issue is written from the voice of a cosmic observer trying to understand life on Earth. I write, design, publish, and promote the newsletter myself. The project blends storytelling with visual design, and mixes insight, humour, and heart. I also manage all the behind-the-scenes work, including SEO, automation, analytics, and branding. Every day is a test-and-learn process. The feedback from readers has been the best part so far. Visit: greetingsearthling.ca

Creative Director

Village Media

2013-6 - 2025-4 · 11 yrs 11 mos

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada

Helped grow Village Media from a small startup into one of Ontario’s leading local news networks. I led all things creative, building the brand from scratch and developing systems to help a small design team support dozens of communities at scale. I created 100+ brand identities, launched 90+ newsletters, and designed thousands of campaigns, reports, and ad units. I also built and optimized workflows that saved time and drove revenue. Along the way, I assembled and mentored a lean but mighty creative team, introduced new tools and automations, and kept our output sharp, consistent, and user-focused. Highlights include: • Scaling creative across 100+ brands and 90+ newsletters in 25+ unique markets • Building brand systems and design guidelines from the ground up • Leading a team known for reliability, creativity, and speed • Creating internal training sessions to upskill junior designers • Working cross-functionally with editorial, product, and sales

Education

Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology

Graphic Design

2010-9 - 2013-4 · 2 yrs 8 mos

Completed a three-year intensive Graphic Design program focused on visual communication, layout design, branding, and digital production. Developed strong technical skills using Adobe Creative Suite, with hands-on experience in print design, typography, and concept development.

St. Clair College

Interior Design

1997-9 - 2000-4 · 2 yrs 8 mos

Completed a three-year Interior Design program with a strong emphasis on spatial planning, materials, and human-centred design. Gained valuable experience in visual storytelling, layout, and conceptual thinking. While I ultimately pivoted to graphic design, this program helped shape my creative perspective and sharpened my eye for detail, skills I’ve carried through my career in brand and design leadership.