Bio

Of 3rd generation Japanese Canadian decent and growing up in a Buddhist household, Todd was fascinated with the practice and dharma of Eastern contemplative traditions. He grew up in Richmond BC where upon high school graduation and working for a large signage agency, he designed products as part of that enterprise. Todd recognized shortly after that this was not his path, however it inspired him to become fascinated with typography and the power of words.

Studying drawing and traditional printmaking for 2 years after at a lower mainland Polytechnic school brought him to studies in graphic design program at what was known as the Emily Carr College of Art + Design where he graduated with honours.

Shortly after in the late 1980’s he opened his 1st of five collaborative creative studios where he exhibited in several national and international galleries and together they spawned recognition both in Fine Art and Design Service sectors. The studios: Public Eye Visual Therapy (w/ Mike Lee and Brooke Hannah) and Proto/zoan Furnishing Creation (w/ Mike Lee, Brooke Hannah, Keith Spivak, Lester Barth, Ellen Box, James Koester and Beau Longini. Together they serviced Vancouver’s burgeoning arts /cultural, retail and tech industries. Projects included Exhibiting Art Furniture, Branding, Graphic, Interior Design and Contract Furnishings. 1994 amicably ended the 7 year collaboration with the complimentary designers and sculptors in their Gastown studio.

1994 - 1996
Regretfully but happily downsizing, Todd sarcastically named his new studio Cottage Industry Art + Design as he teamed together with a dear friend, designer / photographer Victor John Penner in Vancouver’s Yaletown district for 2 years. Drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes, critiquing popular culture and the creative industries seemed to be the main objective. Meanwhile, branding and graphic design work for companies in the 1st tech wave began knocking at the door and occupied much of the waking hours. Shortly, after, Victor John Penner’s Commercial Photography career succeeded him to constant travel and they disbanded amicably after 2 years.

1996 - 1997

The previous 2 years allowed contemplative space and development to consider next steps which lead to sharing a small atelier with Designer/Architect David Hepworth at SITU Design and Alda Pereira Interior Design. Finding that original space limiting in size and disabling (having no prototype and studio workshop space) they moved to a larger premise a few blocks down the street in the original Province Newspaper Offices. Here it’s marbled walls and 20' ceilings enabled loft studio space w/ exceptional light and here they could also integrate a full prototype workshop in the back with easy street access and shipping door entry. Welcoming independent architects Wayne DeAngelis and Kent Sutherland to the mix, their collaborative opened their doors as Archive in 1997

Upon lease expiry in 2000, Todd and David Hepworth leased another smaller space in Gastown while securing separate workshop studio on Granville Island.

During this time Todd became interested in the studies and practice of Yoga at the same time met his partner Laurie Thibeault who was an Art Director at Letterbox / the Design Works, a well established Vancouver based boutique agency.

2001 - 2014

Todd and his partner of 3 children, Laurie, opened Yogapod Body Mind + Soul in 2001. For 14 years, their zen modern studio on Vancouver’s Northshore garnered accolades in the design industry but more so created an opportunity to build and support a vibrant community where international teachers workshopped and where yoga teaching programs were developed and flourished.

2014 >
Without restriction to one specific artistic medium, today Todd’s informative work spans a multitude of forms, all of which polarize to meet mandates of concept, communication and engagement with viewers. His award-winning projects have been featured in several international design and fine art journals. Furniture and interior projects have shown internationally and after decades of work, play and study in these complementary fields, he is grateful to continue through the lens of inquiry, inquisitive potential and personal development.