Jon Scott Blanthorn is an architecture writer and critic based in Toronto. Since earning his Honors Degree in History of Art and Architecture at the University of Toronto, he has worked for some of the world's leading architecture and design publications. Having written extensively on Modernist and contemporary architecture, he has built a reputation as a leading exponent of new public builds both in Canada and globally as the Canadian correspondent for Indesign Magazine in Australia (http://www.indesignlive.com/magazine).
In addition, his 15 years in professional brand and marketing communications has helped clients and firms build and strengthen their businesses by clarifying their vision through focused messaging via collateral, proposals and multi-platform content.
Fresh Squeezed Ideas, Toronto, ON, CA, Director of Communications
For this healthcare and consumer goods research and cultural branding consultancy I define, develop and execute the company’s external messaging across multiple communication channels with a focus on proposals as the key business acquisition and marketing tool.
• Lead the development and delivery of all communications ensuring the company's capabilities are differentiated and connect relevantly to client needs.
• Manage the full acquisition process from lead generation to final project approval.
• Craft and direct the company’s messaging and all creative content to ensure consitency in all eternal-facing documents.
• Collaborate with internal subject matter experts to develop frameworks and thinking models that demonstrate the company’s unique offerings.
• Manage the marketing team and all social media channels including training internal partners and initiating processes to ensure efficiencies.
• Monitor and analyze all data associated with marketing and business development for legacy learning using Leadmaster.
• Apply a rich understanding of market research practices including social science principles, ethnography, focus groups, journaling and online methodologies.
Self-employed in Architecture & Interior Design, Toronto, ON, CA, Architecture Writer (Freelance)
As an independent writer I conceive, pitch, research, develop and edit features for magazines, newspapers, online and periodicals. I work directly with global editors to refine articles, to edit other writer’s pieces and organize visuals to accompany pieces all with the goal of achieving a consistent theme and style determined by the original pitch and the publication’s vision. Canadian Correspondent for InDesign (Australia). http://jonscottblanthorn.com I have written for the following publications:
The Architect’s Journal
The Burnside News
Calgary Herald
Canadian Architect
Canadian Art
Edmonton Journal
Elle
Financial Times
Forma Interiors (contributor)
The Globe and Mail
InDesign (Canadian Correspondent)
L.A. Times
Metropolis
Montreal Gazette
The Ottawa Citizen (contributor)
San Francisco Chronicle
SOMA
The Vancouver Sun
Independent with 1-year Contract, Toronto, ON, CA, Content, Proposals and Communications Manager
First as a contract partner with design research agency Bridgeable (http://bridgeable.com/) then as an independent, I specialized in brand research and strategy for healthcare, consumer goods, arts and financial industry clients in transforming their content into internal and external collateral. I developed and executed material across communication channels in order to build and strengthen clients’ brands.
• Enabled client success by optimizing their client acquisition content and processes including proposal content, templates and processes.
• Translated complex ideas into creative strategies including integrated marketing components, promotional advertising, digital and multi-media content.
• Partnered with key stakeholders, creative leads, subject matter experts, and brand and marketing teams to ensure integrated and consistent themes, messaging, style and context that support senior teams’ vision.
• Clarified positioning, product portfolio and themes, and lead complete website builds.
• Consulted and produced B2B communications: developed both corporate and project specific tactics that effectively framed the client’s objectives, philosophy, capabilities, processes and expertise.
in-sync Consumer and Brand Insights, Toronto, ON, CA, Senior Managing Proposal Writer
As the senior writer in the this healthcare brand consultancy, I reinvented proposal, marketing content and company wide communications processes. Primarily responsible for analyzing client brand needs (via RFP and proactive processes) to design strategic and inventive research solutions. Collaborated with senior marketing strategists, directors, anthropologists and ethnographers to synthesize the various points of view and methods into persuasive professional documents. http://www.insyncstrategy.com.
• Wrote and managed RFP, RFI, proactive proposals and related processes.
• Managed junior writing team and coached senior strategists in content execution.
• Oversaw writing of all content representing four divisions (Healthcare, Consumer, Anthropology & Quant).
• Involved in growth initiatives since Publicis acquisition in 2010 engaging with global sister companies and agencies.
• Created project frameworks and techniques to frame strategies that sell company products relevant to client needs.
• Oversaw project pricing development, tracked and reported all proposal action.
Drake International, Toronto, ON, CA, Senior Proposal Manager
As the sole point of contact and senior writer in the North American head offices of this global HR company, I built strong planning, organizational and communications skills while maintaining high standards of creative and business writing. My internal and external communications work continues to be used internationally:
Proactive proposals
RFP, RFI, RFQ responses
Internal and External Communications
Marketing collateral & Ad copy
Speeches & Presentations
Rebranding initiatives
Hired proposal staff
Monthly whitepapers & press releases
Prepared monthly financial proposal reports
Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON, CA, Public Relations Representative - part and full time
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CA/ St. George & Mississauga Campuses, BArch, History of Art & Architecture
Double Major Honors Degrees in History of Art & History of Architecture
Humber College Toronto Ontario, Toronto, ON, CA, Journalism
