Katie Wilhelm is an independent graphic designer and marketer - practicing professionally since 2009.
The passion and skill for design and marketing were realized in high-school yearbook class for Katie Wilhelm. Katie became a self-taught designer at 17 years old, creating websites and posters for friends, family, and online fan communities. Katie graduated from Fanshawe College in London, Canada with an Ontario Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design.
In 2009, Katie co-founded “379 Collective”, a creative production and events management company to see collaboration between the segregated arts and culture communities and to benefit meaningful causes. 379’s first project was the rebrand of the Unity Project for Relief of Homelessness - they use a derivative of the original branding today. In 2010, 379 Collective created the “Grickle Grass Festival”, the annual, day-long sustainable living and music festival at the “London Children’s Museum” benefitting “Growing Chefs! Ontario”. Katie helped to brand the festival and created the website and marketing materials during the inaugural years. In 2010, 379 created an event series called “An Artists Affair”, in an effort to stimulate entrepreneurship in the arts community of London. Katie created the branding and marketing materials and helped to organize the events. In 2011, 379 Collective partnered with Colliers International Canada to create “The Metropolitan Market” or “The Met”. The Met was a weekend artisan market in Downtown London that housed local startup businesses such as Studio Kuefner, Fire Roasted Coffee, and the specialty toy store Über Cool Stuff. Katie managed the business and the property at 140 Dundas Street, created the branding and marketing materials, and recruited new artisans to the space weekly.
In 2010, with a group of like-minded cohorts, Katie founded LondonFuse New Media Collective, a not-for-profit organization and arts and culture publication aimed at promoting and activating collaboration in local arts communities. Katie served as the board secretary until 2012 and served as Board President from 2015 to 2019.
In 2012 Katie joined Artfusion, an art gallery and curated a monthly art show promoting established and emerging artists. Katie was the Assistant Director of the downtown gallery and helped to exhibit over 5000 works of art and worked with over 500 artists. Through Artfusion, Katie advocated strongly for public art through large-scale mural projects. In August 2013, Artfusion created the Stephen Watson Memorial Mural, which depicts a 30-foot octopus in London’s downtown core. The memorial mural pays tribute to the late Artfusion artist and ocean activist, Stephen Watson. Katie led a team that raised ~$30,000 in the community to complete the mural. The public art spectacle was painted by a team of artists over a 1-month span. The mural was unveiled with a 3-day art and music festival.
In 2012, Katie began working as an in-house Graphic Designer and Marketing Specialist with the London Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). Katie created marketing materials designed to market a large city for foreign direct investment opportunities. Katie also consulted with local businesses about maximizing the economic impact of their marketing and design materials and helped them to succeed in their business marketing goals.
Katie worked on the Dig Conference (digital interactive and gaming conference), London Tech Jobs (local job board), the Manufacturing Matters Conference (formerly For Manufacturers Only), the award-winning Hire One Campaign (a workforce development initiative), and served the Economic Development Council of Ontario (EDCO) on the Marketing Committee.
Throughout the years, Katie has worked with community projects and businesses like the Forest City Beer Fest (craft beer festival), Dundas Street Festival (originally called Car Free Sunday), APK Live (gastro arts pub), Build Strong Cities (place branding and economic development), and more.
In 2017, Katie became a Certified Registered Graphic Designer with the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD). Since then, Katie has served as a member of the RGD Board Nominating Committee and as a Student Awards Judge in 2018.
In December 2019, Katie was elected as a Board Director at Nokee Kwe. Nokee Kwe finds solutions to employment and learning barriers through a culturally sensitive, client-centred, and holistic approach in London and the area. In November of 2020, Katie was elected as Vice-Chair of the Board.
Katie’s graphic design work has received several awards, including an In-House Design Award from the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD) in 2017, an Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in 2017, Best Strategic Plan and Initiative from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) in 2014, and the Marketing Campaign of the Year from EDCO in 2013.
Katie was recognized with London’s prestigious Top 20 Under 20 Award in 2021.
Katie is a proud Indigenous person and is a band member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation of Neyaashiinigmiing.
Updated December 20, 2021
