Colin Finkle

Industrial Designer. Author.

Orange pail with grey handle.
Modular steel platform with printed magnetic graphics displaying the Diamondback brand, surrounding a bicycle roller trainer to allow in‑store eBike test rides at Canadian Tire.
Davidoff Cafe Retail Floor Display
A concept design of a Hot Wheel's toy car on a black background and a Hot Wheels track. Based on Polestar and called the Circuit Charger. Hypercar Hot Wheels car.
LG Endcap design by Colin Finkle. OLED TV displaying parrots. Curved dish suspending a glass panel with graphics
AXE Counter Display
Walmart HDTV Essentials Store Section by Colin Finkle
A photo of author Colin Finkle in a library.

About

Colin Finkle

Industrial Design Leader | DfM Expert | Mentor | Author

I am an industrial designer, and have a background in graphic design and marketing as well. I am also also an author.

I lead retail display and fixturing projects using my 18 years of experience in design to meet objectives, quality standards, budgets, and delivery deadlines.

I have an expertise in design for manufacturing (DfM) and has traveled the world working with manufacturers to deliver mass produced products.

Industrial Design

Marketable, manufacturable solutions delivered on time and budget.

My industrial design philosophy is cool design is only useful if it meets objectives and can be manufactured at a low cost.

I steward the features and objectives from the design brief stage through creative, engineering and manufacturing so there is a great end product delivered on-time and on budget.

I have worked on large projects with purchase orders of over $4 million. I have worked for retail, CPG and entertainment leaders like Proctor & Gamble, Walmart, and Ubisoft. I have traveled around Canada, US, and China to manage manufacturers.

A robotic welding machine in a factory.
Sketches of a Polestar hypercar by Colin Finkle for the Polestar Design Contest 2024. Industrial design sketches over Solidworks 3D models.

I use sketching, renderings, engineering drawings, 3D CAD models, design analysis and rapid prototyping to communicate and evaluate designs. I can design for efficiency in many manufacturing methods such as injection molding, blow molding, extrusion, metal fabrication, plastic fabrication, millwork and die-cutting.

  • Canadian Tire eBike Demo Platform
  • Polestar Design Contest 2024 Entry
  • Aesthetic Refresh of 8 Gallon Pail
  • Italpasta Tradeshow Booth Design
  • LG Retail Displays for Television
  • Philips AVENT section in Babies ‘R’ Us
  • Ubisoft Driver: San Francisco counter display
  • Ubisoft Ghost Recon: Future Soldier floor
  • Cadbury 7 Shelf Floor Display
  • Multiply Entertainment System
  • Sony HD World retail display
  • Far Cry 3 standee

Marketing & Graphic Design

Cross-channel branding: strategy, print, digital & packaging design experience.

Understanding of marketing has enabled me to collaborate with clients, and push for results on their goals.

I am always aware that my work in product design and retail marketing nests within a brand and communication strategy with goals beyond the immediate sale.

I have worked for marketing agencies doing digital and print design for large brands (Warner Brothers, Ubisoft, Walmart) designing packaging, retail communications, interactive media, and websites.

I became a thought leader by writing articles on brand strategy and started BrandMarketingBlog.com which grew to 30,000 unique readers per month. I understand working within a brand identity to grow a brands equity while increasing sales.

I have designed brand identities for startups, and I have taken medium sized businesses through rebranding processes to align their brand identity to their business goals.

  • Italpasta Bronze Selections Pasta Packaging Design
  • BH Wit Logo and Brand Identity
  • Wave Drowning Prevention Branding
  • Empowered Brand Marketing logo and brand identity.
  • Nordeau
  • BMB: Brand Marketing Blog branding
  • Strike Team eSports branding
  • Soccer Practice Books branding
  • Matrix Marketing rebrand
  • Burlington Sports and Spine logo and branding
  • Adsto branding design

Colin Finkle’s Blog

Sharing my artwork and thoughts on design, creativity, and social issues.

My blog post share my view on the world. I write to help others improve their knowledge, creative output, or formulate their worldview.

I write about books, shows and movies that I find notable. I share my thoughts on industrial design, graphic design, and branding.

I am not afraid to get political. I am a staunch advocate for climate care; I believe we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions quickly, so I talk about green energy. I support the Liberal party in Canada, and I believe in liberalism meaning believing in the primacy of individual liberty, where government exists to protect rights rather than to manage every aspect of life.

Blog Post Categories

Go To Blog

Latest Blog Posts

  • Posted in
    Feature image of a surreal dreamscape piece of art by Colin Finkle.

    Surreal Dreamscape 1

    Surreal Dreamscape 1 is my first surrealist piece, created for a drawing club prompt. Inspired by the strange logic of dreams, it blends eclipses, melting, pooling and a hooded figure to explore how the subconscious deceives and reshapes reality

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  • Posted in
    AI edited. A portrait of Colin Finkle in dramatic lighting holding and pointing at the book Values by Mark Carney.

    Review of ‘Values’ by Mark Carney

    Mark Carney’s book ‘Values’ is an interesting and optimistic take on climate change and leadership, with a healthy dose of the history of money in the middle.

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  • Posted in
    Generated with AI. A graffiti mural with love, community and no hate.

    Open Letter: Support for Combatting Hate Act

    The Gov’t of Canada’s proposed Combating Hate Act should should focus on hate symbols used to intimidate and let the community and courts (not government) decide what those hate symbols are. This approach protects vulnerable communities, maintains liberty, and makes the law future proof.

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  • Posted in
    Saitama or One Punch Man punching from behind

    Sketchbook Peak 001: Sailor Moon and One Punch Man

    A look into sketches I have done recently. A sketch of Sailor Moon and One Punch Man.

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  • Posted in

    New on CREA: SEO / SEM Primer for Real Estate Agents

    Google search presents multiple opportunities for real estate agents to connect with sellers and buyers, but there are costs and risks that are important to understand. I wrote an introduction to both SEO and SEM to help real estate agents start thinking about leveraging SEO and SEM to connect with potential clients and buyers. You…

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  • Posted in
    Real estate agent in a COVID mask

    New on CREA: Essential Branding Tips for Real Estate Agents in Canada

    I was fortunate enough to have CREA, Canadian Real Estate Association, publish my piece in their CREA Café blog. Check it out here: Essential Branding Tips for Real Estate Agents in Canada The intent of the article is to educate real estate agents on some of the principles of branding so they can more effectively…

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