Max May is an internationally recognized writer and creative director. For over a decade he has created and led campaigns alongside some of North America’s best creatives. Most recently, Max has worked with agencies and clients in Toronto, Chicago, Vancouver and Los Angeles as an independent freelancer.
The seeds of his career in advertising were formed through the wasted hours of youth, whether it was staying up every night to watch Letterman and Conan, or playing pranks on his friends. This all culminated in the eventual post-undergrad realization he wasn’t like the other people in his $350 LSAT prep course.
When he’s able to wrest himself from the grips of the algorithm, you can find him following the Calgary Flames or the pride of North London, Arsenal. Much to his Tottenham supporting father’s dismay.
Max is a Canadian, British and Irish citizen.
___________________
Contact
iammaxmay@gmail.com
Experience
Miami Ad School, Toronto, ON
2024
Teaching impressionable creatives how to shape campaigns.
Freelance
2022 - Present
Working directly with agencies and brands to create great things.
Agency: Rethink, Highdive, 123w, ThinkingBox and more.
Brand: lululemon, The Kitchen (Kraft-Heinz)
Momentum, Toronto, ON
2019 - 2022
Tagged by Raul Garcia to build Momentum’s first dedicated Canadian creative department.
Anomaly, Toronto, ON
2017 - 2018
Discovered sneaker culture and the ins and outs of nimble production while working on Sport Chek, Nike, Can-Am and Hershey.
Rethink, Vancouver, BC
2013 - 2017
Acted as a lead creative on A&W while upping my award game.
CP+B / UNION , Toronto, ON
2012 - 2013
Arrived at my dream agency only to discover it was folding and I’d be helping launch a new agency from the ashes.
WAX, Calgary, AB
2011 - 2012
Punched above our weight on teeny-tiny budgets.
Cossette West, Vancouver, BC
2010
Earned my stripes on McDonald’s and Tourism BC.
Education
Chicago Portfolio School, Chicago
Copywriting
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
History
Awards
2022
Clio Sports - Silver - American Express x NBA 2K22, E-sports, Experiential
Clio Sports - Silver - American Express x NBA 2K22, Fan Engagement, Design
Clio Sports - Silver - American Express x NBA 2K22, Fan Engagement, Experiential
Clio Sports - Bronze - American Express x NBA 2K22, Design, Event Exhibit Design
Clio Sports - Bronze - American Express x NBA 2K22, Innovation, Medium Innovation
Effie Awards - Finalist - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Crisis Response & Critical Pivot
Effie Awards - Finalist - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Crisis Response & Critical Pivot, Consumer & Shopper
HSMAI Awards - President’s Award - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Best Recovery Marketing Campaign
HSMAI Awards - Gold - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Recovery Marketing
HSMAI Awards - Bronze - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Multimedia (Video, Animation) Series
HSMAI Awards - Bronze - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Integrated Marketing Campaign
HSMAI Awards - Bronze - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Social Media Campaign
HSMAI Awards - Bronze - Accor, Get Real With Neil, Video
2020
Atomic Awards - Silver - 5Gum, The Self Controller, Immersive Reality
Atomic Awards - Bronze - Reese’s Pieces Peanut, Peanutception, OOH/Print
Marketing Awards - Merit - 5Gum, The Self Controller, Augmented/Virtual Reality
One Show - Shortlist - 5Gum, The Self Controller, Augmented, Virtual and Mixed Reality
2019
Applied Arts Design - Spyder, The Joy of Three, Brochure
Media Innovation Awards - Bronze - Reese’s Pieces Peanut, Peanutception, Consumer Goods
2018
ADCC Awards - Silver - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Non-profit Interactive
ADCC Awards - Silver - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Non-profit Campaign
Applied Arts Design Awards - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Viral Single
Atomic Awards - Silver - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Idea
Atomic Awards - Silver - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Cause and Action
Atomic Awards - Bronze - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Social
Clio Awards - Shortlist - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Single Platform Campaign
Communication Arts - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Digital Advertising Political/Social
Marketing Awards - Gold - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Public Service Film
One Show - Merit - YWCA, Ambush Advisories, Pre-roll Campaign
Shopper Marketing Awards - Bronze - A&W, Root Brewery
2016
ADCC - Merit - Variety, Medication TSA, OOH
Applied Arts - Science World, TV Campaign
Cassies - Gold - A&W, Better Ingredients, Campaign
Cassies - Silver - A&W, Better Ingredients, Launch
Marketing Awards - Shortlist - Variety, Special Needs Billboard, OOH
Marketing Awards - Bronze - Science World, TV Campaign
Marketing Awards - Bronze - Science World, Online Campaign
2015
Lotus Awards - Bronze - Variety, TV Campaign
Lotus Awards - Bronze - Variety, Special Needs Billboard
Lotus Awards - Bronze - The Blacklist, Billboard
Lotus Awards - Bronze - Rickard's Beer, TV Single
One Show - Merit - King Pong, Logo
2014
Applied Arts - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Campaign
Applied Arts Interactive - Rethink Holiday Card
Applied Arts Interactive - The Blacklist, Billboard
Communication Arts - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Single
Extra Awards - Bronze - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Campaign
Lotus Awards - Gold - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Single
Lotus Awards - Merit - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Campaign
Lotus Awards - Merit - Splashdown Waterpark, Radio Single
Marketing Awards - Bronze - Splashdown Waterpark, Print Campaign
Marketing Awards - Bronze - Splashdown Waterpark, Poster
Marketing Awards - Bronze - The Blacklist, Billboard
2013
ADCC - Merit - CSPD, Annual Report
Crystals - Gold - Fas Gas, Radio Campaign
Crystals - Gold - Fas Gas, Radio Single
Communication Arts - CSPD, Annual Report
Marketing Awards - Bronze - Fas Gas, Radio Campaign
2012
ADCC - Gold - CSPD, Annual Report
Cannes Lions - Shortlist - CSPD, Annual Report
Communication Arts - CSPD, Annual Report
Extra Awards - Honourable Mention - Honda Dealers, Print Campaign