Image of Mike Takasaki
Jury

Mike Takasaki
Creative Director
JWT Toronto

TORONTO, CANADA // Born in Montreal, Mike grew up in Toronto. He returned to Montreal to study English Literature at McGill University. Following graduation, he moved to Osaka, Japan, for almost a decade to teach, teach teachers, program databases, and play Bluegrass music.

Upon his return to Canada, he began his advertising career at Leo Burnett as an administrative temp in the client service department. Eventually he found his way into copywriting, which lead to stints at Bensimon Byrne, Lowe Roche, UNION, and, finally, JWT.

In his career he has worked on brans such as Dove, Walmart, Kraft, AXE, INFINITI, and Audi. His work for the Warner Brothers' film Contagion pioneered the use bacteria and fungi as a typographical medium, and is among his work that has been recognized at various international and domestic awards shows.