Born in Trinidad & Tobago and raised in Toronto, Cherisse Thurab is an award-winning Creative/Art Director with over 15 years of experience leading design, direction, and visual storytelling across global markets. Now based in Thailand, she works with clients worldwide, bringing clarity, craft, and strategic insight to every partnership.
Known for her vibrant photographic style and multidisciplinary approach, Cherisse has shaped high-impact creative work for major brands across North America and Europe, including Microsoft, Virgin Media, PGA Tour, Prudential, The Globe & Mail, and ING.
At TD Bank / Agency 361, where she played a central role in elevating the bank’s creative output, brand storytelling, and multi-channel digital experiences. Her contributions spanned major campaigns, product design, customer experience initiatives, and internal brand evolution—work that helped strengthen TD’s standing as one of Canada’s most recognized and trusted brands. Her leadership contributed to the team being named one of Strategy Magazine’s Top Canadian In-House Agencies, reinforcing TD’s reputation as a creative and cultural powerhouse.
Cherisse’s work has earned global recognition—including her design of Virgin Media’s streaming content platform, the PGA Tour’s official Windows Phone app, and award-winning campaign art direction for Prudential, contributing to their FCS Marketer of the Year achievement. Her short films Semicolon and Owen were recognized by Ryerson University in 2020.
She holds a Bachelor of Design in Advertising with a minor in Psychology from OCAD University (BDes 2007), as well as Advanced Certificates in Web Development (2009) and Film Studies (2019) from Ryerson University.
Beyond her work for established brands, Cherisse has supported startups, founders, and emerging businesses across multiple sectors—most notably shaping the branding and creative vision for music and arts festivals in Canada and Nigeria, the latter contributing to the global acceleration of the Afrobeats movement.
Cherisse is also the Founder and Creative Director of Letter C Agency, a strategic creative studio partnering with global brands, ambitious SMEs, inspiring leaders, and emerging talent on brand identity, storytelling, digital experience, and visual communication.
Open to new collaborations worldwide, she combines strategic thinking, creative excellence, and an instinct for meaningful storytelling to help brands grow, connect, and make a lasting impact.
THROUGH THE YEARS
Early Days – Presenting my work at Art Starts Toronto at 12 years old
Shooting Telus Fashion Show in Toronto as a part of the company I founded at 19 years old, Pragmatic Creative
WFH – Creating a concept for TD Bank during the 2020 pandemic
On the set of my short film about Toronto's architecture in 2019
On set for “Sem;colon”, a film I wrote and directed in 2019
With the in-house creative team at Prudential Financial, USA, who I worked with from 2015 to 2018
At Tribeca Film Festival, immersed in an AR experience on elephant conservation efforts by the Tiffany Foundation – 2018
On set for my documentary film about talented Tobagonian SFX Artist, Regine Daniel – 2019
On set for the TD Visa Debit Always-on Campaign, with my wonderful team from TD Bank/Agency 361 in Toronto – 2022
On set for TD Bank Merchant Solutions, supporting the Agency 361 team as a model – 2022
At OCAD University, my alma mater, for the Grad Exhibition, before mentoring new graduates who were eager to enter the Advertising industry – 2022
After-party at Thompson Rooftop in Tribeca after Tribeca Film Festival – 2018
Soho, NYC – Night Shoot
Williamsburg, NYC
EXPERTISE
Creative Direction • Art Direction • Strategic Thinking • Concept Development • Visual Design • UI/UX Design • Branding • Design Direction • AI Prompting • Video Direction • Edit Direction • Copy Editing • Photography • Color Grading • Social Campaigns • Creative Team Leadership • Relationship Building • Clear & Effective Communication • Collaboration • Mentorship • Portfolio Reviews • Public Speaking • Brand Consulting • Audits • Creative Workshops
WORK (PORTFOLIO)
– PRESENT
• 2023 – Present | Letter C Agency • Creative Director
• 2019 – Present | Cherisse Thurab • Creative Industry Coach, Speaker & Educator
• 2020 – 2023 | TD Bank / Agency 361 • Senior Art Director
• 2007 – 2019 | Cherisse Thurab Ltd. • Digital Creative/Art Director • ex. Publicis, LBi, Wunderman, Proximity
• 2015 – 2018 | Prudential Financial • Senior Creative Specialist
• 2014 – 2016 | Nomad Superior • Founder, Travel & Music Writer, Brand Consultant
• 2012 – 2013 | Bwin Party Digital Ent • Lead Conceptual Designer (UX/UI)
SELECT CLIENTS
Virgin Media • Microsoft • Prudential Financial • PGA Tour • Globe & Mail • TD Bank • Rogers Media • Disaronno • Purina • Selina Hotels • Kenco Coffee • Lean Cuisine • Pampers • ING Direct • British Telecom • i Amsterdam
EDUCATION
2003 – 2007 | OCAD University • Bachelor of Design, Advertising
Major: Art Direction, Design | Minor: Psychology, Copywriting
ADVANCED TRAINING
• 2023 | Digital Marketing Institute • Digital Marketing, Certificate
• 2019 | Ryerson University – School of Image Arts • Film Studies, Adv. Certificate
• 2009 | Ryerson University • Web Development (HTML, CSS), Adv. Certificate
WORK AVAILABILITY
• Canada, Thailand, USA, Remote
• Open to opportunities worldwide