Designing Paths: Andrew Reutsky shares his story as an immigrant designer

Born in Russia, Andrew Reutsky Associate RGD, moved to Canada at the age of 18. He studied at Humber College in Toronto, graduating in 2021. Andrew became a Student RGD Member shortly before graduating after learning about the organization from school friends.

My favourite part about the RGD is that the organization has been incredibly proactive and kind, allowing me to share my passion for this field. It has supported me in the business I admire, and I know RGD has done the same for countless others.

Why did you choose to come to Canada to study design?

I come from a small village in Siberia. My parents were doctors, and we had a lot of books at home, which I loved exploring. At first, I was interested in the pictures. I got my first computer when I was seven and discovered Photoshop around that time, sparking my passion for graphic design. By the age of 12, I found that the design world fulfilled the intellectual curiosity I inherited from my parents and I fell in love. Shortly after, I decided to pursue a career in this field. However, there weren’t many design schools in Siberia, so I moved to Toronto to study advertising and graphic design at Humber College. I did well, which led to an opportunity to study branding in Florence for six weeks—a highlight of my academic journey so far.

What was it like getting your design career started in Canada? 

I finished my studies at both universities, and as I was attending the graduation ceremony to receive my degree from Humber, I got an email from Communication Arts, the largest trade industry journal, notifying me that I was selected as one of the 15 most promising young creatives in the world. I couldn’t stop smiling when they took my graduation photo—not just because I was graduating, but because I felt my future seemed bright.

At the time, I was interning as an Art Director at GREY Canada, an ad agency creatively managed by James Ansley, a legend in Canadian advertising. When Mr. Ansley left the company after a successful 10-year run, I similarly moved to Leo Burnett under the creative leadership of Steve Persico and Lisa Greenberg, where I currently work. Leo Burnett allowed me to do what I loved for a living, and I felt blessed.

Shortly after starting the new job, I realized I had a unique position to share the lessons I learned during my professional upbringing with the next generation. I did a lot of research on how to find one’s first job in the creative field, and after consulting with over 30 successful creatives, it grew into a field-tested white paper that has been circulated at numerous colleges and universities. You can check it out at the link here.

How would you compare design culture in Siberia versus Canada from your perspective? 

Comparing the design industry in Canada and Siberia, I acknowledge that they are two completely different environments: it’s well-established and vibrant in Canada, while it’s just developing in my hometown. When I was in high school, I started working as a graphic designer and I noticed that good design was concentrated in bigger cities like Moscow and was rather rare in Siberia. But even Moscow had only one design school at the time, whereas Canada had dozens and, arguably, better ones.

That’s why I moved to Canada—to learn. Back home, I was always surprised whenever I noticed well-designed graphic pieces and advertising banners on the street. In Canada, good work surrounded me everywhere. However, as I progressed in my professional journey, I started noticing more and more good designs coming from Russia. Once you know or feel what good design is, you can’t accept anything less. Considering this, I believe the future of our industry in Siberia is strong.

What challenges did you face first in Canada, and how did you overcome them? 

Moving to Canada to pursue my dream at an early age pushed me to become self-reliant in a new and foreign world. As challenging as it was, I can confidently say that it gave me more than I could ever ask for. The experience taught me resilience, adaptability and how to thrive outside my comfort zone. The skills and unteachable wisdom I’ve gained in Canada will stay with me forever, wherever I am.

Check out more of Andrew Reutsky’s work below: 

• Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reutskyandrew/ 
• Portfolio: https://www.reutsky.com/ 

Looking to learn more about Designing Paths? Email us at community@rgd.ca.