Ottawa Design Club #0015 - Layered

Life isn’t always about fitting into a single mould. In fact, it’s the layers we build—each one adding depth and complexity—that truly define our creative journeys. It’s not about choosing just one path; it’s about embracing the richness of doing more, being more, and evolving in unexpected ways.

Join us for an evening that celebrates the beauty of being Layered. In a world where the gurus urge us to niche down, our speakers—Marwan Mansour, Alexa Mazzarello, and Nicola Hamilton—are defying that narrative. They’re thriving by pursuing multiple passions, balancing diverse endeavours, and finding an umbrella that unites their multifaceted careers.

Whether you’re juggling various projects, exploring new creative directions, or seeking inspiration to redefine your path, this event is for anyone who believes that life is too layered to be limited to just one thing. Discover how to navigate your own complexities, build a career that reflects all of who you are, and find fulfillment in the many layers that make up your creative life.

Marwan Mansour is a creative based in Ottawa, Canada, with a passion for design, photography, and community. As the host of CreativeMornings Ottawa, he helps bring people together to share ideas, spark new projects, and build a thriving creative community where artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators can connect. Alongside photography, Marwan is also deeply involved in graphic design, using his skills to craft visually engaging projects that leave an impact. Whether he’s designing or documenting everyday moments through his photography, Marwan is always finding ways to inspire creativity and connect with others. He believes in the incredible potential of Ottawa’s creative community and is committed to helping it grow and flourish.

Alexa Mazzarello is a Canadian lens-based artist specializing in portrait, documentary, and editorial photography. She is a self-taught, freelance photographer of over ten years. In 2009 Alexa graduated from McGill University with a BA in Sociology. In 2012 she completed a Masters in Public Health from Queen’s University with a focus on gender and health. Relying heavily on her academic background, Alexa's photographic work is primarily concerned with centering the voices and stories of women. In 2023 Alexa was named one of Photolucida’s Critical Mass finalists. Her work has been exhibited in Canada and the UK. She is a member of Women Photograph and 44.4 Mother/Artist Collective. 

Since becoming a mother in 2021, Alexa’s art practice has focused on the complicated and under-studied experience of matrescence. Alexa lives in Ottawa, Canada with her husband, two children, and dog.

Nicola Hamilton RGD (she/her) is an award-winning editorial designer based in Toronto, Canada. For over a decade she’s been art directing and designing magazines. She’s worked on publications like The Grid, Chatelaine, The University of Toronto Magazine, Best Health, Precedent, and Serviette to name a few. Nicola is the President of the Association of Registered Graphic Designers (RGD), where she advocates for the value of design. She's a part-time educator at the George Brown College School of Design and an occasional artist. In July 2022, Nicola took her love of magazines to a whole new level by opening Issues Magazine Shop, a bricks-and-mortar magazine retailer with a mandate to celebrate the people and projects keeping print alive.

IMPORTANT: Please stay home if you’re not feeling well. Should any speakers fall sick, the event will still proceed.

Tickets are non-refundable and any updates will be communicated to you as early as possible.

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]

Thank you to our sponsors:

SAW

Gilmore Reproductions

Sweet Cheeks

Pano Media

Our events are organized by designers for designers and other creatives and are a great opportunity to meet others in the community and get inspired. We don’t measure success by the size of someone's career but rather by their unique style, ideas, and talent.

Host or Publisher Ottawa Design Club