After spending a year under the radar, quietly building a book and defining their unique approach to brand design, Canadian ad industry vets David Adams and Adam Zolis officially launched their own design studio last fall, amid a Toronto creative scene already teeming with talent.

The pair manifested a roaring debut for Art & Mechanical with a dark and edgy seven-minute “case study” video, in which a menacing gang of motorcyclists demon­strates the powerful, dare we say life-saving, forces of design. The partners credit time served at top agencies like Grip Limited and john st. in forging their insights-based, collaborative approach and are quickly building a healthy mix of clients, from small startups to big banks.

Working out of an old, light-filled loft in Toronto’s fashion district, Zolis and Adams feel energized by the diversity and creative spirit that surrounds them.