Chris is a licensed professional engineer and graphic designer specializing in typography, information design, and data visualization. He currently teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate design programs at the Stratford campus of the University of Waterloo. Chris has also been a member of the Faculty of Design at OCAD University, Canada’s oldest and largest design university, since 2011, where he has taught Data Analytics & Visualization, Wayfinding & Information Systems, Form & Structure, and typography at all levels, including Advanced Typography, Experimental Typography, and Typographic Structures. Outside of academia, Chris has worked extensively as an aerospace engineer, senior-level management consultant, and software design executive.

Chris obtained his Mechanical Engineering degree from Queen’s University, and his Graphic Design degree from the Ontario College of Art & Design (now OCAD University). He also studied typography at the Basel School of Design (Basel, Switzerland) under the direction of legendary German/Swiss typographer Wolfgang Weingart.

While Chris has only lived in Stratford for six years, both of his parents were born and raised here. Many members of his father’s family worked at the Grand Trunk / Canadian National locomotive maintenance facility during its glory days, and his mother’s family have farmed in Perth County for well over a century. While growing up, Chris was a frequent visitor to Stratford, and he has been attending performances at the Festival since the Robin Phillips years.

Chris is very excited to be working with Andrew and INNERchamber on their first typography-themed concert, allowing him to combine two of his greatest passions, typography and music.