Eric Karjaluoto is a designer, business-person, and author of numerous articles on design. He is a founding partner at smashLAB , a strategic interactive agency located in Vancouver, Canada.

Since 2000 he has served as the agency’s Creative Director, and in this role he fosters an atmosphere of pragmatism and design-focused thinking. He is a self-professed advocate of “hardcore” design, in which problem-solving, consistent methodology and accountability are held above styles and trends. He has directed many diverse projects for clients including CN, Northern BC Tourism, MDA, Canadian Heritage and a number of international organizations.

In 2007, he spearheaded Design Can Change, an effort to unite designers to address climate change. Over 1,500 designers around the world have taken the Design Can Change Pledge, embracing and committing to more sustainable professional practices. Most recently, Eric and the team at smashLAB have launched MakeFive, a community that enables people to connect through their interests and opinions.

He is particularly interested in creating work that builds a meaningful dialogue with viewers and engages them in experiences. His work at smashLAB has been recognized by TIME, HOW Magazine, Applied Arts, Lotus Awards, Rockport Press, and Graphis, and has been featured in: Desktop Magazine (Australia), PingMag (Japan) and Behance (USA). He has presented at events for groups including the AIGA, HOW, and VIDFEST. He also teaches branding in the Digital Design program at VFS.

Eric writes about design, brands and experience at ideasonideas , a blog that is frequented by over 60,000 readers monthly. He is a professional member of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada and a member of the AIGA. Eric studied at the Emily Carr Institute and worked as a visual artist prior to his career in design.