Creative Design Agency
Halfsquare Designs is a creative design marketing agency in Toronto specializing in illustration, graphic design, website design and social media content services. Founded in 2018, our foundation is built on quality work and long-term relationships. We can be your complete marketing agency solution - everything from hand-drawn illustrations to graphic design and all things digital and internet marketing.
What we do.
Let us help with your marketing, design and illustration needs, so you can focus on your operation. Flexible pricing options to suite any size business. Give us a call today and let’s talk about your next project!
IllustrationMake a lasting impression by utilizing custom illustrations for your social media content or your next ad campaign. Everything is custom hand-drawn based on your ideas, with your own character and telling the story exactly how you want the message portrayed.
Website DesignWe create beautiful, modern and responsive websites that optimizes to all screen sizes. The new site will also be SEO optimized using your target keywords and SEO best practices to ensure it has a firm foundation for Google ranking. As we are Squarespace Experts, you are also eligible for some additional incentives!
Graphic DesignLet us help you create unique branded print / digital graphic design elements to promote your business and drive results. We can help determine what topics will create engagement to drive traffic to your social media channels and website for new sales opportunities. From concept to planning to a finished unique design and marketing asset - we can make your vision come to life at affordable hourly or project based rates.
Check out some of our best customers
Contact us today!
What People Are Saying
Without a doubt, I confidently recommend Halfsquare Designs. I know that they will be a beneficial addition to your organization. Their knowledge of design and expertise in digital marketing is a huge advantage to our entire office. They put this skill set to work in order to assist us with consistent branding across different platforms.
Deborah - Verona Health Solutions Inc.
Halfsquare Designs is our go-to graphic designer for all our major events in the GTA! They have been crucial team members to our biggest client successes, delivering top quality work always. Melissa’s talent, attention to detail, professionalism and responsiveness make her a great partner in business. We are incredibly grateful for their creative ability and look forward to years of collaboration!
Sabrina Roy - Fluid Events
We've had fantastic experience working with Melissa! She is creative, strategic and has a quick turnaround time. We've hired her to design and execute print and digital projects and would highly recommend her!
Katherine - Waterfront BIA
Illustration
Illustration speaks louder than words
Make a lasting impression by utilizing custom illustrations for your social media content or your next ad campaign. Any business can procure stock images and other stock assets, but custom illustrations will ensure your next project stands out from the competition. Since everything is custom hand-drawn based on your ideas, develop your own character and tell the story exactly how you want the message portrayed. Website, social media, product packaging, corporate communications, branding or advertising campaigns are just a few examples of how custom illustrations can be used.
Halfsquare Designs continues to work with Metrolinx to create a new unique visual illustration language for UP Express
Illustrated Maps for the UP Express stations to highlight the surrounding neighbourhoods.
Live Illustrated Portraits
Illustrator Melissa Martin creates quick portraits of you and your guests LIVE in just a few minutes. Melissa has two live portrait illustration styles you can choose from - one where she draws without lifting her pen off the paper, using one continuous-line, and one where she uses bold colourful brushstrokes. The results for both are a little unpredictable and often a bit wonky in a really good way, always capturing the sitter's likeness!
Portraits are hand-drawn on watercolour paper using either black ink and a limited 3-colour watercolour palette (which can mix to create a surprising amount of colours), or with 3 colours of drawing ink, depending on the style. The option to pick specific colours to match your event and different size paper is available.
Live portrait illustrations are great for parties, weddings, corporate events, in-store events, brand launches, PR events and more!
FAQsHow long does a portrait take?
Melissa can create single portraits in about 5 minutes and couples in 10 minutes, so approximately 6 - 10 portraits per hour accounting for hand stretches.Where are you based?
We are based in downtown Toronto.
Do you travel?
Our rates include travel within the immediate Toronto area. If you are located within the GTA or a little further out additional travel and accommodation costs may apply.Can you customize your portraits to my brand?
Yes, you can provide a branded sticker or stamp for your brand to be applied to the paper. Alternatively, we can use custom-branded paper with your brand details printed on it. Please make sure the paper supplied is 300gsm.
A selection of custom illustrated and animated social media posts for select clients of Halfsquare Designs . Perfect to holidays, promotions and special events. Don’t forget, we are not limited to digital vector illustrations. Acrylic paints, watercolour, chalk, and paint markers are other formats we can provide.
Think outside of the design-box by adding custom illustrations to your product packaging. Using traditional media like gouache, watercolour and oil pastels can help create an eye-catching design and help your products stand out on the shelf. Contact us today to start adding extra personality to your packaging design!
Editorial Spot Illustrations
Hand-drawn quirkiness meets the precision of vector art!Each illustration set begins with playful, hand-drawn charm, capturing the essence of spontaneity and creativity. The original sketches are then transformed into vector illustrations, blending classic artistry with modern versatility.Perfect for adding flair to any editorial project, these spot illustrations bring a delightful blend of personality and polish to your visual storytelling.If you are looking for illustrations with a playful simplicity, you found them - let's connect!
Commissioned animations for the Waterfront BIA to highlight the physical distancing requirements while enjoying all the activities the waterfront has to offer, along with some fun GIPHY stickers.
It was an honour to be asked to design t-shirts for the legendary Toronto record shop Play De Record!
Let's start a new project together!
Graphic Design
Logo Design - Digital and Print Advertising
Our wide range of print and digital design services includes everything from custom illustrations to professional logo design. We are ready to enhance your social media presence, branding elements and all forms of digital & print advertising. Stand out from the rest with our custom design services from a graphic design agency suited for small businesses. Browse at some of our latest projects below.
Print DesignLetterhead & envelopes
Business Cards
Postcards, flyers, brochures
Menus
Lookbooks & catalogs
Packaging
Digital DesignEmail templates
Banner ads
Email signatures
Social media banners
Landing pages
BrandingBranding packages
Logo design
Hand lettered signs
Signage
Why a Graphic Design Agency?
Running a small business with a limited budget almost always goes hand in hand. Almost every idea begins with the question - “can I do this myself to save money?”. Graphic Design is something that you must consider other less obvious factors before trying to cut costs or waste money with online templates.
1. Graphic design grabs your attention
At the core of all graphic design projects, is the most basic objective of being seen by your customers. With the competition today, regardless of the industry, you should endeavour to create digital or print designs that make a powerful impression for your customers or target audience. Effective designs will help customers remember your brand. Utilizing inexpensive templates may save some money upfront, but if the project is ineffective or forgettable, are the savings ultimately worth it?
2. Branding
Most successful businesses make their brand strategy a top priority. Starting with a logo, it is the main identifier of any business. From signs, to printed brochures, to websites - logos will be used on almost every application of the business. With a great design, it will capture the characteristics of the owner, business, and core values all in a captivating way. Is this something you want to leave to generic shapes and fonts that everyone is able to download? Don’t forget to ask about our Brand Guidelines to help you ensure you stay on course and infuse the same logo and branding on all future projects.
3. Professional Appearance
This goes beyond esthetics. A professional appearance starts building the relationship with your customer, and that starts with trust. Packaging, brochures, business cards, all digital or printed materials distinguish your company from others and instills credibility of your product or service. The cohesion and brand enforcement will allow you to stand out from your competition.
4. Communication
With a great logo, brand colours & fonts and dynamic layouts, you can deliver key messages to customers without long boring paragraphs. Strong graphics will make the task of communicating to your customers easier and more enjoyable. As they say “a picture is worth a thousand words”.
With all that in mind, Halfsquare Designs offers affordable solutions for any small business. CALL NOW!
Let's see how we can help your business:
Website Design
Squarespace Expert & Circle Developer
Halfsquare Designs offers small business website design packages which includes Technical SEO optimization, creative assets, copywriting, and E-commerce functionality with optional Facebook and Instagram integration. Our business website packages are optimized for all mobile devices and future ease-of-use in mind. Try Toronto’s affordable website design company today - Halfsquare Designs!
Let's see how we can help your business:
Modern clean designWe will create a beautiful, feature rich and customized responsive website tailored to your specific business that will help you stand out from your competition and is focused on delivering your business objectives.Technical SEO OptimizationWe will ensure your site is SEO optimized by using target keywords and technical best practices so search engines will present your business as the search solution . We will also maintain any existing Google page rankings from your existing site are preserved in the process.
Store integration with Facebook & InstagramBest utilize the reach and targeting functions of Facebook and Instagram. Our new websites can integrate e-commerce functionality with the two top social media platforms - Facebook and Instagram. Inventory and sales links are all seamlessly integrated for the best customer experience and sales conversion.Maintenance & UpdatesOur small business website design is created with ease-of-use in mind. Almost any update or addition to the pages of the website can be DIY and does not require development hours from us or anyone else. Short on time? We can also manage your website on an ongoing basis, be it adding new products to your online store, keyword updates, product photography, updating promotions or making any other changes we’re here for you.
We are proud to be recognized by Squarespace as Squarespace Experts and a member of Squarespace Circle.Ask us what that means for you!
Let's see how we can help your business:
Check out our work
Vintage Peony | Verona Health Solutions Inc. | The Optical Lounge | Unicare Pharmacy | James in the City | PoloLoans | Cosmopawlitan Pet Boutique
Contact.
Halfsquare Designs is a creative design marketing agency in Toronto specializing in illustration, website design, graphic design and social media content services. Founded in 2018 by Melissa Martin, our foundation is built on quality work and long-term relationships. We can be your complete marketing agency solution - everything from your new website to hand-drawn illustrations and all things digital and internet marketing.Let us help with your marketing, so you can focus on your operation. Flexible pricing options to suite any size business. Give us a call today and let’s talk about your next project!
Hours
Monday–Thursday
8am–8pm
Friday - Saturday
8am - 6pm
Sunday
ClosedPhone
(416) 827-3677
Send us a message.
Melissa MartinWith over 20 years of retail marketing and design experience, Melissa understands the demands of delivering quality work on budget and on time.During her professional career at Sears Canada and Sierra Designs, she partnered with a diverse group of businesses, developed full campaigns integrating social media, print, show space, and unique promotional material. Let Melissa and the Halfsquare Designs team help you promote your brand with innovative solutions, keeping your customers engaged over and over again.
Privacy policy
Halfsquare Designs is committed to respecting your privacy through the protection of your Personal Information. By supplying your information through our website or other Halfsquare Designs social media pages, you agree that we may collect, use and disclose Personal Information about you to transact through third-party service providers, establish and to maintain a relationship with you, and to provide you with ongoing promotions, rebates, and administer any applicable contests. We are committed to complying with all local and federal legal requirements.We may ask you for contact information including the telephone number, email address and additional company contact information. Where it may be necessary, your Personal Information may be accessible to regulatory authorities in accordance with the laws of other jurisdictions. Halfsquare Designs retains your Personal Information only as long as required for our reasonable business and/or legal needs.