Smart Bubble Society

At a young age Jon developed an obsession with filmmaking, spending hours on end re-shooting his favorite movie scenes as actor, director—and to the anxiety of his parents—special effects artist. In high school he was approached to help launch a trial inter-school television station, where he further experimented with, and refined his skills in filmmaking and production.

Through this series of early experiences, Jonathon grew determined to advance his career in special effects, and enrolled in one of the best traditional design training programs in the country. While completing his Bachelor of Design degree at the York University/Sheridan College Institute of Technology in Toronto, Ontario, he experimented with a new medium; a fascinating hybrid of film, graphics, and special effects, known as motion graphics. Outside of school, Jonathon directed his first music video; a full-length motion graphic production for the Tea Party. During his final year of study he was granted an independent study, which he used to create a short social justice centered motion graphic piece, for which he received an Adobe Achievement award and other nominations in 2007.

Upon graduating in 2006, Jon remained fascinated by the functional design principles and exciting visual potential of motion graphics, and decided that his skills of composition and design would need to be paired with a solid foundation in cinematography. He ventured to the Film Production program at the Vancouver Film School. Leaving Toronto behind, he set out to push the boundaries of film and design, and directed a hybrid film/typographic experiment as one of his classes’ final projects. Shortly after graduation, Jonathon was offered a position instructing motion graphics and visual effects at the school. Taking this position head on, he continued to explore his social justice commitments outside of work and took on a branding design initiative for the Elevator foundation, and a camera operating gig in Ethiopia where he spent 10 days traveling the country, documenting the food and health crisis. As a long-time Rugby player, he also nurtured both leadership and social qualities by serving on the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Rogues RFC. There, he helped build a young team of men into a more competitive squad. Having played Rugby at the premiership level, he is always looking for new opportunities to give back to the Rugby community.

In his spare time, Jon still obsesses over film and visual effects, plays video games, and reads important books, like John Perkin’s Confessions of an Economic Hitman, and Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs and Steel.

(Jon is CEO and Lead Animator at Smart Bubble Society)