Andrew Boardman

andrew at manoverboard dot com

Overview

I’m a designer, studio founder, artist, and educator working at the intersection of design and social change — where ethics, accessibility, typography and the web meet. I write a weekly newsletter focused on designers at Dear Designer. I live in Montréal, Québec.

Currently, I’m the Creative Director at Mangrove, a California-based digital agency with a global team committed to advancing social and environmental impact. Prior to that, I founded and led Manoverboard, a purpose-driven design studio and the first Certified B Corporation in Manitoba. Manoverboard merged with Mangrove in January 2023.

Earlier in my career, I taught design theory and design management at the university level. I grew up in Philadelphia and spent formative years studying and working in New York before moving to Canada with my family in 2005.

Experience

Creative Director, Mangrove / 2023 - present

Digital agency amplifying the impact of purpose-driven organizations. Lead digital and creative strategy for clients. Manage design team and co-manage the company with Mangrove’s founder. Also lead special projects to advance web accessibility standards and support a more equitable and sustainable web.

Founder, Manoverboard / 2002 - 2022

Led and managed design studio that advanced a world wide web that is sustainable, open and available to all visitors. Clients included Acumen, Barneys New York, Ducks Unlimited Canada, EQ3, Greyston, FortWhyte Alive, IISD, McConnell Foundation, Sierra Club Canada, MIT and University of Manitoba.

Adjunct Instructor, University of Manitoba / 2019 - 2024

Taught design courses at the School of Art, including design theory and criticism, visual research methods, and design studio. Emphasis on helping students build multidisciplinary critical thinking skills with a focus on research frameworks, typographic exploration and peer collaboration.

Instructor, Red River College / 2017 - 2018

Taught design history and design management. Introduced design ethics, sustainability and visual research to coursework.

Director of Research, Oven Digital / 2000 - 2002

Directed research and development for global digital agency in New York. Clients included the City of New York, MoMA, Kodak, IBM and Tiffany & Co.

Research Associate, The Rockefeller Foundation / 1996 - 2000

Directed research and development for national fellowship program focused on advancing civil society leadership. As an architect of the program, developed curricula, facilitated cohort workshops and supported fellows.

Service

President, Graphic Designer of Canada - Manitoba / 2015 - 2018

Led provincial chapter to expand programming and educational initiatives for design community. Brought national and international designers to chapter and served in numerous board capacities for 10 years.

Co-founder, PechaKucha Night Winnipeg / 2010 - 2019

Created and led local event showcasing approximately 100 artists, designers, writers and activists who presented during that time.

Education and Fellowships

Fulbright Fellow, Akademia Sztuk Pięknych, Kraków, Poland / 1995

Post-graduate year to study Yiddish and Polish visual culture

New York Foundation for the Arts, New York / 1998

One-year fellowship in painting and drawing

Certificate, New School for Social Research, New York / 1997

Media management course with focus on digital entrepreneurship

MFA, SUNY Albany, Albany, New York / 1993

Painting and drawing honors, graduate fellowship

BA, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island / 1990

Visual art and English honors, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa