Getting to Know… Fuse Create’s Linda Carte

Fuse Create has hired Linda Carte as creative director, reporting to ECD and vice-president Steve Miller.

Carte has more than 20 years of agency experience, spending the past four years as creative director at Innocean Worldwide, with previous senior creative leadership roles at BBDO, Downtown Partners, and Lowe Roche.

“I love what Linda brings at this stage in our agency’s growth,” said Miller. “Her experience, craft, enthusiasm, and reputation for award-winning work will be a huge asset to our team and our clients.”

“I’ve been watching the transformation of Fuse Create over the past couple of years and was not only impressed by the work but the entrepreneurial vision that’s a part of the DNA,” said Carte.

We know Carte has a strong reputation as a top creative in Canada, but we didn’t know much about her in terms of, say, her taste in books and movies. So we asked.

What did you want to be when you grew up? From a very young age I was always told I could draw really well, and I pursued art all the way through high school. Part of my portfolio for OCAD consisted of a painting of John Lennon in gouache, GOUACHE! Do you know how hard it is to paint in gouache? During my first year at OCAD I discovered art direction, and found it was a great combination of art, typography, photography, and concept. I loved it from the get-go.

Movie you love that almost nobody else likes? I’m doing the opposite here, movie I hated that everyone loved: Rushmore. And I am a huge Wes Anderson fan. Hated it. Didn’t make it all the way through (I know, I know, you gotta watch it through). And yes I will give it another go.

Nicest thing a co-worker’s said to you? You’re even louder in person.

Favourite thing about this industry? My favourite thing about the industry has to be the variety of talented people I get to work with, and it’s ever changing. Chatty people, introverts, visual people, musicians, animators, creators, entrepreneurs, artists, sushi haters (yes there are a few out there) cat lovers (I’m personally more of a dog person) and show tune singers (of which I’m one, promise, my last use of brackets).

Favourite book of all time and why? The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. Her writing is highly visual, I wanted to make a collagé about each page.

David Brown