Bram Timmer
Updated: 2025-07-30
I’m a Dutch—Canadian creative director, cultural connector, and producer with over 25 years of experience spanning storytelling, brand strategy, immersive media, and large-scale content production for global audiences.
Roots in Story and System
My creative journey began in the early days of digital—illustration, animation, scripting, and storytelling during the golden era of Flash. I cut my teeth designing for TV properties like Corner Gas and Taking It Off, led design at Blatant (now Absorb), and worked remotely long before it was standard practice—since 2001.
Under the moniker Beside, I built a practice in Vancouver and Toronto focused on design, art direction, and digital campaigns.
At the same time, I helped establish FITC festivals across Hollywood, New York, Seoul, and Amsterdam—guiding their creative direction while championing the role of design in emerging technology.
I was also chief editor and co-founder of Digital Softbox Magazine and Digital Abstracts, and a contributing member to Ventilate—all influential media platforms that documented the evolution of design and digital photography in the early 2000s.
Hybrid Work Across Media and Culture
Later, under Aside, I shifted into photography and video, leading documentation efforts for Banff World Media Festival and the Teenage Paparazzo Experience North American Tour. That chapter brought me face-to-face with cultural icons—Ricky Gervais, William Shatner, Lisa Kudrow, Ed Asner, Judd Apatow, Juliette Lewis, David Suzuki, Howie Mandel, and many others.
In 2012, I founded Wild Forest, a creative production studio focused on narrative and screen-based experiences. I also partnered with KMV Digital in New York to consult on global brand strategy and creative. Over the years, I’ve worked with organizations including the NBA, Apple, Unilever, Yale University, Ricoh, Citi, and the U.S. State Department. My experiential and public art installations have appeared across Canada, including projects for the Calgary Film Centre, TD Canada Trust, and the City of Calgary.
In 2025, I co-founded palm™, a micro-agency rooted in storytelling, systems thinking, and high craft. Here I lead cross-functional teams and guide narratives from concept to execution—with precision and emotional clarity.
Creative Leadership with Public Impact
Back in 2014, I launched the Council of Artists and Multimedia Professionals (CAMP) to explore the convergence of art, technology, and storytelling through festivals, talk shows, and industry workshops. CAMP was acquired by FITC in 2021.
That same year, I shifted deeper into film and television—joining the National Screen Institute’s Business for Producers program and became a member of the Producers Guild of America. I also hold a U.S. O-1B visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts.
Advisor, Advocate, and Cultural Connector
In 2017, as Vice President of Digital Alberta, I helped restructure the organization, relaunch its awards program, and secure funding. Since then, I’ve advised national and provincial media funds, mentored emerging creators through TELUS Storyhive, and helped shape immersive content programs.
My advisory work has supported the Government of Canada, TELUS, the provincial Government of Alberta, and multiple post-secondary institutions—including Alberta University of the Arts, Lethbridge Polytechnic, and Bow Valley College. I was also a key connector and collaborator on the TED Summit in Banff.
Recognition and Creative Perspective
Beyond industry work, my personal projects have exhibited internationally, and my perspective has been featured on television, radio, and in media outlets including CBC, CTV, and Playback Magazine. I’ve served on juries for public art programs and creative awards, and received recognition from organizations like the Webby Awards, FWA, Awwwards, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
A Lifelong Drive to Build Worlds
I grew up next to the Efteling theme park in the Netherlands—a surreal, imaginative world that left a permanent imprint on how I see and shape stories. That early proximity to wonder sparked a lifelong pursuit: to build creative work that feels alive and emotionally resonant—across screens, systems, and societies.
From speculative design in the Netherlands to cinematic strategy in Cannes, I’ve engaged with cultural institutions and creative leaders around the world—not as a tourist, but as a participant in shaping where media, technology, and storytelling intersect. These experiences don’t just influence my thinking; they define how I curate and build: with imagination, curiosity, and context.