TORONTO—Advertising agency DDB Canada closed the Toronto office of Karacters Design Group two weeks ago. Four employees were laid off as a result.
 

The office was closed to “optimize operational efficiencies,” a company spokesperson told Design Edge Canada. “Despite some gallant efforts by some very talented people, the current economic pressures have proven to be too much.”

The Toronto office opened in the fall of 2002 and handled “brand identity, creative platforms and identity systems, retail and environmental graphics, packaging and corporate communications.”

Karacters Toronto creative director Randy Van Gerwen, who recently moved over from Ove Design & Communications, will stay with DDB as part of the creative team and will oversee all remaining client work. Karacters Toronto clients included Queen's University, Milestone's restaurants and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

The Karacters office in Vancouver was not affected by the Toronto closure, the spokesperson said. Contact: www.karacters.com