About Fuselight
Fuselight Creative is a strategic visual communications and engagement studio. We partner with organizations to untangle complex systems, bridge communication gaps, and design participatory experiences that drive change.
Our Vision: Storytelling is the catalyst for peace and understanding.
Our Mission: Finding story in the complex.
We apply a “systems-first” mindset to every project. Our visuals, whether they’re a graphic recording, an infographic, or an explainer video, are designed for an extended lifecycle. This means:
→ Research: We conduct deep-dive research into your terminology, culture, and goals to design a custom approach that speaks to your audience.
→ Immersive Engagement: We design “participatory visuals” that prompt your audience to interact with your content…from 20ft interactive Knowledge Walls and 3D builds, to AR-enhanced murals that deep-link to facts and data. These engagements are designed to be used beyond the event space, so you can continue to engage audiences.
→ Versatile Assets: We design for your communication plan. The visuals created during your project are built to be repurposed for your annual reports, social campaigns, and executive presentations.
The Story Behind Our Name
Our founder, Tanya Gadsby, grew up in Nunavut and the Yukon. Every New Year’s Eve, her family would have a bonfire, even if it was –30. From a tiny strike of a match, a little fuselight would grow into a towering fire. Tanya was always inspired by how a tiny flicker could transform a cold night into warmth and light, and circle people around to share stories, inspiration, and joy.
At Fuselight Creative, we bring that same energy to our work. We act as the spark that ignites clarity within complex data, circling people together to share stories, find inspiration, and move toward a shared path forward.
Fuselight’s home base is on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen, W̱SÁNEĆ, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm peoples. We are committed to the ongoing work of truth & reconciliation, decolonizing, and building authentic relationships with the land and the people who have stewarded it since time immemorial.
Featured in Gestalten’s Graphic Recording (2016)
Featured in the Graphic Facilitation and Interconnection episode of the podcast Sci Comm + Civic Tech
Featured in Episode 61: Augmented Reality & Graphic Facilitation, of the podcast Visual Thinking
Our Team
We bring an intentional lens to every design choice. Every project starts with conversations with you on imagery, themes, and unconscious bias to ensure that sensitive content is handled with the authenticity and care it deserves. We have staff based in Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto to support graphic recording across Canada and globally.
Tanya Gadsby, BFA
Creative Director & Graphic Facilitator
Tanya Gadsby is the founder of Fuselight Creative and has over twenty years of experience working in event design and audience engagement. Her expertise is in health care, collaborations with Indigenous Nations & communities, and climate science. She specializes at strategic use of graphic facilitation so it deepens dialogue, supports a safe space for sharing, is flexible to the group’s needs, and is a core part of the work moving forward. Tanya is constantly testing new ways of using graphics and technology to facilitate learning and connection — whether it’s virtual or digital graphic recording, augmented reality, immersive environments, or experimenting with new animation techniques.
Tanya has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre from the University of Victoria, a certificate in Public Participation (IAP2), and is a certified Master Visual Practitioner (IFVP Institute). Born in Aotearoa (New Zealand), and of Māori / Ukrainian / Scottish ancestry, Tanya grew up in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and Whitehorse, Yukon. She lives and works with gratitude on the traditional and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples, including the Pauquachin and Tseycum First Nations, currently also known as Victoria, BC.
Leslie Teixeira, OBM
Operations Manager
Leslie has been Fuselight’s organizational and systems expert since 2015. As the primary point of contact for new partnerships, she leads our discovery calls to meticulously scope projects and build the foundation for long-term client relationships. Beyond the initial consult, Leslie manages the capacity of the entire team to ensure projects dovetail seamlessly within our production calendar. She is a master of the “logistical shuffle,” nimbly adapting to timeline shifts to maintain studio momentum without compromising the integrity or due dates of any project.
Leslie also oversees all of Fuselight’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring every team member has a clear framework and a rigorous standard of practice to follow. By coordinating daily tasks and key milestones, she effectively closes the loop between the studio and our clients to ensure every project remains on task and on schedule. Leslie’s career in operations management spans over 20 years, and she holds a certificate in business management. She resides on the unceded traditional territory of the Stó:lō Nation, currently also known as Chilliwack, BC.
Brittany Datchko
Senior Graphic Recorder & Animator
A graduate in Sequential Arts with a certificate in graphic facilitation from The Grove, Brittany weaves together beautiful, organic layouts that bring a unique rhythm to every project. After joining Fuselight in 2022, she has also deepened her animation skillset to produce rich, detailed visuals that come to life with captivating motion.
As a natural relationship-builder, Brittany is passionate about supporting gatherings focused on gender, identity, intersectionality, and 2SLGBTQIA+ experiences. She approaches her work with a strong focus on representing “whole-person” identity, ensuring her illustrations reflect real people in all their complexity. Known for her deep humility and care, she is acutely aware of her presence in a space and works to integrate real-time feedback and adapt her graphic recording in the moment.
Brittany resides with her husband and cat on Treaty 13, the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, currently also known as Toronto, Ontario.
Jessie Mead
Graphic Recorder & Senior Animator
Jessie is a graphic recorder and senior animator who has collaborated with a diverse range of clients—from small organizations to large corporations—to weave complex ideas into beautiful, engaging stories. Known for her down-to-earth approach and “get it done” attitude, she excels at navigating tight timelines and project shifts with efficiency and ease.
Jessie has supported many Indigenous gatherings and is deeply passionate about human rights, equity, and social justice. Her expertise as an animator includes 15+ years of developing complex, short-form explainer videos. A true “people person” with an insatiable desire for learning, she delights in graphic recording a wide range of themes and new perspectives.
She resides with her family and rescue dogs in an area the Blackfoot Tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, in Treaty 7 territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, and the Métis Nation, also currently known as Calgary, Alberta.
Natalie Field
Project Manager
Natalie bridges the gap between creative vision and logistical reality. After graduating with a degree in Studio Art from the University of Guelph, she began her career supporting artists and creatives by removing roadblocks to the creative process. At Fuselight, Natalie oversees the day-to-day lifecycle of every project—from managing deliverables and client updates to liaising with our internal staff and freelance teams.
She often joins initial kick-off calls to refine project scope and support shifts in direction, ensuring every client feels heard through her preparation of detailed project briefs. Known for her calm, attentive eye for detail, she excels at managing the complex logistics of graphic recording for a variety of events and overseeing multi-month animation projects. Natalie values relationships above all else, working to find solutions that support both the project and its people to reach the final goal.
Natalie resides on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, currently also known as Toronto, Ontario.
Jana Addis, BAppDes
Senior Graphic Designer
Jana is a senior graphic designer crafting visual communications for businesses, agencies, and community-focused clients. Bringing a thoughtful, concept-driven approach to each project, she specializes in report design, infographics, logo/identity development, print collateral, and digital graphics. Grounded in research and discovery, her work is designed to communicate clearly and purposefully, with a focus on educating and engaging the end user.
Born and raised on Vancouver Island, Jana began her design journey at Vancouver Island University before completing her Bachelor of Applied Design in Graphic Design for Marketing at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She values close collaboration with clients, helping shape ideas into meaningful visual outcomes that extend and strengthen their brand message. Jana lives with gratitude on the unceded traditional territory of the Stó:lō Nation, currently also known as Chilliwack, BC.
Extended Team
We’ve curated a trusted team of graphic recorders, whiteboard animators, and infographic artists based across North America to help support our projects. These are people who embody Fuselight’s vision for igniting ideas and bring a wealth of experience across a range of industries — including federal government, engineering, climate and environment, non-profits, technology, corporate strategy, among many others.
When we align the right person for the job, that’s when visuals have an authentic and lasting impact on audiences.
Yiely Ho
Facilitator & Certified Leadership Coach
Yiely partners with leaders and teams to surface creative, meaningful, impactful solutions to complex challenges. She is a Certified Coach from the Co-Active Training Institute and is a trusted Senior Advisor in healthcare with the second largest employer in Canada (130,000 people).
Past work includes partnership with C-Suite leaders, physicians and senior executives in healthcare, emerging managers and leaders, government, law, policing, financial services, education, finance and not-for-profit sectors. Born in China, Yiely grew up in Guangzhou and Vancouver, British Columbia. Yiely lives and works with gratitude on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, also known as Vancouver, BC.
Elena Sterritt
Graphic Recorder
Elena is a Gitxsan graphic recorder from the Gitanmaax First Nations with mixed Chinese on her mother’s side. Elena brings a unique artistic lens to strategic planning and concepts. She can visualize and cohesively organize ideas imaginatively and collectively. As a technologically savvy graphic recorder, Elena works digitally in a range of event spaces and adapts her approach to meet the needs of the group.
As a proud member of the Gitxsan Nation, her roots run deep in the rich cultural tapestry of northern British Columbia. Elena’s heritage informs and influences her work, contributing to a distinctive blend of Chinese and Indigenous perspectives. She started her business Gisghaast Recording in 2021.
Constanze Link
Animator
Constanze is a talented animator & motion designer. With a Bachelor’s Degree in New Media from the Merz Akademie in Germany, she has been creating motion graphics and innovative designs since 2014.
She’s had the privilege of collaborating with PR firms, advertising agencies, and creatives across Canada, pushing the boundaries of visual storytelling.
Constanze resides on the unceded traditional territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, also currently known as Victoria, BC.
Jamin Zuroski
Graphic Designer
Jamin is a Namgis First Nations Artist, residing in Victoria, BC. Jamin holds mixed ancestry from Ukrainian and Polish on his father’s side and Namgis First Nation on his mothers side. The Gigalgam Cook family comes Alert Bay, which is located on Cormorant Island. Alert Bay sits on the regional lands of the Kwakwaka’wakw, the Kwak’wala speaking peoples.
For the past 25 years, Jamin has practiced and worked with a variety of artists, community members, organizations, businesses, schools, friendship centres, municipalities and government on a variety of cultural projects and initiatives. Some of the current mediums he works with are cedar wood carving, cedar and glass sandblasting, mural painting, canvas painting, chalk ,and computer graphics.
jaminzuroski.com
Rosanna von Sacken
Facilitator
Rosanna has been working with groups, organizations and communities in the public, private and non-profit sectors for over 20 years.
Certified as a Professional Facilitator (CPF) through the International Association of Facilitators (IAF), her primary work is group process design and facilitation, which compliment wonderfully with her coaching and consulting work. She is also a visual thinker and communicator, incorporating graphics into her work. She is people-centric, outcomes and results-oriented, and she brings an engaging and interactive approach to her work, whether it is leadership / team development, strategic visioning, courageous conversations, action planning or multi-stakeholders engagement, personal coaching or consulting.
She is a FIRO-Element B Certified Practitioner. FIRO Element B is a powerful instrument that can help clients learn about and better understand behaviours based on what we do and get in the areas of Inclusion, Control and Openness.
Rosanna resides on the unceded traditional territories of the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, also currently known as Victoria, BC.
Our Values
Finding story in the complex is the result of living our values through every phase of a project. From the first discovery call to our deep-dive research and final project delivery, we provide the insight necessary to transform how your audience understands and interacts with complex information.
Authenticity
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- We “listen to lead.” As visual strategists, we don’t just deliver on a brief; we design a custom approach based on the specific systemic challenges of your sector.
- Deep-Dive Research: We immerse ourselves in your culture, terminology, and goals before our creative work begins. This ensures every visual is authentic to your topic and free of clichés.
- Participatory Synthesis: We design “facilitative containers”—like interactive Knowledge Walls and engagement experiences—that allow your audience to become active co-creators of the narrative.
- Continuous Calibration: We use real-time feedback loops to ensure our visuals are accurately facilitating the dialogue and driving toward your intended outcomes.
Equity, Inclusion, and Supporting Cultural Safety
We are committed to the responsibility of representing diverse voices and worldviews with accuracy and respect.
- Relational Work: We work with cultural humility and a trauma-informed lens. For projects involving Indigenous Nations, we follow a relational, co-designed process that respects data sovereignty and OCAP® principles.
- Whole-Person Representation: We strive to reflect real people in their complexity, ensuring that visuals surrounding gender, identity, and intersectionality are nuanced.
- Advocacy: We are not afraid to push ourselves and our partners to consider who is missing from the room, and whose perspective needs to be centred to do the work in a good way.
Integrity
We specialize in the vital and complex work of Health Care, Climate Science, and Human Rights. In these fields, where clarity and accuracy are essential to progress, we bring a specialized level of integrity to every engagement.
- Action-Oriented Focus: We partner with organizations committed to tangible change. We prioritize projects where our visuals serve as a catalyst for systemic movement rather than passive documentation.
- Integrity in Approach: We mean what we say and deliver what we promise. This includes being flexible enough to adapt “on the fly” to a group’s shifting needs without losing sight of the end goal.
Purposeful Innovation
Innovation at Fuselight means expanding how people process information and find meaning.
- Spatial Storytelling: We move beyond the 2D canvas, building 3D structures, Language Trees, and Knowledge Walls that transform physical venues into interactive spaces of collective thought.
- Digital Enhancements: We integrate Augmented Reality (AR) and Projection Mapping, allowing us to “deep-link” physical art to articles, research papers, and videos.
- Systems Mapping: We continue to evolve best practices for journey mapping complex pathways, ensuring that people with lived experience are the primary driver of system transformation.
