Hello!, I’m Brenda Johannessen, the creative mind behind Red Lead Design. I studied Graphic Design at OCAD University and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Web Design at Sheridan College. Since then, I’ve worked with small businesses and nonprofits to create brands that are clear, cohesive, and easy to manage.

Between and alongside university, I served with the Navy Reserve, an experience that taught me discipline, adaptability, and teamwork. The name Red Lead comes from sailor slang: in the galley it meant stewed tomatoes, and on deck it meant the red anti-rust paint (think San Francisco Bridge). Both remind me that creativity and practicality often go hand in hand, a lesson I carry into design.

The studio’s identity also carries an icon I call the Sail. It nods to my Navy past while standing for movement, adaptability, and clarity. These values guide my work on every project.