The story
behind Dave Maharaj
After twenty years of balancing design and code, I’ve learned that the best work happens when you don't treat them as separate things. My career has taken me from the fast-paced studios of Toronto’s top agencies to a six-year deep dive into the corporate world, working behind the scenes on high-stakes, large-scale projects. I’ve now returned to my independent roots, bringing that 'big-picture' experience back to my first love: shaping digital projects that look incredible and function flawlessly, from the first pixel to the final line of code.
I believe a digital experience is more than just text and images. It must embody the brand’s identity and connect with the audience in the right way.
The Corporate Grind
For the past several years, I stepped away from my independent studio to operate within the private sector. During this time, I worked closely with both design and development teams to build and maintain the company's private platforms and digital products. This role allowed me to focus deeply on a single ecosystem, ensuring the site and underlying systems were high-performing, secure, and well-designed. I have now returned to my own projects, bringing that high-level engineering back to my passion for creative, custom-built digital experiences.
The Independent Studio
Before moving into the private sector, I spent fifteen years running my own studio, MovePixels. I collaborated with a wide range of clients—from Fortune 100s to agile startups. Working with studios in Los Angeles and New York gave me a front-row seat to how the coasts approach design and dev differently, providing a versatile perspective on the industry. Throughout this era, I evolved a dual expertise: leading high-end visual design while architecting the backend APIs and data structures to power it.
The Agency Era
Right after graduation, I started my career in the middle of Toronto’s busy advertising and media scene. Working in-house at top agencies like GJP Advertising and Sonic Boom, I got a firsthand look at how high-end studios actually operate. This is where I learned to handle high-pressure deadlines and work alongside large creative teams to deliver projects for major national brands. Those early years taught me the discipline and quality standards that I still bring to every project I take on today.
Every project I take on is approached with a blend of creativity and technical precision. I ensure that every detail is meticulously crafted to deliver an exceptional digital experience.
Design
I create digital experiences where clean lines and modern style come first. My approach is about stripping away the noise to let the core brand shine, using bold colors and current trends to build interfaces that stand out. From precise layouts to refined typography, I focus on the small details to make sure the final result is sharp, professional, and pixel-perfect.
Development
I believe the code behind a project should be just as clean as the design on top of it. I build stable, high-performance systems that are made to be reliable from day one. Whether I’m turning a creative vision into a working site or building out custom API integrations, I use modern frameworks to ensure everything is fast, secure, and easy to scale as your needs grow.
AI Integration
I build AI and automated logic into modern workflows to make digital systems faster and more efficient. By using large language models and custom API integrations, I help move beyond basic automation into smarter, more autonomous task management. My focus is on making sure these tools actually solve problems, keeping your systems modern and capable in a fast-moving environment.
A look back at the progression of my work over the years. These projects represent the technical and creative evolution that drives my current work.
47.567° N / 52.705° W
I am currently accepting new projects, specializing in everything from high-end visual direction to robust technical builds.