I’m a Creative Director who brings both sides of my brain to every project. I make choosing between “fast” and “good” unnecessary. Trained as an art director, I have seasoned design skills and a freakishly keen eye for detail. I like pretty. But I can also break down complex problems into workable steps and lead a team deftly from the start of a project to the end. I love a good spreadsheet.
Outside of the office, I apply both sides of my brain to traveling, swimming, raising my two nephews, and catering to the whims of two slightly deranged cats.
EMAIL:
marilyn.m.kam@gmail.com
LINKEDIN:
linkedin.com/in/marilynkam
EXPERIENCE
FREELANCE
Creative Director/Art Director 2024-Present
CLIENTS: Arcadis, Spectrum, Lilly Brand, Ebglyss, Mounjaro, Zepbound, Omvoh, Merck
Partnered with BrandPie NY and Arcadis in a Catalyst Workshop to co-create a strategic, cross-channel campaign supporting Arcadis’ global repositioning.
Concepted and launched social campaigns at RAPP NY, boosting engagement and brand consistency.
Designed the visual identity for Lilly Brand’s annual marketing forum, ensuring cohesion across all event touchpoints.
ARNOLD NEW YORK
SVP Creative Director 2019-2024
CLIENTS: Enbrel, Xiidra, Dupixent, Twinings, Airsculpt
Secured and led major brand wins including Twinings, helping reposition the agency into the wellness space.
Won AOR business for Novartis’ Xiidra, sustaining growth during the pandemic and client leadership changes.
Brought in new project work for Airsculpt, delivering video and social content for a successful digital campaign.
Directed fully integrated campaigns across TV, digital, and social, grounded in strategic platforms and crafted execution.
Managed cross-disciplinary teams producing culturally resonant work across branded content, experiential, and design systems.
Mentored creatives, championed promotions, and fostered a collaborative, high-performing team culture.
Streamlined workflows across departments, ensuring nimble delivery under tight timelines.
Maintained hands-on design leadership across layout, motion, and digital content.
Invited to judge creative awards, including D&AD, recognizing industry leadership and craft excellence.
FREELANCE
Creative Director 2019
CLIENTS: lululemon, CNN Experience, Entresto, Veltassa, Fevi, In Wild Pursuit
Executed and directed social content for lululemon’s Run Campaign at The Brooklyn Brothers.
Curated, designed, and produced CNN’s WorldPride Exhibit for BMW and P&G at Courageous Studios.
SVP, CD at Havas Health & You—created 360 campaigns for pharma and wellness brands.
Led brand design projects for boutique design studio In Wild Pursuit.
DDB NEW YORK
Creative Director 2016-2018
CLIENTS: Cotton, Good Humor, Breyers, Pure Leaf, Eukanuba, Time Warner Cable
Modernized Cotton Incorporated’s “Fabric of Our Lives” across TV, social, and digital.
Led Unilever brands across the ice cream and beverage portfolio.
Directed large-scale productions with $2M+ budgets and teams of 20+.
DDB NEW YORK
Associate Creative Director 2011-2016
Senior Art Director 2008-2011
Art Director 2005-2008
CLIENTS: Clean & Clear, Aveeno, Reebok, NY Lottery, Electrolux, Frigidaire, Subaru, Hertz, Brawny
Served as lead creative for Clean & Clear, launching TV, print, and digital campaigns that won social AOR.
Led redesigns for major brand sites: Clean & Clear, Cotton, and Electrolux.
Helped secure AOR status for Electrolux’s European laundry business while managing the U.S. campaign rollout.
Pitched and won high-profile accounts such as Gardasil, Seasonique, and Ciba Vision.
LOWE WORLDWIDE
Art Director 2002-2005
CLIENTS: Electrolux, Johnson & Johnson, GMC, Saab, Degree, HSBC
SKILLS
AI Graphic Creation, Adobe Creative Suite, Brand Development, Brand Management, Brand Positioning, Brand Purpose & Vision, Brand Campaigns, Business Development, Client Relations, Client Management, Content Creation & Implementation, Content In-House Production, Creative Innovation, Creative Strategy, Cross-functional Team Management, “Data Driven” Creative, Digital & Social Media Marketing, Earned Media, Executive Leadership, Graphic Design, GIFs and Short Form, Figma, Integrated Marketing, Iterative Creative Testing, Logo & Branding, Promotional Campaigns, Product Design, Social Media & Branded Content Strategy, Storyboarding, Strategic Positioning & Messaging, TV, Radio, Print, Social, Digital, Video Direction & Production
EDUCATION
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, Bachelor of Science with Honors
Major: Graphic Design and Communications, Steinhardt School of Education
Minor: Advertising Management, Stern School of Business