Hello
I’m an Art & Design Creative Director and all around maker with over 16 years of experience. I create simple solutions to complex business challenges, pushing the limits of creativity to connect with consumers in new and interesting ways. I’ve worked on global campaigns, digital initiatives, branding toolkits, and much more — always leading teams by example to help build some of the world’s most recognizable brands.
Experienced in brand/campaign design, broadcast, big ideas, experiential, print, social, digital, UX, logo development, and general advertising.
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Walmart
Planet Fitness
American Express
Google
BMW
Nutrish
Café Bustelo
Volvo
Boar’s Head
Marriott
Homegoods
Monster
Red Lobster
Capital One Bank
Goldman Sach
NetJets
Wendy’s
Hewlett-Packard
Stanley Black & Decker
DeWalt
Humana
RadioShack
Staples
Mohegan Sun Casino
History
Publicis Groupe - VP, Creative Director / Art & Design
October 2017 - January 2023
Walmart / Planet Fitness / Google / Red Lobster / Smuckers
• Executed creative campaigns and brand design over a variety of channels from concept to delivery
• Created design systems, brand guidelines, and campaign toolkits
• Guided multiple vendor/partner agencies on brand guidelines and campaign visual identity
• Managed and mentored creative/design teams on day-to-day work flow
Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners - ACD / Art & Design
October 2015 - October 2017
American Express / Boar's Head / Monster.com / Windstream / BMW / Stanley Black & Decker
• Tracked multiple parallel deadlines with exceptional attention to detail
• Applied 360 conceptual thinking on projects big and small
• Managed multiple teams across various brands
RAPP - Senior Art Director / Designer
November 2014 - October 2015
Humana / Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Worked with integrated teams to deliver innovative ideas while maintaining a cohesive brand voice
• Produced a wide range of broadcast, digital, print, social, and OOH campaigns
Grey Group - Senior Art Director / Designer
September 2012 - November 2014
RadioShack / Marriott Hotels / Volvo
• Worked with integrated teams to deliver innovative ideas while maintaining a cohesive brand voice
• Produced a wide range of broadcast, digital, print, social, and OOH campaigns
Kirshenbaum Bond + Partners - Art Director & Designer
March 2007 - September 2012
Capital One Bank / Netjets / Don Julio Tequila / Wendy’s / Mohegan Sun / Vanguard / BMW
• Collaborated with writers on the creation of unique concepts in traditional and innovative advertising
• Produced various broadcast, digital, and print work for multiple clients
• Contributed to new business activities of the agency
People are talking.
“Ian is an outstanding designer - a true tour de force!
He works incredibly fast and pays attention to every little detail, creating brands that will leave a lasting impression. He's a team leader, but he's also hands-on when necessary. With his vast knowledge of design history and pop culture, he brings a fresh perspective to every project.
I highly recommend Ian to anyone looking for an effective designer to add to their team.”
— Daniel Arenas // EVP Design Director at Publicis
“Ian is a truly remarkable Art Director with a tremendous eye. Having come from a pure design background, Ian is able to take his ideas and his layouts to a visual level far above most other ADs of his level. What’s more he’s self-taught, so he comes at problems with a unique and entrepreneurial approach. It was wonderful to have Ian as part of my creative team at KB for so long. I can directly attribute many of my successes - both large and small - on Ian’s hard work and ideas. I would absolutely work with him again.”
— Damion Sammarco // ECD at Taxi
“Ian D. McAlister. I can only assume that the “D” stands for “damn that guy is good”. In my time working with Ian, I was always sure of three things: the work was going to be great, Ian would be the driving force behind it, and we were going to have a good time making it. He has the ability to transition from hashing out big, ambitious ideas to perfecting the most exacting details to bring those ideas to life. More impressively, he can make that gear shift in a matter of minutes, obliterating the stereotype of the laborious creative process. Ian is a smart, fascinating guy who draws on his passion for art, photography, film and music to deliver the type of work that not only serves a marketing purpose but also naturally infuses itself into pop culture. His talent is immeasurable. His work ethic is unquestionable.”
— Paul Guidry // Creative Director
“I’ve been on some tough projects with Ian, projects that a lot of people wouldn’t see potential in, projects that most couldn’t deliver on, Ian did and wonderfully at that. Ian is an artist, he has the eye, the creative thinking and he approaches advertising with an artist’s mentality. It’s a rarity to have Ian’s kind of talent working along side us, simply because those who have it typically choose to use it in other ways. I’m so glad we haven’t lost Ian to another industry, knowing that he’s out there working with us gives me a little hope that some day all of our work will be as good as his.”
— Daniel Shapiro // Creative Director
“I worked with Ian for 3+ years on the most demanding, largest company in the world, Walmart. As a Creative Director, he leads his team with autonomy, and pushes them to reach the best outcome for the client. He consistently puts in 100% effort and never settles for mediocre. The strength in his work lies heavily in his thoughtfulness and innovative conceptualization. If you ask him for 1 idea, he’ll give you 20 every time.”
— Rachel Doyon // Creative Director
“Creatives come up with ideas that the rest of us wouldn't - Ian does that.
But he also comes up with questions, thoughts, connections that the rest of us would never think of. Ian's brain works differently than most people's - it's on a different wavelength and comes at both strategy and creative from unexpected angles...but it takes the work to better places it wouldn't have gone otherwise. As a strategist, I can't recommend that enough!”
