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Creative Director
Mac McAlister
Los Angeles, CA
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About
MAC McALISTER is a Creative Director located in Los Angeles, specializing in experiential marketing and advertising for agencies and in-house teams. Throughout the last ten years, she has collaborated with a wide range of clients from different industries such as Tiffany's, Amazon, T-Mobile, Diageo, MLB, and more, forming valuable connections along the way. From clients to colleagues, MAC has cultivated a network of like-minded creatives who share her commitment to excellence.
With a background in Industrial Design, MAC brings a unique perspective and expertise in production, fabrication, construction, research, demographics, ethics, strategy, design, and the creative process. She pays attention to the smallest details, whether it's the textured facade of a large-scale build, the paragraph spacing in a rebranding campaign, or the buttons on staff uniforms.
MAC actively implements organizational tools, establishes standards, and motivates teams to create impactful campaigns, events, experiences, content, and innovative brand strategies. Her leadership abilities have made her a sought-after choice for creative startups, and her engaging personality enables her to collaborate directly with clients to form partnerships that result in emotionally resonant content, driving brand growth and achieving success.
SKILLS
Strong communication skills to motivate both internal and client teams to maintain relationships, build strong teams, and collaborate with multidisciplinary parties.
Creative and art direction skills accompanied by the expertise of developing creative solutions in a variety of campaigns.
Works through the creative process to create a multitude of concepts utilizing design strategy and digital software such as the Adobe Creative Suite and SketchUp.
Manages multiple projects simultaneously with time management skills and the ability to work with strict budgets among cross-functional teams. -
Education
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Bachelor's Industrial DesignThe Art Institutes of California - Hollywood2012 - 2015Graduated with high honors. GPA: 3.86
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Experience
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Design DirectorKnotty Pine CoLos Angeles, CAMar 2025 - Present (1 year 3 months)As a Design Director, I am a multidisciplinary leader and Brand Transformation specialist currently leading the strategic repositioning of Knotty Pine Co, transitioning the firm from a traditional fabrication house into a dynamic experiential agency. This comprehensive effort involves the creation of a new brand identity, narrative, strategy, and the design of all core assets and documentation. My expertise is leveraged to manage complex, high-stakes projects, notably spearheading all experiential mobile tours for key clients like RYZE, LUCKY F*CK Energy, and TRUBAR. As a hands-on manager, I oversee multidisciplinary teams to ensure all creative and strategic projects are completed on time and within budget. My leadership in implementing new brand identity standards has maintained high quality across all internal and client-facing materials, directly contributing to the success of RFPs and the acquisition of new clientele. By developing effective brand strategies and crafting compelling creative pitches, I have consistently driven measurable increases in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and enhanced overall brand visibility.
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Creative DirectorLos Angeles, CANov 2021 - Present (4 years 3 months)OVERVIEW
Managed a team of creative professionals to ensure that all the projects are completed on time and within budget. My expertise in implementing new brand identity and setting design standards has helped in maintaining the quality and expectations for internal documents and creative projects. My skills have also directly correlated to the success of RFPs and accumulating new clientele. I have been able to implement brand strategies with effective timelines and develop creative pitches that have resulted in increased KPIs and brand visibility.
CLIENTELE
Diageo, Don Julio, CÎROC, Joefreshgoods, MACRO, 818 Tequila
HIGHLIGHT
Gray Malin x Don Julio Experience in the Hamptons 2023
Led the creative vision and embraced the task of converting the bountiful surroundings of the Hamptons into an arid desert terrain, as showcased in Gray Malin's "Agave Series." This interactive pop-up experience completely transformed The Racquet Lounge property and included various three-dimensional photo opportunities, food and beverage offerings, carefully curated lounging areas, a retail outlet, and racquetball facilities that were open to a multitude of celebrities and influencers who generously donated their ticket sales to Southampton Art Center. -
Contract Associate Creative DirectorMay 2021 - Oct 2021 (5 months)OVERVIEW
Consistently demonstrated my ability to develop creative and innovative strategies that drive brand growth and expansion throughout my six month contract. Within the Blue Triton portfolio, I have successfully enhanced brand visibility and expanded the organization's reach by communicating my vision to a team of highly skilled creative professionals in executing successful brand activations. My leadership style emphasizes collaboration, effective communication, and attention to detail, ensuring that every activation achieves the desired outcome and exceeds expectations. With my strong track record of success, I am confident in my ability to drive continued growth and success for the Blue Triton portfolio.
6 month contract.
CLIENTELE
Blue Triton, Arrowhead, Pure Life, Poland Spring, 818 Tequila, Coachella, EDC
HIGHLIGHT
818 Tequila Airstream Cross-Country Tour
Developed assets and led the creative vision for 818 Tequila’s year-long cross-country Airstream tour featuring a uniquely designed trailer boasting a distinct, Instagram-worthy lounge area and decor elements. From coast to coast, this one-of-a-kind tour wowed attendees at multiple events, leaving them with unforgettable memories and the perfect photo op. Every single element of these trailers was custom-fabricated to withstand the rigors of travel, ensuring that they could be packed up and transported from one location to the next with ease. -
Associate Creative DirectorLos Angeles, CAMar 2018 - Mar 2021 (3 years)OVERVIEW
Oversaw all experiential marketing campaigns and design assets across a multitude of digital, environmental, and physical platforms for a major telecom company. To get the best design results, I leveraged my expertise in cross-functional team management to set new design and fabrication standards while implementing new QC policies and procedures. In addition, I led team-building activities and development across multiple offices within the US.
CLIENTELE
T-Mobile, MLB, Big Ten, Lollapalooza, Bumble
HIGHLIGHT
MLB All-Star Week Cleveland, Ohio 2019
I am proud to have spearheaded the design and execution of numerous touchpoint activations across the city, including Playball Park, Progressive Field, and an exclusive after-party that featured a star-studded performance by Shaq. For this event, I went above and beyond to create a one-of-a-kind DJ booth, ensuring Shaq's performance was a complete success. This was my first opportunity to showcase my expertise, collaborating with multiple offices across departments to implement new standards and practices. As a result, we achieved higher production efficiencies, better communication, and a superior end product. -
Contract Senior Art DirectorGlendale, CAAug 2018 - Feb 2019 (6 months)OVERVIEW
Brought into this role for a six-month contract because of my diverse range of responsibilities that required a breadth of skills and expertise. These include overseeing art direction, designing graphics, developing production design, creating 3D models, utilizing CAD design, managing the consumer journey, generating fabrication documents, conducting site visits, overseeing production management, providing leadership, and ensuring quality control. All of these tasks are integral to ensuring a successful and cohesive project outcome, and each requires a high level of attention to detail, creativity, and strategic thinking.
6 month contract.
CLIENTELE
Humane Society, In n Out, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Remy Martin
HIGHLIGHT
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles “From Paris with Love” Gala 2018
With my unique set of skills, we were able to successfully execute a charitable celebrity event for more than 1,400 attendees with a $3M budget for the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in less than 90 days with a small, yet highly effective team of creatives and producers. This particular project had a multitude of moving design parts including a 40ft rotating stage, Monopoly game piece-inspired topiaries, a floating DJ stage, and a life-sized illustration of a Parisian street with hidden doorways- all topped off with a 20ft replica of the Eiffel tower. -
Senior Experiential DesignerLos Angeles, CAMar 2016 - Jul 2018 (2 years 4 months)OVERVIEW
Oversaw critical areas from ideation to the final product, including art direction, presentation design, spatial planning, CAD drafting, graphic design, 3D modeling, asset management, and production design. My attention to detail and extensive experience ensured a near-flawless execution, resulting in an exceptional end product that exceeded our client's expectations.
CLIENTELE
Tiffany’s, Amazon, Patron, Goop, Puma
HIGHLIGHT
Puma DEFY City Launch with Selena Gomez 2018
Puma's DEFY City campaign was a vibrant and exciting takeover of three full blocks on Paramount's Backlot. As a designer, I had the opportunity to work on a variety of design requests, from creating a quirky Puma-branded bodega to designing a small decal on a trashcan in an alleyway. -
Experiential DesignerLos Angeles, CAOct 2014 - Mar 2016 (1 year 5 months)OVERVIEW
Responsible for various aspects of the design process, including visual design, spatial planning, consumer journey, CAD drafting, design asset management, and production design. Each of these responsibilities required a different set of skills and knowledge, but with meticulous planning and attention to detail, I was able to successfully bring each design project to fruition.
CLIENTELE
ESPN, Yves St Laurent, E3, L’Oreal, E! Entertainment, HBO
HIGHLIGHT
ESPN’s “BODY at The ESPYS” Pre-party 2016
One of my very first fully realized events where I was given a clear vision from the client that enabled me to take charge of photography assets, graphic design, furnishings, and floral to create a truly stunning space.
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Industries
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Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@themacmc, member since 2014
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Following 18
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Followers 18
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