ART DIRECTOR & DESIGNER

ABOUT

Direct yet conceptual. Provocative and engaging. Design & illustration for brands, publications, and people.

 
 
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I’ve always prided myself on being a master of all trades. As an art director, it’s hard to resist the urge to have my hands in every project in some form. This has helped me to develop a well-rounded portfolio and continue to expand my skillset across the spectrum of creative mediums. My background in design has helped me develop into a creative team leader. My goal has always been to create memorable work that inspire action.

I majored in Graphic Design and Web Development at Columbia College Chicago and graduated in 2011. During my time at Columbia, I gravitated towards the intricate handmade processes of working with tactile mediums such as screen-printing and bookbinding. But I also craved the instant gratification and flexibility of designing using digital mediums. This dichotomy has heavily influenced my work and has been a running theme in my style as a designer.

I started my design career in-house as a Graphic Designer as a small textbook publisher, soon realizing that I was better suited to agency life—the unpredictability of designing for a wide range of clients and the fast-paced culture. I moved onto my first agency job at a boutique marketing and branding agency, JB CHICAGO. At JB, I was the Lead Designer on a small creative team, tackling digital and print projects, with a heavy focus on branding for CPGs and web design.

 
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After 4 years at JB, I landed a gig at James & Matthew, a marketing agency in Boston, MA, as an Art Directer, and soon the Senior Art Director. When I joined the team, J&M had a heavy focus on video production, which was an entirely new medium for me. This initial fear of the unknown led me to becoming comfortable being uncomfortable. As a designer, it’s easy to get stuck inside your comfort zone, and this new role pushed me beyond what I thought I was capable of as a designer. My role quickly widened to include not only the traditional design staples (print, digital) but also art direction for live-action, motion graphic, and animated video projects. This led me to realize my interest in set design and I grew as a director. Now I oscillate between the two, digging in and getting my hands dirty when I just need to create, and stepping back to lead and collaborate with other creatives to achieve my vision for a project.

Throughout my career, I have nurtured a freelance design business. Over my 10+ years as a freelance designer, I have assisted on with design projects directly with clients, and advertising and branding agencies. I have had the opportunity to work on projects including website design and development, packaging design, infographics, invitation suites, brand identity suites and brand guidelines development. 

My day job, no matter how rooted in creativity, has never fully satisfied my urge to make art. One of my favorite hobbies is nature photography. I’ve always had an affinity for nature, specifically birds and plants; their delicate patterns and textures have heavily influenced my design sensibilities. I’m also into candle-making (online shop coming soon!) and gardening, both indoors and out.

I live in Chicago, IL with my husband, Sean, a grumpy old chihuahua named Austin, and ~150 houseplants.

 

 
Other designers I’ve managed have had the unfortunate responsibility of living up to the expectations and standards Mariella set during our time working together at James & Matthew. From concept to production, she brings a wealth of experience and the ability to communicate the strategy behind every design decision in a way that inspires the teams she works with.

She has a command of color, space, and typography that brings out the personality and life in brands that showed no sign of it previously. Her taste and uncompromising standards balance with her ability to connect with teammates and make her an ideal collaborator.

I would consider the junior design talent she mentors extremely lucky, just as much as those who hire her to lead on their team.
— Craig Birchfield, Creative Director, Vers Creative
Mariella and I were a Senior Art Direction/Senior Copywriter team and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner. She works hard, is extremely talented, and, from conception to design, is always a team player. If everyone had an Art Director like Mariella on their team, the marketing world would be a better place.
— Grey Robinson, Senior Copywriter, James & Matthew
Mariella is not only a highly-skilled individual, but also a great leader and director. She is able to give precise directions and conscious feedback while simultaneous creating designs. 10 out of 10 would recommend for any role!
— Megan Jackson, Senior Designer, DogStudio
Mariella was an absolute pleasure to work alongside during my time at James & Matthew. I’ve seen her not only excel at the core elements of her role as an Art Director, but go above and beyond what she designs in Photoshop or Illustrator — selecting the best tangible product to make our client’s work shine. Mariella’s attention to detail and design would make her an exemplary asset to any creative team.
— Matthew Lourie, Project Manager, James & Matthew
 
 
 
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