Michael Hilliard

Globally recognized body of work, spanning 30 years and showcasing a broad folio of branding, interactive, print, and integrated campaigns. Twenty years of leading, mentoring and directing creative teams and individuals.

PENCIL SKILLS: Strong concept-driven communications, balanced by thoughtful writing and strategy. There are few areas of image-based marketing I haven't supervised and am fearless piloting complex programs through uncharted waters, frequently creating new tools to achieve the right outcome. Technology helps but the best work always benefits from discussion and scribbles on paper.

PIXEL SKILLS: Fluent across all commercial design software, current with emerging tools and web practices. I speak enough geek to translate technical and creative goals between programmers and designers, resulting in clear and effective action plans.

futurist juice consortium llc, seattle 2002–present, principal / creative director / photographer

A creative manager with a long history of developing marketing and branding for clients in technology (digital and biotech), legal/professional services, education, and non-profit organizations. Primary duties are interpreting business objectives into actionable campaigns, assembling, managing and mentoring creative talent, and ensuring an appropriate voice and experience for the end audience.

I work exceptionally well leading and motivating small, flexible and highly-scalable teams, interpreting difficult concepts into easy-to-digest projects and brands, and occasionally get to shoot or design when appropriate. My proficiency as a designer/photographer makes me effective in translating and clarifying objectives to design and writing talent, narrowing the gap between client demands and successful deliverables.

Clients: Global Visionaries, Northwest Learning Associates, Path with Art, Intellectual Ventures, JAZZ Venture Partners, Pregenen, Qwell Pharma, DELSA, Seattle Children’s Research, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Pepple Cantu Schmidt, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancilla, Weinstein Couture, Gordon Thomas Honeywell, Adkins Black, Greenstone Media, Microsoft, Bardahl Manufacturing (North and Central/South America), Adapx, Cadence Winery

mhilliard associates inc, seattle 1999–2002, principal / creative director / photographer

mHilliard began as an approach from a former Microsoft client needing help in celebrating their 25th anniversary. Inside Out: Microsoft – In Our Own Words was a 15-month project, resulting in a beautiful 328-page coffee table book and concept site that tells their story (warts and all) through the words of the people that made the company great. My role required developing pitch concepts and style guides, defining scopes and budgets, assembling creative teams and directing a staff of 12 people, frequently working in tandem with external agencies and internal corporate divisions. In addition to directing photographic teams, I shot about 300 employees on three contents in context to their work and research.

Through mHilliard I also headed ad and bus campaigns for KOMO/UW Husky Football, shaped early messaging for Xbox, presented new conceptual technology with Microsoft Research in China, created fundraising and event tools to solve Multiple Sclerosis, and motivated people to decrease gun exposure with our kids.

Clients: Microsoft, Microsoft Research/China, Microsoft Museum, XBOX, TimeWarner Books, Fisher Broadcasting, Mothers Against Violence in America (MAVIA), National Multiple Sclerosis Society

life outside the marketing bigtop

Trained as a fine artist and industrial designer (UW 1985 & 1992), practicing across multiple mediums and currently working on two narrative photographic series. From 1985-89 I owned and ran the first neon art gallery on the west coast (Neo-Neon, located in the Pike Place Market), and prior to that was the morning show producer for Charlie Brown at KJR and KUBE.

I'm trained and volunteer time as a court-appointed special advocate for Family Law CASA of Washington, taking cases interviewing and advocating for children by reporting to a judge in high-conflict custody battles.

Currently, for wholeness and wellbeing, I'm restoring a 1986 VW Vanagon Syncro, building cabinets and fixtures for a 1912 Craftsman house, learning Norwegian, foraging for mushrooms and traveling narrow roads abroad with my wife, Karin.