Overview
Across two formative roles at AOL and MTV, I led and contributed to the evolution of digital media at a time when internet-based advertising and content were still finding their footing. At AOL, I managed a cross-functional creative team responsible for developing high-impact digital advertising experiences for major brands. At MTV (Viacom Interactive Services), I created early digital content and branded experiences for a slate of iconic entertainment properties. These roles cemented my foundations in design, digital marketing, and content systems—and exposed me early to the complexity of omnichannel brand-building and emerging ad tech.
AOL Media Networks
Creative Director, Digital Advertising Experiences
At AOL Media Networks, I led the in-house creative team that supported one of the largest digital sales organizations in the world. Our primary responsibility was to create high-fidelity, multi-format advertising concepts that could help close major multi-million-dollar deals across AOL Time Warner properties.
We partnered closely with sales executives, brand strategists, and legacy media leadership—including figures from Time Inc., InStyle, and Sports Illustrated—to craft campaign mockups and experiences across AOL.com, AOL Music, MapQuest, and other high-traffic platforms. Our deliverables included interactive ad experiences, homepage takeovers, localized mockups, and cross-media creative kits that could run both online and in print.
Notable Contributions
- Led the design and execution of a homepage takeover for Sony’s James Bond franchise—seen by over 25 million users in a single day.
- Created bespoke interactive campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola, American Express, Target, and the U.S. Army.
- Worked across ad tech systems, including behavioral targeting, geolocation, and performance metrics. Collaborated with technical teams to optimize delivery formats and compliance with evolving IAB standards.
- Managed and mentored a high-performing creative team; hired and onboarded new design talent while maintaining close collaboration with executive-level sales leadership.
MTV & Viacom Interactive Services
Digital Designer, Content and Branded Experiences
Before AOL, I worked in-house at Viacom Interactive Services, where I produced digital content and lightweight interactive features for MTV Networks’ suite of channels, including VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., and the Sundance Channel. This was early in the evolution of digital design—when projects were built in Macromedia Director, Flash, HTML, and low-resolution video.
I contributed to weekly and biweekly site refreshes, created games and microsites, and collaborated on interactive content drops timed to real-world events like the Sundance Film Festival or Nickelodeon’s seasonal campaigns.
Notable Contributions
- Designed recurring homepage content for VH1.com, working on magazine-style articles and visual layouts tied to pop culture and music.
- Developed simple web games and interactions in Flash and Director for Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. audiences.
- Led rapid builds for annual launches like the Sundance Film Festival schedule, going live in tight coordination with the final lineup announcement.
- Produced branded content, including a microsite for L’Oréal Kids embedded in the Nickelodeon digital experience.
Recognition and Awards
The AOL team’s creative work was frequently honored for its originality, technical craft, and campaign impact:
- Webby Awards Honoree – Rich Media, AOL Gold Rush (2007)
- Webby Awards Honoree – Rich Media, Red Defender for Ad Council (2007)
- Addy Gold Award – Coca-Cola Chug, Ad Industry Promotion (2006)
- Creativity Gold Award – Coca-Cola Chug Campaign (2006)
- Addy Silver Award – Target Shopping Cart Video (2006)
- Adweek MIX Silver – Public Service, Fight Mannequinism (2005)
- Point Roll Beanie Award – U.S. Army People Connections (2007)
Impact
These roles deepened my experience with large-scale content systems, multi-stakeholder creative collaboration, and the mechanics of digital marketing at scale. At AOL in particular, I was working inside one of the most commercially driven digital environments of the early 2000s, partnering directly with high-level sales and media leadership. At MTV, I gained fluency in the mechanics of entertainment content, kids’ UX, and visual storytelling under tight deadlines.
Together, these roles formed the foundation of my understanding of design not just as an aesthetic craft—but as a lever for business alignment, technological opportunity, and large-scale communication.
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