Michael Eaton is a husband and a father of 4, a multi-disciplinary creative director with experience in brand creative, art direction, brand photography, brand design, design direction, advertising, product campaigns, also leading brand experiential / retail design. He has led & managed creative teams of various scales, both in-house and agency side.
Michael has worked as an in-house creative as well as agency side. With over 16 years of experience crafting great work for great brands. He's worked on global brand campaigns, digital, retail, experiential, product launches, style guides and directives. Michael is a loyal, hardworking creative leader who’s happy to level up or down to support the team and work.
Contact:
hello@michaeleatoncreative.com
@michael_eaton
Linkedin
hello@michaeleatoncreative.com
@michael_eaton
What colleagues say about Michael and his work...
Shannon Richmond / EVP Marketing
From Michael’s first day on the job he made a noticeable impact. He fearlessly jumped in to a multitude of projects and both creatively and methodically addressed them. He can balance the day to day needs of a business while also conceptually pushing the boundaries on unique projects. Not only is his work top notch, but he elevated the work of those around him. Michael is sure to be an asset to any team he is a part of and will constantly strive to exceed expectations.
Brad Hebebrand / VP Creative
Michael is a talented art/design/creative director who employs a methodical approach to his design strategy and output. Having him on the Parallel team was an absolute pleasure. He showed tremendous fortitude from day one as he learned and managed the chaos that is the cannabis industry. His leadership in holiday campaign development was nothing short of stellar. As his manager, there is no greater feeling in knowing that a project was in his hands. He can self manage, manage up, and manage down. And he ALWAYS delivered on time without sacrificing quality of design. He brought a new creative spin on everything we did, from retail to e-comm to out-of-home. He is a multi-faceted design leader who will prosper in any environment.
Dorothée Boudjenah-Robinson / Global DTC Marketing
I was fortunate to work with Michael during his time at Set Creative and witnessed first-hand some of the skills he brings to the table: his thoughtful designs, his innovative mindset and team leadership. Michael was an ideal creative partner on the projects we worked on together. I knew the creative brief was in the right hands from beginning to end with the team under his leadership. The entire creative process was concept driven, collaborative and iterative to craft premium yet scalable in-store experiences for our team at New Balance global. And he led the projects to success. The designs resonated with our audience. Seeing the work come to life in various markets around the globe, across various store formats - from Flagship to inline to key accounts – validated the quality of the work! Any client would be lucky to have Michael on their team.
Dan Carter / Executive Creative Director
Michael is a wonderful creative team leader. He led our west coast creative and design studios at Set Creative with professionalism and a genuine care for the work, and the people he worked with. As a creative director, he blended original and unique thinking with exceptional design and a deep understanding of execution realities, at the same time getting the most out of the teams he led and worked alongside of. From events through to activation campaigns, from retail redesigns to social and brand revamps, Michael has a long list of creative specialties: it was always reassuring to have him on my team as I could rely on getting polished and well thought through work. He's an excellent addition to any creative team, at an agency or in house at a brand.
Ernie Talbert / Sr. Director Global Marketing
Michael is a trusted partner and creative that can bring big ideas to fruition. He worked on a small team of creatives that breathed air into the lungs of my briefs allowing the work to take on a life of its own. A great teammate and visionary that I would highly recommend.
Carl Nielson / Creative Director
I was lucky enough to have Micheal as a AD on my team at Under Armour. Micheal is truly a great art director & designer, but even more valuable is his ability to scale ideas into a variety of detailed and provocative executions.
Darin Dougherty / Marketing Director
Michael approaches each creative problem with the rigor and focus of an old world expert craftsmen. He is steadfast in his ability to dive in creatively, solve the problem then execute on the concept. Michael adds tremendous value to any project.
Shannon Richmond / EVP Marketing
From Michael’s first day on the job he made a noticeable impact. He fearlessly jumped in to a multitude of projects and both creatively and methodically addressed them. He can balance the day to day needs of a business while also conceptually pushing the boundaries on unique projects. Not only is his work top notch, but he elevated the work of those around him. Michael is sure to be an asset to any team he is a part of and will constantly strive to exceed expectations.
Brad Hebebrand / VP Creative
Michael is a talented art/design/creative director who employs a methodical approach to his design strategy and output. Having him on the Parallel team was an absolute pleasure. He showed tremendous fortitude from day one as he learned and managed the chaos that is the cannabis industry. His leadership in holiday campaign development was nothing short of stellar. As his manager, there is no greater feeling in knowing that a project was in his hands. He can self manage, manage up, and manage down. And he ALWAYS delivered on time without sacrificing quality of design. He brought a new creative spin on everything we did, from retail to e-comm to out-of-home. He is a multi-faceted design leader who will prosper in any environment.
Dorothée Boudjenah-Robinson / Global DTC Marketing
I was fortunate to work with Michael during his time at Set Creative and witnessed first-hand some of the skills he brings to the table: his thoughtful designs, his innovative mindset and team leadership. Michael was an ideal creative partner on the projects we worked on together. I knew the creative brief was in the right hands from beginning to end with the team under his leadership. The entire creative process was concept driven, collaborative and iterative to craft premium yet scalable in-store experiences for our team at New Balance global. And he led the projects to success. The designs resonated with our audience. Seeing the work come to life in various markets around the globe, across various store formats - from Flagship to inline to key accounts – validated the quality of the work! Any client would be lucky to have Michael on their team.
Dan Carter / Executive Creative Director
Michael is a wonderful creative team leader. He led our west coast creative and design studios at Set Creative with professionalism and a genuine care for the work, and the people he worked with. As a creative director, he blended original and unique thinking with exceptional design and a deep understanding of execution realities, at the same time getting the most out of the teams he led and worked alongside of. From events through to activation campaigns, from retail redesigns to social and brand revamps, Michael has a long list of creative specialties: it was always reassuring to have him on my team as I could rely on getting polished and well thought through work. He's an excellent addition to any creative team, at an agency or in house at a brand.
Ernie Talbert / Sr. Director Global Marketing
Michael is a trusted partner and creative that can bring big ideas to fruition. He worked on a small team of creatives that breathed air into the lungs of my briefs allowing the work to take on a life of its own. A great teammate and visionary that I would highly recommend.
Carl Nielson / Creative Director
I was lucky enough to have Micheal as a AD on my team at Under Armour. Micheal is truly a great art director & designer, but even more valuable is his ability to scale ideas into a variety of detailed and provocative executions.
Darin Dougherty / Marketing Director
Michael approaches each creative problem with the rigor and focus of an old world expert craftsmen. He is steadfast in his ability to dive in creatively, solve the problem then execute on the concept. Michael adds tremendous value to any project.
EXPERIENCE:
EP&Co
Associate Creative Director
EP&Co
Associate Creative Director
I was a creative on the John Deere account. Our job is to concept and create campaigns that connect with the right audiences, and celebrating what can be accomplished with a Deere Machine. In other cases it was to connect with the folks who work the land, and other times it was to help make a connection to a brand that folks may have felt had nothing to do with them. I worked with the team to help to craft creative across multiple channels including the Turf, Ag and Deere Brand. Crafting TV, Social, Digital, Print and Experiential.
Parallel
Senior Director of Art and Design
Report to and work closely with VP of Creative. Led campaign concepting & execution, managed and led brand design initiatives & launches. Also oversaw creative toolkit development and execution. Provided design direction and consult our agency partners and mentor our design and copy teams.
Legacybox
Creative Director (Contract)
Parallel
Senior Director of Art and Design
Report to and work closely with VP of Creative. Led campaign concepting & execution, managed and led brand design initiatives & launches. Also oversaw creative toolkit development and execution. Provided design direction and consult our agency partners and mentor our design and copy teams.
Legacybox
Creative Director (Contract)
I worked with the Founders of Legacybox to re-invision how the brand was visually presented though photography and design. I established a new photo direction that incorporated a human element as opposed to laydown's of "old media and props" direction the brand had used for some time. It was missing people interacting with their memories and more importantly working to preserve them for their future generations. I also helped launch a backup product, a work-study program in Chattanooga TN, and Website design refinement ensuring pixel perfect alignment, robust nicely set typography and hierarchy in modules and product presentation.
Set Creative
Creative Director
Led and oversaw the west coast creative team that consisted of strategy, 2d, 3d, production design. The team and I would concept, develop, present, design and execute integrated brand creative, campaigns, activations and design directives.
Verizon
Senior Art Director // Internal Agency 140
Collaborate with internal creative leadership to concept, execute and oversee brand creative and advertising for all Verizon business units. I also specifically worked on Brand Photography, concepting and art directing quarterly shoots that ranged from 4-8 days with budgets of 1.5-3 million dollars.
Under Armour
Art Director // Global Brand Creative
Concepting, Ideation and Execution of Global Brand Creative. Art Direct Photoshoots, Oversee Brand Experience Design | Environmental Design | Retail Design
iDL Worldwide
Design Lead
Art Direction & Design
Experience Design | Concepting | Thing Maker | New Business Development
Wieden+Kennedy
Studio Designer
Design, make, research, look, execute art direction, creative problem solving.
North
Studio Designer
Worked with the creative director on the Deschutes and Keen accounts. Ideation / Design / Production for Print and Digital campaign work.
Client Roster:
New Balance / Microsoft / Sears / CocaCola / Under Armour / Nike / Jordan / Ooma / Starbucks / Apple / iTunes / Kraft / Ivory / Target / Deschutes Brewing / Sagebrush / Verizon / Adidas / Brooks / Google / Vans / Oakley / Lego / Juul / Brooks Running / Vibram / Dow Jones / Parallel / Heights / Surterra Wellness / Neta / Legacybox / Goodblend
Interned with:
Official Manufacturing Company
Makelike
Bureau of Betterment
Set Creative
Creative Director
Led and oversaw the west coast creative team that consisted of strategy, 2d, 3d, production design. The team and I would concept, develop, present, design and execute integrated brand creative, campaigns, activations and design directives.
Verizon
Senior Art Director // Internal Agency 140
Collaborate with internal creative leadership to concept, execute and oversee brand creative and advertising for all Verizon business units. I also specifically worked on Brand Photography, concepting and art directing quarterly shoots that ranged from 4-8 days with budgets of 1.5-3 million dollars.
Under Armour
Art Director // Global Brand Creative
Concepting, Ideation and Execution of Global Brand Creative. Art Direct Photoshoots, Oversee Brand Experience Design | Environmental Design | Retail Design
iDL Worldwide
Design Lead
Art Direction & Design
Experience Design | Concepting | Thing Maker | New Business Development
Wieden+Kennedy
Studio Designer
Design, make, research, look, execute art direction, creative problem solving.
North
Studio Designer
Worked with the creative director on the Deschutes and Keen accounts. Ideation / Design / Production for Print and Digital campaign work.
Client Roster:
New Balance / Microsoft / Sears / CocaCola / Under Armour / Nike / Jordan / Ooma / Starbucks / Apple / iTunes / Kraft / Ivory / Target / Deschutes Brewing / Sagebrush / Verizon / Adidas / Brooks / Google / Vans / Oakley / Lego / Juul / Brooks Running / Vibram / Dow Jones / Parallel / Heights / Surterra Wellness / Neta / Legacybox / Goodblend
Interned with:
Official Manufacturing Company
Makelike
Bureau of Betterment