I’m a strategic, concept-driven creative director and interdisciplinary artist with 11+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary projects across brand, immersive, digital, and cultural platforms. I take ideas from concept through to execution—building coherent visual systems and directing high-impact creative outcomes. I combine hands-on art direction with leadership and production oversight, from brand identity and cross-platform storytelling to spatial and digital environments. I’ve led teams, managed complex workflows and budgets, and collaborated with artists, designers, institutions, and stakeholders across the UK and Europe.…

Maria Cohen

PRO

I’m a strategic, concept-driven creative director and interdisciplinary artist with 11+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary projects across brand, immersive, digital, and cultural platforms. I take ideas from concept through to execution—building coherent visual systems and directing high-impact creative outcomes. I combine hands-on art direction with leadership and production oversight, from brand identity and cross-platform storytelling to spatial and digital environments. I’ve led teams, managed complex workflows and budgets, and collaborated with artists, designers, institutions, and stakeholders across the UK and Europe.…

Available to hire

I’m a strategic, concept-driven creative director and interdisciplinary artist with 11+ years of experience leading multidisciplinary projects across brand, immersive, digital, and cultural platforms. I take ideas from concept through to execution—building coherent visual systems and directing high-impact creative outcomes.

I combine hands-on art direction with leadership and production oversight, from brand identity and cross-platform storytelling to spatial and digital environments. I’ve led teams, managed complex workflows and budgets, and collaborated with artists, designers, institutions, and stakeholders across the UK and Europe.

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Language

Russian
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Creative Director & Co-founder at Rabbits' Choice
January 1, 2025 - Present
Lead the creative vision and visual direction of the platform across brand, digital, and physical touchpoints. Developed the Rabbits’ Choice brand identity and visual system (logo, typography, colour palette, graphic language) and delivered supporting assets including the website, social media presence, presentation and pitch materials, and event/partnership communications. Provide end-to-end creative strategy and hands-on art direction through research, concept development, visual experimentation, and execution. Lead creative direction for interdisciplinary projects and events by collaborating with artists, designers, musicians, fashion professionals, and other creative practitioners.
Gallery Assistant at Serpentine Gallery
January 1, 2024 - Present
Supported large-scale public exhibitions with stakeholder engagement and visitor-facing brand representation.
Creative Director / Brand Identity Designer at Quartz Collective
November 1, 2023 - Present
Developed and led a comprehensive brand identity for a collective supporting underrepresented voices in the arts. Directed design strategy across events, digital campaigns, and physical installations. Facilitated co-creation workshops with artists and community leaders, fostering inclusive design practices. Delivered visual storytelling systems that increased audience engagement and institutional partnerships.
Founder / Creative Director / Curator at Quartz Collective
January 1, 2022 - Present
Lead conceptual and visual direction of multidisciplinary creative projects from ideation through final production. Developed brand identity and long-term positioning strategy for the collective. Directed cross-platform campaigns including digital storytelling, video production, social media, and experiential activations. Managed designers, collaborators, writers, and technical teams across multiple concurrent projects. Secured strategic partnerships with cultural institutions and private stakeholders, and led fundraising and pitch strategy for major exhibitions and commissions. Delivered large-scale public-facing exhibitions integrating immersive design, digital media, and performance.
Creative Director & Independent Curator at London & Basel
October 1, 2021 - Present
Curated exhibitions including 'Zero Gravity' at Voskhod Gallery, Basel and 'I Always See Stars Above My Head' in London. Designed branded exhibition materials, environmental graphics, and promotional content. Partnered with Voskhod, Fitzrovia Gallery, Regroup Collective, and Tellus Residency. Founded @rabbits_choice character brand to explore visual storytelling in digital and physical media.
Brand Identity Designer (Freelance) at NAVIA
October 1, 2021 - Present
Crafted visual identity systems for startups and non-profits in fashion, culture, and social impact sectors. Led strategic workshops to define brand voice, mission alignment, and design direction. Oversaw full project lifecycle from discovery to asset delivery, consistently meeting deadlines and exceeding client expectations. Designed scalable visual systems using Adobe Creative Suite and Procreate.
Curator / Artist at Regroup Collective
September 1, 2021 - November 1, 2023
Led concept development and visual execution for the 'Intimacy' exhibition at Fitzrovia Gallery. Designed spatial planning models (3D) to guide installation and align stakeholders. Managed artist collaboration, exhibition production, PR coordination, and commercial sales processes.
Gallery Assistant at Design Museum, London
January 1, 2021 - January 1, 2024
Supported large-scale public exhibitions with stakeholder engagement and visitor-facing brand representation.
Creative Director / Interdisciplinary Visual Lead
January 1, 2017 - Present
Conceptualised and directed immersive visual environments integrating AI-generated media, motion, sound, and live performance. Led brand identity development for Navia (AI-powered figital assistant as narrative and engagement platform). Managed full project lifecycle including budgeting, international logistics, supplier coordination, and technical execution. Delivered large-scale durational installations within digitally animated environments (5-hour live performance format). Produced a solo exhibition in Basel with physical work and a 3D digital extension, overseeing spatial design and digital rollout.
Mentor / Art Educator at Superprof
July 1, 2016 - Present
Mentored over 40 students in portfolio development, brand thinking, and creative direction. Helped students gain entry to elite institutions such as UAL, RCA, Goldsmiths, and UCL. Delivered online and in-person workshops in illustration, concept development, and visual storytelling.

Education

MA Fine Arts at University of the Arts London
January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2021
MA History & Philosophy of Art at ICA, Moscow
January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2020
Fine Arts at Moscow Academy of Arts
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2016
MA Fine Arts at University of the Arts London, Camberwell College of Arts
September 1, 2021 - September 1, 2021
MA History & Philosophy of Art (Grade: A) at ICA, Moscow
September 1, 2020 - September 1, 2020
BA Fine Arts at Moscow Academy of Arts named after V. Surikov, Moscow
June 1, 2016 - June 1, 2016

Qualifications

Arts Ambassador Award – UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship
January 1, 2020 - September 1, 2025
UAL International Postgraduate Scholarship (Arts Ambassador Award)
January 11, 2030 - August 24, 2026

Industry Experience

Education, Non-Profit Organization, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Other
    Quartz Collective - Full Brand Identity Package
    Brand identity and visual system for a multidisciplinary creative collective, including logo design, typography, colour, campaign assets, social media, event advertising and presentation materials. Key Question How can we unify these diverse expressions into a connected and contemporary brand? Concept & Strategy Core Idea: A Hybrid Substance A metaphorical material merging digital precision with organic growth, inspired by stone and plant life. This symbolises the collective’s structural strength and their evolving creative processes. Design Approach Textural layering for depth and transformation Organic shapes for growth and connection Mineral and botanical palettes for natural synthesis Deliverables: Brand identity (logo + variations & visual system) Social media assets & performance framework Event curation, visuals and merchandise Investors and Curators pitch materials logo graphicdesigner branding illustrator webdesigner designer…
    Quartz Collective - Primary Logo System
    Primary Mark: The primary logo system offers a range of variations that embody the collective’s hybrid essence, seamlessly blending organic and geometric forms to express artistic diversity. Designed for flexible use across key touchpoint - including social media, fundraising pages, investor and curator presentations, outdoor promotional banners, and branded products such as tote bags, mugs, pins, and water bottles - this mark ensures a cohesive yet dynamic presence. Example of using the Primary Mark on social media and advertising…
    Quartz Collective - Social Media Assets
    Social Media Mock-Ups Demonstrates how the new brand identity translates across social platforms, creating a visually engaging and recognisable presence. logo graphicdesigner branding illustrator webdesigner designer…
    Quartz Collective - Logo Variations
    Secondary Mark
 Visual Qualities 

 The logo variation emphasises fluidity and organic growth. Represents individual artist voices coming together as a unified structure.
Designed for flexible use across particularly investor and curator presentations. logo graphicdesigner branding illustrator webdesigner designer…
    Rabbits' Choice - Full Brand Identity and Web Design
    Brand Identity Evolution An evolving visual identity and a creative platform developed for Rabbits’ Choice, an interdisciplinary platform bringing together art, fashion, music, design and technology. The project explores how a brand identity can remain fluid and experimental while working across multiple creative disciplines. The visual language combines hand-drawn typography, experimental image-making, expressive colour and adaptable graphic elements. The work spans brand identity and art direction, typography, image creation, social media assets, campaign and marketing materials, print, digital applications and physical brand touchpoints. logo graphicdesigner branding designer…
    Rabbits' Choice - Merchandise
    Collaborations with fashion startups and brands like Urban Outfitters
 Art prints and apparel for sale. logo graphicdesigner branding illustrator webdesigner designer…
    Rabbits' Choice - Primary Logo
    Logo exploration Primary Mark: The primary logo system offers a range of variations that embody the collective’s hybrid essence, seamlessly blending organic and geometric forms to express artistic diversity. Designed for flexible use across key touchpoint - including social media, fundraising pages, investor and curator presentations, outdoor promotional banners, and branded products such as tote bags, mugs, pins, and water bottles - this mark ensures a cohesive yet dynamic presence. logo graphicdesigner illustrator webdesigner designer…
    Rabbits' Choice - Typography
    Typography process Exploring the perfect font to capture Rabbits' Choice identity. Initial sketches are drawn by hand., then refined digitally using Photoshop and Procreate. logo graphicdesigner illustrator branding webdesigner designer…