I'm Maria Mokina, an art director and graphic designer based in Edinburgh with over a decade of experience shaping visually compelling brand identities, campaigns, and editorial layouts across publishing, fashion, and digital media. I build design teams, lead creative direction, and translate strategic goals into key visuals, web and print collateral, and impactful storytelling. After a cup of coffee, I dive into briefs, sketch ideas with AI-assisted tools, direct photoshoots, and collaborate with clients to deliver campaigns that spark responses. I’ve led teams of designers and photo-studio staff, helped launch a magazine, and steered brand identities from concept to production.…

Maria Mokina

I'm Maria Mokina, an art director and graphic designer based in Edinburgh with over a decade of experience shaping visually compelling brand identities, campaigns, and editorial layouts across publishing, fashion, and digital media. I build design teams, lead creative direction, and translate strategic goals into key visuals, web and print collateral, and impactful storytelling. After a cup of coffee, I dive into briefs, sketch ideas with AI-assisted tools, direct photoshoots, and collaborate with clients to deliver campaigns that spark responses. I’ve led teams of designers and photo-studio staff, helped launch a magazine, and steered brand identities from concept to production.…

Available to hire

I’m Maria Mokina, an art director and graphic designer based in Edinburgh with over a decade of experience shaping visually compelling brand identities, campaigns, and editorial layouts across publishing, fashion, and digital media. I build design teams, lead creative direction, and translate strategic goals into key visuals, web and print collateral, and impactful storytelling.

After a cup of coffee, I dive into briefs, sketch ideas with AI-assisted tools, direct photoshoots, and collaborate with clients to deliver campaigns that spark responses. I’ve led teams of designers and photo-studio staff, helped launch a magazine, and steered brand identities from concept to production.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Co-owner, art director, graphic designer at Hedonist Magazine London
May 1, 2016 - October 19, 2025
Cover and layout design; developing features and visual content for covers and inside pages; writing articles; managing photoshoots; creating advertisements and graphics; prepress; website design and content support; coordinating editors, stylists, makeup artists and photographers for distribution.
Graphic designer at Quintet Publishing Ltd., Quarto Group
May 1, 2016 - October 19, 2025
Cover and layout design; creating and managing ideas for features, text and visual content for covers and inside pages; writing articles; managing photoshoots; creating advertisements and graphics; prepress; website design and support; distribution.
Art director at Butik
September 1, 2017 - October 19, 2025
Created and led a design department with 4 designers, built business processes and regulations; managed online/offline creative activities including website visuals, email campaigns, PPC content, and in-store POS; developed a new brand identity and contributed to website launch with a lead UI/UX designer; styled photoshoots.
Art directing and Graphic design at BE TA
February 1, 2024 - October 19, 2025
Created concepts and key visuals aligned with strategic goals; presented ideas to clients; branding and rebranding; developed creative concepts and KV; website and print design; collaborated with Creative Director and lead UI/UX designers; POS materials and branding updates.
Co-owner, art director, graphic designer at Hedonist Magazine London
February 1, 2024 - Present
Continued magazine projects including editorial design, branding, and visual storytelling for distribution to galleries, museums, and partners.
Art Director at BE TA (Beta) – a multi-award-winning creative agency
February 1, 2024 - October 19, 2025
Art directing and graphic design for campaigns; branding and rebranding; development of key visuals; collaboration with lead UI/UX designers; production oversight for print and digital collateral.
Co-owner, Art Director & Graphic Designer at Hedonist Magazine London
February 1, 2024 - Present
Co-owner and lead art director/graphic designer for a London-based magazine; responsible for brand identity, editorial layout, cover design, photoshoots coordination, and website content.
Graphic Designer at Quintet Publishing Ltd., Quarto Group
May 1, 2016 - October 19, 2025
Cover and layout design; developing features and visuals for covers and inside pages; writing articles; managing photoshoots; prepress; website design and content.
Art Director at BUTIK, Moscow
September 1, 2017 - October 19, 2025
Created and led a design department (4 designers) from scratch; defined business processes; managed online and offline creative activities including website content, POSM, and photography styling; developed brand identity.
Art Director at BUTIK, premium fashion retailer (Moscow)
February 1, 2024 - October 19, 2025
Created and led a design department with 4 designers, wrote business processes and regulations; Managed and produced all creative activities online and offline (website, emailing, PPC advertising visual content, store visuals, POSM); Developed a new brand identity; Participated in development/launch of a new website; Styled photoshoots.
Freelance Art Director & Graphic Designer at Freelance (London, Moscow, Amsterdam, Edinburgh)
February 1, 2024 - Present
Art direction and graphic design for clients; projects included branding, web and print campaigns; collaboration with The Clients (Moscow office) & Border Zero (Dubai office); involved in concept development and KV creation.
Co-owner, Art Director, Graphic Designer at Quintet Publishing Ltd., Quarto Group (London/Brighton)
June 1, 2018 - October 19, 2025
Cover and layout design; developing new title ideas; managing features, text and visual content for covers and inside pages; writing articles; managing photoshoots; prepress; website design; distribution.
Graphic Designer at Quintet Publishing Ltd., Quarto Group (London/Brighton)
May 1, 2016 - October 19, 2025
Cover and layout design; paper engineering and book dummies; creating design mockups for photoshoots; preparing text and colour plates; prepress; production liaison; developing book ideas and marketing visuals.
Art Director & Graphic Designer at BE TA
November 1, 2018 - February 29, 2024
Led the creative output for a multi-award-winning agency, built and managed a design team (4 designers, 3 photo-studio staff). Directed branding, websites, key visuals (KVs), editorial and print design, POS materials, and marketing collateral; oversaw prepress, production coordination, and client presentations within the marketing department.
Graphic Designer at Hedonist Magazine London
October 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018
Designed layouts and covers; contributed to features, text and visual content; managed photoshoots; produced advertisements and graphics; supported distribution and prepress for print.
Co-owner, Art Director & Graphic Designer at Quintet Publishing Ltd., Quarto Group
March 1, 2013 - October 1, 2014
Cover and layout design; developed ideas for features and visual content; edited articles; managed photoshoots; produced book design (covers and spreads); prepress; coordinated website content and distribution; contributed to title development and marketing analysis.
Art Director at BUTIK, Premium Fashion Retailer (Moscow)
September 1, 2015 - September 30, 2017
Created and led a design department (4 designers). Managed online and offline creative output (website visuals, emailing, PPC content, store décor, seasonal concepts, POSM). Developed a new brand identity and collaborated on the website launch with lead UI/UX designer. Directed photoshoots and styling.

Education

Graphic design BA at The University of Hertfordshire
May 1, 2011
Modules included Graphic design and Illustration projects (editorial design, brand identity, animation, typography etc.), Critical and Cultural Studies, software experiences, live projects, pitching, and creating a professional portfolio.
BA Graphic Design at The University of Hertfordshire
January 11, 2030 - May 1, 2011
BA Sociology of Communication System at Lomonosov Moscow State University
January 11, 2030 - June 1, 2007
Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design at The University of Hertfordshire
January 11, 2030 - May 1, 2011
BA in Sociology of Communication Systems at Lomonosov Moscow State University
January 11, 2030 - June 1, 2007
BA in Graphic Design at The University of Hertfordshire
January 11, 2030 - May 1, 2011
BA in Sociology of Communication Systems at Lomonosov Moscow State University
January 11, 2030 - June 1, 2007
BA Graphic Design at The University of Hertfordshire
January 11, 2030 - May 1, 2011
BA Sociology of Communication System at The Lomonosov Moscow State University
January 11, 2030 - June 1, 2007

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Retail, Real Estate & Construction, Education, Gaming, Professional Services, Other, Software & Internet

Skills

Experience Level