Hi, I’m Nick. I’m a freelance Senior Designer and Art Director with 30+ years of experience in creative agencies and in-house teams, working on global campaigns, internal comms, and brand work. I get to the heart of a brief quickly, cut through the noise, and land on a strong, workable idea. No overthinking for the sake of it—just clear, effective creative that does what it’s meant to do. I’ve worked across a wide mix of sectors, brands and projects—including employee engagement and employer branding—and I’m just as comfortable slotting into a team and cracking on as I am taking the lead and running with things myself. I keep things simple and straightforward: get up to speed quickly, ask the right questions early, focus on ideas that work, and see things through from first thought to final output. I’m fluent in Adobe Creative Suite and use AI tools like Firefly and Midjourney when they genuinely add value.

Nick McCarthy

Hi, I’m Nick. I’m a freelance Senior Designer and Art Director with 30+ years of experience in creative agencies and in-house teams, working on global campaigns, internal comms, and brand work. I get to the heart of a brief quickly, cut through the noise, and land on a strong, workable idea. No overthinking for the sake of it—just clear, effective creative that does what it’s meant to do. I’ve worked across a wide mix of sectors, brands and projects—including employee engagement and employer branding—and I’m just as comfortable slotting into a team and cracking on as I am taking the lead and running with things myself. I keep things simple and straightforward: get up to speed quickly, ask the right questions early, focus on ideas that work, and see things through from first thought to final output. I’m fluent in Adobe Creative Suite and use AI tools like Firefly and Midjourney when they genuinely add value.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Nick. I’m a freelance Senior Designer and Art Director with 30+ years of experience in creative agencies and in-house teams, working on global campaigns, internal comms, and brand work. I get to the heart of a brief quickly, cut through the noise, and land on a strong, workable idea. No overthinking for the sake of it—just clear, effective creative that does what it’s meant to do.

I’ve worked across a wide mix of sectors, brands and projects—including employee engagement and employer branding—and I’m just as comfortable slotting into a team and cracking on as I am taking the lead and running with things myself. I keep things simple and straightforward: get up to speed quickly, ask the right questions early, focus on ideas that work, and see things through from first thought to final output. I’m fluent in Adobe Creative Suite and use AI tools like Firefly and Midjourney when they genuinely add value.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Freelance Designer at Various agencies and in-house teams
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2016
Freelance work (2001–2016) building long-term relationships by being reliable, easy to work with, and getting the job done.
Senior Designer / Art Director at McCann Worldgroup
January 1, 2016 - Present
Lead design across global campaigns and internal communications for marquee clients, driving brand identity, design systems, and integrated marketing across digital, print, motion, and activation. Known for quickly getting up to speed, clarifying briefs, and delivering strong, workable concepts with reliable delivery. Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams and led creative execution from concept to final output, balancing client goals with practical production constraints; adaptable, hands-on, and focused on results.
Freelance Designer / Creative Lead at Various Agencies & In-House Teams
January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2016
Freelance since 2001 with a mix of agencies and in-house teams, delivering campaign concepts, brand identities, employee engagement materials, and multi-channel communications. Built long-term relationships through reliability, clear communication, and consistent delivery, thriving in fast-paced environments and across digital, print, and experiential projects.
Freelance Designer/Art Director at Various Agencies & In-House Teams
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2016
Built long-term relationships by being reliable, easy to work with, and getting the job done.

Education

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Qualifications

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Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Software & Internet, Travel & Hospitality, Consumer Goods