Michael Long | Creative Director

Perfecting my craft at such renowned advertising agencies as DDB, Digitas, and Saatchi & Saatchi, I’ve helped companies like American Express, Amgen, Wells Fargo, Genentech, and Pfizer amplify their message and crystallize their brands. I bring strong experience in brand design and advertising along with a passion for innovation in digital storytelling. I’ve led big teams, small teams, agile teams, and launch teams with an emphasis on collaboration, mentorship, and communication.

TRANSIT CREATIVE
Founder & Creative Director
Chapel Hill | 2022–Present

  • Created BrandLab, a proprietary brand development framework designed for agile companies

  • Developed ImageLab, a Generative AI image library workflow to scale on-brand asset creation

  • Rebranded Education Corps, managing the full lifecycle from initial discovery workshops to brand identity and site launch

  • Led marketing for Education Corps: marketing operations and strategy, agency partnerships, and audience research

  • Supported and augmented various design firms, ad agencies, and in-house creative departments

  • Clients include Education Corps, Raleigh-Durham Startup Week, AstraZeneca, PrePass, and biotech startups

WELLS FARGO
Creative Director
San Francisco | 2019–2022

  • Led integrated campaign teams for paid, social, and content marketing within the in-house agency

  • Initiated the Private Bank brand book, reinforcing visual identity through graphic design and storytelling

  • Revamped Investment Institute’s social media series into a visually engaging and valuable experience

  • Introduced an Agile workflow model, enhancing collaboration and team efficiency across business units

  • Business units served included The Private Bank, Wells Fargo Advisors, Wells Fargo Mobile App, and Intuitive Investor

HAVAS SAN FRANCISCO
Creative Director
San Francisco | 2016–2019

  • Led product launches for BioMarin with creative rooted in innovation, empathy, and compelling creative

  • Created Genentech MS product websites emphasizing digital experience and UX clarity

  • Served on Agile team for Emerson Ecologics e-commerce site, blending graphic design and UX strategy

  • Oversaw multi-platform social media engagement for Genentech and BioMarin

  • Fostered a collaborative environment across cross-functional teams and mentored junior creatives

DIGITAS HEALTH
Creative Director
San Francisco | 2014–2015

  • Recruited as the founding San Francisco creative lead to build and scale a high-performing team

  • Developed Amgen launch campaigns integrating digital, print, and video content

  • Championed tight collaboration between creative, strategy, and UX to deliver innovative campaigns

  • Strengthened internal creative ops processes and cross-office communication

DDB
Associate Creative Director
San Francisco | 2011–2014

  • Led creative teams across several Amgen campaigns from strategy through execution

  • Delivered product launches that balanced technical accuracy with human-centered creative design

  • Ensured strong project management from concept to launch

  • Clients included Amgen, Biosense Webster, OneTouch, and Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices

TRANSIT CREATIVE
Founder & Creative Director
San Diego | 2005-2011

  • Founded branding agency specializing in financial services, healthcare, startups, and nonprofits

  • Clients included Mountain West, Calyx, Intellirent, Ossur, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Slate Pharmaceuticals, The Salk Institute, and various agency partners

DIGITAS
Senior Art Director
New York | 2004–2005

  • Created digital and print campaigns for American Express, JetBlue, Target, and Delta.

EARLY CAREER FOUNDATION
Designer & Art Director
New York | 1995–2004

  • Held design and art direction roles across prominent New York advertising agencies including Grey, Corbett Accel, Saatchi, and Ogilvy

  • Clients included Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, AbbVie, Allergan, AstraZeneca

SAVANNAH COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN
BFA Graphic Design, 1995

SKILLS

  • Creative direction

  • Branding and identity

  • Concept development

  • Integrated marketing (digital, video, print, experiential)

  • Website strategy, user experience, and visual design

  • Agile methodologies

  • Artificial intelligence (AI)

  • Mentorship

  • Creative leadership

  • Creative strategy

  • Collaborative problem solving

TOOLS

  • Figma

  • Adobe Creative Suite

  • GenAI Image Platforms: Midjourney, Gemini, Firefly

  • GenAI Video Platforms: Veo, Midjourney, Omni, Runway

  • GenAI Writing Platforms: ChatGPT, Writer, Claude, Gem

  • Microsoft Office

  • Project Management Platforms: Jira, Asana, Notion