Hi, I’m Marian.
I’m a creative director, mom, and maker currently working at Accenture Song.
My love affair with commercial creativity began when I was 15. I was hanging out by my locker after 2nd period when the high school commercial art teacher inspected my locker art and suggested I take his class. I was home. The four walls of that classroom opened the door to my creative life and introduced me to an incredible group of friends and creators. After 2 years of commercial art in high school, I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Tennessee with a focus on graphic design, printmaking, illustration, and art history.
Through the years, I’ve worked with multinational agencies and businesses to build brands. After logging time at VSA Partners, EuroRSCG, and Leo Burnett, I began my studio Marian Williams Design to work more closely with clients to explore the intersection of creative expression and strategic problem-solving. It was an incredible journey – I managed to stay in business and work with clients like Nestle, Redbox, Target, and Kohler. I also created strong relationships with many local businesses in the Chicago area. Because of my strong ties within the advertising and design community, I was able to scale to client needs and stay nimble.
Prior to Accenture Song, I worked at OKRP in the dual role of Group Creative Director/Head of Design. This double-duty situation allowed me to flex new creative muscles and focus more on mentoring and growing creative talent. Clients include Big Lots, Illinois Tourism, Home Chef, Nike Chicago, Illinois Lottery, Groupon, and Chilis. it was an important time in my creative life. I learned so much and grew in ways I didn’t think possible.
The poet Kahlil Gibran once wrote that “work is love made visible.” I believe that with every fiber of my being. I love the pursuit of bottling up our ideas and shared humanity through art, design, copy, and craftsmanship. That’s what gets me to jump out of bed in the morning. And coffee!
When I’m not working, you can find me rearranging furniture with my husband and marveling at our magnificent little Miss Willa. I also love reading self-help books, swearing, skiing, oil painting, illustrating, DIY-ing, later-gramming, cycling, disorganizing Spotify playlists, sneaking off into the wilderness, admiring art & architecture, and generally cutting up.
Experience
Group Creative Director , Accenture Song Sept 2021-Present
Group Creative Director / Head of Design, OKRP 2017 - 2021
Owner/ Principal, Marian Williams Design 2008 - 2017
Creative Director, Freelance 2008-2017
Member , Country Club Chicago 2005-2008
VP Senior Designer, Leo Burnett 2005– 2008
Design Director, Euro RSCG, Chicago, IL
Founding Member, Country Club Chicago, IL
Senior Designer, VSA Partners, Chicago, IL
Senior Designer, LBWorks, Chicago, IL
Designer, Helus Inc, Chicago, IL
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Graphic Design, Illustration, Printmaking, Art History
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Recognition
My work has been awarded and recognized in the Print Regional Design Annual, How Design Annual , Type Directors Club, Graphis, Chicago Creative Club and more.