
Hakarl Bee
Creative Director
Award-winning creative director, leader, and explorer bringing digital innovation to Fortune 100 brands. My passion for branding and technology allows me to create meaningful user experiences that push boundaries and resonate beyond the touchpoint. A team player at heart, I thrive when leading cross-disciplinary teams, co-creating with peers, and partnering with clients.
Experience
Citi Bank, New York
SVP Creative Director, 2021–present
Cross-Platform Experience Strategy & Fundamentals
As the team lead, I design the systems, structures, and narratives that bring coherence to complex digital ecosystems, bridging strategy and execution to build frameworks that scale unified user experiences across channels, regions, and touchpoints. I foster collaboration across design, content, technology, and leadership while orchestrating multi‑stakeholder timelines to deliver high‑impact brand and creative initiatives.
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RAIN, New York
Creative Director, 2018–2021
Concepted, designed, and launched conversational AI experiences for Fortune 100 brands. I led agile teams developing bespoke narrative brand experiences and virtual assistants, delivering cross‑modal design systems to extend their reach across major platforms (Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri) and devices.
Clients included Nike, Amazon, Google, Starbucks, Nestlé, Stanley Black & Decker, and Danone.
ERGO Interactive, New York
Executive Creative Director, 2017–2018
Led a new cross‑functional task force using micro‑level credit‑card spend data to create award‑winning, hyper‑personalized lifecycle campaigns for American Express, reaching 15M+ card members monthly.
RAPP, New York
Group Creative Director, 2015–2017
Creative lead for RAPP’s flagship office, overseeing global and national accounts generating $20M+ annually. Defined the creative vision for data‑driven CRM programs and integrated campaigns. Managed a 40+ blended team and launched in‑house operational initiatives that elevated quality, streamlined workflows, and reduced turnover by over 50% in the first year.
Clients included Visa, SAP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Spectrum, Pfizer, and American Family Insurance.
Rosetta Razorfish, New York
Group Creative Director, 2012–2015
Led the NYC creative organization, developing brand identity systems, e‑commerce platforms, mobile apps, and social campaigns for major global brands. Built strong client partnerships, drove continued growth, and played a key role in winning marquee accounts including AT&T, Marriott, and Tracfone. Directed blended teams across six locations from concept through execution.
Clients included IBM, Panasonic, Lenovo, JPMorgan Chase, Beiersdorf, Charles Schwab, Fidelity, and Wyndham Hotels.
Boombox Inc., New York
Creative Director, 2010–2012
Created multi‑channel marketing programs and social campaigns that consistently outperformed projected response rates—often by more than 200%. Doubled the size of a cross‑disciplinary team to 20, elevated creative standards, and significantly increased profit margins.
Clients included American Express, Facebook, Johnson & Johnson, and Delta Air Lines.
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Digitas, New York
Associate Creative Director, 2008–2010
Designed American Express’s first centralized online card‑acquisition experience for prospects and card members, boosting single‑product conversion rates by up to 300%.
Lippincott, New York
Senior Associate, 2007–2008
As the first interaction designer at Lippincott’s renowned brand consultancy, I partnered across multidisciplinary teams to create digital identity systems, motion guidelines, online brand centers, activation kits, and training materials for clients such as Samsung, Walmart, Comcast, Nokia, and Delta Air Lines.
H2O Associates, New York
Senior Art Director, 2001–2007
Created websites, campaigns, commercials & print materials for clients including American Express, Deutsche Bank, Condé Nast and WNBA
Education
MFA (Dean’s List)
Interactive Media
Pratt Institute, NYC 1998–2001
BFA
Visual Communication
Wilhelms Universität, Münster (Germany) 1992–1996
Skills
Conversational AI, Interactive Design, Branding, Marketing, CRM, E-Commerce, App/Product Design, Video & Motion Design, Print
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Software
Adobe CS, Sketch, Figma, inVision, Zeplin, Webflow, etc