Maria Lören
Creative Director · Brand Strategist · World Builder
I build brand worlds, campaigns, and editorial experiences that help people see a brand differently — and feel something real when they do.
ScrollThe Thesis
II believe the strongest brands are built from the inside out. Not from trends. Not from aesthetics alone. Not from chasing attention.
The work that endures begins with clarity — of purpose, of perspective, and of the feeling a brand leaves behind after the campaign ends and the screen goes dark.
My work sits between strategy, storytelling, design, and human behavior. I am interested in the space between what a brand says and what people actually feel.
Because design can attract attention. But meaning is what creates connection.
- Creative Direction
- Brand Strategy
- Brand Identity
- Campaign Development
- Art Direction
- Editorial Design
- Experiential Design
- Content & Social Strategy
- Packaging
- Product Photography & Styling
- Motion & Video Direction
- Print Production
Selected brands and organizations I’ve supported through creative direction, campaign development, visual storytelling, design systems, photo direction, print, digital, social, and brand execution.
Consumer & Retail
Keurig·
Beauty, Wellness & Lifestyle
Copper Fit · Liz Taylor Fragrances · Melanin & Muscles · House of Lören · ANZA · Fanmire
Publishing, Media & Events
Top 100 Powerful Black Women · Women In Digital Business · Irie Jam Radio · Irie Jam Foundation · Syntyche Clarke · NFL · Ashanti · Written Entertainment
Nonprofit, Education & Community
St. Jude · Ms. Foundation · The Arc Westchester · PAL · Calvary Hospital · St. Vincent’s Hospital · The Actors Fund · Broadway Cares · Madre · Uniondale Public Library · Westbury Public Library · Hey There Beautiful · Bryant Library · Jovia Financial Credit Union
Luxury, Hospitality & Destination
Gale / Sotheby’s · Garden City Hotel · City of Key West
- LeadershipDirected designers, photographers, stylists, vendors, and production partners from concept through final delivery.
- Stakeholder CollaborationPartnered with founders, executives, and cross-functional teams to translate strategy into cohesive, resonant creative.
- Production & Vendor DirectionLed photoshoots, campaign production, and print and digital asset development across timelines, budgets, and brand requirements.
- Creative Systems at ScaleBuilt visual systems, campaign templates, and brand guidelines designed for consistency, speed, and multi-channel use.
- Business ImpactSales lift, faster turnaround, stronger engagement, sharper positioning, and higher-quality audience connection.
Work
Selected worlds, campaigns, editorials, and visual systems built to shift perception.
A curated look into the work that shapes my creative world.
Every brand has a pulse. This is where mine shows up — in the color, the detail, the emotion, and the story. Explore the projects, campaigns, and visual systems that shaped my aesthetic, sharpened my thinking, and built my reputation for high-impact creative direction.
Featured Work
II · The CollectionBrand Worlds
Identity systemsThese are not logos — they are worlds. Identity systems with their own atmosphere, rituals, and language.
House of Lören — Welcome Home
A cinematic walkthrough of a brand world designed to feel entered, not just viewed.
Luxury Invitation Suites
Event Identity · Print Design · Luxury CollateralA collection of invitation systems and event collateral designed with atmosphere, occasion, materiality, and emotional detail in mind.
Campaigns
Concepts across channelsTime-bound concepts built across channels — from cultural insight to product story.
Editorial
Publication designPrinted pages, laid out in a gallery. Magazines, reports, and editorial systems.
Product
Objects & detailsSensory, quiet, desirable. Object photography, styling, and still life.
Visual Statements
Atmosphere & art directionSingle-image moments that hold atmosphere, art direction, and emotional tone.
The Director
III
I believe the strongest brands are built from the inside out.
Not from trends. Not from aesthetics alone. Not from chasing attention.
The work that endures begins with clarity — of purpose, of perspective, and of the feeling a brand leaves behind when the campaign ends and the screen goes dark.
Across beauty, wellness, hospitality, consumer goods, publishing, nonprofit, and founder-led ventures, my work has always returned to the same question:
How do we help people see something differently?
Sometimes that means repositioning a legacy brand for a new audience. Sometimes it means transforming an emerging idea into a fully realized brand world. Sometimes it means finding the story that has been there all along and giving it shape, language, and atmosphere.
My work sits between strategy, storytelling, design, and human behavior.
Because design can attract attention.
But meaning is what creates connection.
I lead creative work with clarity, curiosity, and respect for the people in the room.
Over the years, I’ve partnered with designers, writers, photographers, developers, marketers, production teams, founders, executives, and community leaders across agency, corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial environments.
My role is not simply to have the best idea.
It is to create the conditions where strong ideas can emerge, sharpen, and become real.
Some projects need structure. Others need space. The responsibility of creative leadership is knowing which is needed and when.
The best work happens when strategy is clear, people feel trusted, and every detail knows why it belongs.
Scale
- 40+Brands & organizations
- 300+Photoshoots directed
- 10,000+Creative assets produced
- 200+Weekly multichannel assets
Impact
- 20%+Product sales growth via campaign creative
- 40%Faster campaign turnaround
- $200K+Partnership & sponsorship funding
- 11Departments adopting her brand systems
Canvas Rebel · Newsday · Top 100 Black Women Board Member · 2× Echo Award Finalist · Industry Features & Speaking Engagements
In Their Words
Selected client & collaborator notesHer design instincts are sharp … her voice is intentional … her leadership inspires … she creates at a level most spend years trying to reach.
Working with Maria is effortless … she brings clarity to chaos, and beauty to strategy … her ideas don’t just look good … they work.
Whether directing photography in external studios or brainstorming groundbreaking product lines … Maria’s combination of talent, warmth, and mentorship makes her a standout creative leader.
I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Maria in both managerial and creative roles … she consistently provides unique, insightful solutions. Her approach to communication and collaboration makes working with her a pleasure.
Maria is an exceptional creative force in the wellness space, supporting both the brands and the women behind them … her work leaves a lasting impression on the audience and the business.
Maria is exceptional. She took on my project and made it a success … it was a new category for her, but she grasped it quickly and delivered beautiful work.
Maria’s keen eye for design and detail was instrumental in the success of the redesign project for my client. Her professional approach and dedication to quality were truly appreciated.
Once again … (yes I sound like a broken record), I absolutely love what you’ve done.
UNSAID
A seasonal editorial exploring the things women carry but never say aloud.
Winter · Spring · Summer · Autumn
Contact
VIf the work made you pause, we may already be speaking the same language.
I’m available for creative leadership, brand strategy, campaign development, editorial direction, and select collaborations with brands ready to become more clear, more compelling, and more felt.
getcreative@marialorendesigns.comBased in New York. Open to full-time leadership opportunities, fractional creative partnerships, consulting engagements, and select relocation opportunities. Based in New York. Open to full-time, fractional, consulting, and select relocation opportunities.
Social
Content & cultureContent strategy — series, systems, and visual campaigns built for the feed.