Samar Maakaroun

Creative Director at Right to left
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Contact Information
Location
Hackney, England, United Kingdom, UK
Languages
  • English Native or bilingual proficiency
  • Arabic Native or bilingual proficiency
  • French Professional working proficiency

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Bio

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5.0

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Katerina Lillywhite

Samar is a brilliant designer, thinker, speaker and creative director. An extremely talented and charismatic individual, she brings a huge breadth of knowledge to the table having been exposed to a rich background of experiences; both through her own cultural background and through working with an impressive clientele. She is highly skilled in a range of areas, including branding, typography, concept design, arabic and bilingual design, user experience and user interface design. I have had the pleasure to work with Samar on a number of projects over the last 8 years, where her knowledge of the Arabic language and market has been an invaluable tool. She has a deep understanding of the culture and the ways of work across the Middle eastern market. She is committed to delivering a high quality output, and does this with a great attention to detail and dedication. With very high values in place, she is a reliable individual with a warm and engaging personality. Aside from our collaborations in the workplace, Samar has been a voice of inspiration throughout my own career path, offering invaluable insights and advice along the way. It will come as no surprise when I say that I cannot recommend Samar enough for her skills and expertise and more than anything for her wonderful presence.

Claudia Colombo

I had the opportunity to work with Samar for over a year, while she was leading a project at Pentagram but also as a freelancer for her studio. She is a great design director. She supports designers with a solid structure but also let them explore solutions independently, giving appropriate directions and nurturing ideas with potential. Her broad experience – with big clients especially – gives her a remarkable ability to see and shape the bigger picture, coordinating a team and overviewing multiple projects at a time, always pointing the designers in the right direction. She is very organised, focussed and clear, and has a deep understanding of all aspects involved in a complex project (strategy, client relationships, budgets, deliveries, scope, suppliers, etc.). Furthermore she is a great co-worker: she takes care of the personal needs of her team, her feedback is always direct and on point and she is a personable, humble and positive individual which are rare and valuable qualities in a leader. I would definitely love to work with her again in the future.

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Experience

    • United Kingdom
    • Professional Training and Coaching
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Creative Director
      • 2008 - Present

      Brand design, typography, brand consultancy, creative direction, naming and brand communication 2022: Porsche Ramadan Campaign - GCC 2021: Pentagram UK, Dominic Lippa team - Diriyah Brand 2021: M&C Saatchi, EDB - Bahrain Brand 2020: Pentagram UK, Astrid Stavro team - Mama Knows Best, Skincare 2020: AUFI, Where We Stand project 2020: Totem App 2020: Pentagram UK, Angus Hyland team - Associate Partner cover 2017/19: Pentagram UK, Angus Hyland team - Abu Dhabi Media brand portfolio, UAE 2019: Pentagram UK, Marina Willer team - ASCC & JACC, Kuwait 2018: M&C Saatchi - Sesame Street, US 2017: Design Studio - Noon Brand, UAE 2017: Why not associates - Hiraf Museum, UAE 2016/17: Apple - Arabic website; Store openings; OS overhaul for Arabic, UK 2014: M&C Saatchi UK - Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing - UAE 2013: Bird’s Eye View film festivaL, UK 2010/11: Liverpool Arabic Arts Festival, UK 2009: Ralph Applebaum Associates - Bahrain National Charter museum, Bahrain 2000/05: United Nations Development Programme, Lebanon Show less

    • Lebanon
    • Design
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Design Lead & consultant
      • Aug 2017 - Sep 2021

      Domenic Lippa team — 2020 onwards Design lead and consultant on a destination Brand in Saudi Arabia. Angus Hyland team — 2017 to 2019 Design lead and consultant on a the rebrand of Abu Dhabi Media, a project including 8 TV's, 3 print properties (Newspaper, and two magazines), and 8 radios. Role: - Design and development of 22 Brandmarks and their respective brand guidelines. - Management of print, radio and TV packages with 3rd parties to safeguard brand assets and align with overall strategy. - Design and development of bespoke bilingual typeface used across the portfolio. - Establishing and maintaining a relationships with the multiple business owners and the company's board. - Hiring, leading and managing a team of designers, in house and freelance to fulfil the project deliverables. Show less

    • Indonesia
    • Software Development
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Art director, consultant
      • 2014 - Aug 2017

      - Design consultancy for all Apple Arabic communication material. - Shaping the design direction of the Arabic website and seeing it through till launch. http://www.apple.com/ae-ar/ - Advising on the build of the bespoke typeface for the Apple Arabic website - Consulting on the creative direction for the barricade of the UAE and Abu Dhabi Apple store openings. - Design consultancy for all Apple Arabic communication material. - Shaping the design direction of the Arabic website and seeing it through till launch. http://www.apple.com/ae-ar/ - Advising on the build of the bespoke typeface for the Apple Arabic website - Consulting on the creative direction for the barricade of the UAE and Abu Dhabi Apple store openings.

Education

  • Goldsmiths, University of London
    MA, Masters in Cross-sectoral and community arts
    2005 - 2006
  • American University of Beirut
    BA, Graphic design
    1996 - 2000

Community

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