I’m Andrea Messer, a designer and creative director who loves bringing stories to life that make us feel genuinely connected. My path has taken me from deep in-house roots to leadership roles at Ogilvy and Publicis, with over 18 years of experience across advertising, design, and brand strategy.
I’ve learned that the best creative strategy isn't just about "developing a campaign," but about creating ideas that actually build a community. A defining highlight for me was orchestrating the creative for the Ad Council’s "Tear the Paper Ceiling" initiative. This work channeled the power of advertising to change lives, helping influence hiring policy shifts in 13 US states and creating over 400,000 new jobs in just the first seven months. Working alongside a great collaborative team across our agency and non-profit partners, we pushed past the usual playbook. We crafted PSA films, built real-life activations like our art installation at CES, and developed a digital platform where companies could pledge to change their hiring practices long after the launch. The work earned four Effies, PR Week’s Best B2B Campaign, and recognition at Cannes and the One Show—but it was the real-world impact of the idea that stayed with me as the true win.
At my core, I’m a "maker-leader." Whether I’m building brand playbooks in Figma, exploring how Generative AI can improve a creative workflow, or designing branded content for names like Nestlé and Coca-Cola, I stay close to the craft. I lead multidisciplinary teams with zero ego and a lot of curiosity, ensuring that every creative spark is grounded in solving a real business challenge.
With a Master’s in Design and Technology from Parsons, I love solving business challenges with creativity, and am always looking to partner with people and organizations who value integrity and human-centered storytelling as much as they value results.
Places
PUBLICIS GROUPE / DIGITAS / RAZORFISH, New York, Vice President, Group Director, Creative
OGILVY, New York, Group Creative Director
DENTSU 360i, New Work, Creative Director
UNIVERSAL McCANN, New York, Creative Director
UNIVERSAL McCANN, New York, Associate Creative Director
R/GA, New York, Senior Art Director
SUISSA MESSER, New York, Creative
LANDRY’S INC, Houston, Creative Services Manager
ANADARKO, Houston, Designer
Contact
in. andreamesser/
andrea@andreamesser.com
RECOGNITION
PR WEEK
Winner—Best in B2B
EFFIE
Gold - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Silver - Current Events
Bronze - Non-Profit
Bronze - Social Good, Non-Profit
WARC
Gold - Effectiveness
CANNES LIONS
Shortlisted - Design, Spatial & Sculptural Exhibitions and Experiences, Brand Environment & Experience Design
THE ONE SHOW
Merit - Design, Spatial Design, Experiential & Immersive
Shortlisted - Cultural Driver, Popular Culture Impact
Shortlisted - Experiential & Immersive Events - In-Person
ADCOLOR
Finalist - Ad of the Year
DAVID OGILVY
Silver—Social Responsibility
Silver—Gov’t, Public Service & Non-profit
JAY CHIAT
Shortlist - Campaign, Nonprofit Strategy
ANTHEM
Silver - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Branded Content or Collaboration, Awareness & Media Categories
Silver - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Non Profit Campaign, Community Engagement Categories
THE TELLY
Gold - General, Branded Content
SHOTS
Shortlisted - Charity
Festival of Media // GD USA Design Award // GD USA Web // Design Award // Davey Awards // UM Momentum Awards // ADDYS
Publications
AdWeek Magazine // Campaign Magazine // AdAge Magazine // GD USA Magazine //
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