Brooklyn-based experience design firm focused on brand, digital, innovation, strategy, and advertising and helping companies grow their business. Collaborating with top agencies and brands including Techstars, Spark, Beats, Heron Preston, KarlssonWilker, Neutral, Shine, and one amazing stealth initiative.• Lead multi-channel content creation including 360° campaigns• Lead C-Level relationships to drive significant, brand change• Establish creative standards for clients to build brand voice• Manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, dynamic environment• Creating, executing, and delivering against complex product roadmaps• Driving business impact within a high level of complexity• Lead with empathetic, inclusive design to create end-to-end user journeys for all users, geographies, devices, products, and services

The Integrated Design & Media (IDM) program fosters creative practice, design research and multidisciplinary experimentation with emerging media technologies. As a research-active program within NYU Tandon School of Engineering, IDM faculty collaborate in research that integrates digital media and society. Our projects range from using motion capture technology to reimagine theatrical performance, to developing novel uses of virtual/augmented reality for health and wellness, to the integration of STEAM learning into special needs education, to the development of citizen science tools to empower NYC residents to monitor and report on noise pollution in their communities, to helping NASA JPL develop next-generation user interfaces for space exploration, to assisting with the search and visualization of the historical record of New York City. The faculty include leading artists, designers, developers and performers who passionately engage in professional work and research at the intersection of engineering and creative practice.

I am excited to be asked to be a mentor/advisor to this new start-up!Neol is a Community-powered platform for audacious creative minds to do the best work of their lives. Neol’s platform empowers creative leaders with the technology, people, and processes they need to deliver impactful projects from anywhere at scale. As a Creative Advisor at Neol, my ambition is to help Neol leadership spearhead real change.

Superunion (now Design Bridge), a WPP Agency, is a design and brand agency built with a revolutionary spirit. We believe in the power of ideas to create positive, meaningful change. We design products, experiences, retail, and campaigns to elevate brands. We develop brand strategies and brand architecture to do this successfully. We are full-service and have worked with TCCC, NASA, Google, and more.Led creative & strategic design as the CEO at Superunion, a renowned WPP design agency.• Developed, managed, and grew a team of integrated brand and product marketers, designers, and strategists.• Inspired the team to deliver award-winning projects for global Fortune 500 clients.• Collaborated with C-level executives to align creative strategy with business objectives and drive brand growth.• Spearheaded the development of innovative design concepts, ensuring seamless integration across multiple channels.• Oversaw the end-to-end creative process, from ideation to execution, while maintaining high-quality standards.• Fostered a collaborative and inclusive creative environment, encouraging cross-functional teamwork and knowledge sharing.• Developed and implemented short and long-term creative strategies for building and forwarding the Superunion brand and superunion.com to deliver against defined strategic priorities and strengthen brand value and sales. • Applied customer and cultural insights to build innovative creative strategies that enable the brand to show up with relevance and meaning across all lines of business, experiences, and platforms. • Partnered with WPP executive leadership to develop creative strategies that support and drive sales for our partner business. • Partnered with WPP marketing leaders in the co-creation and development of the annual plan – driving storytelling, creative content, and amplifying stories from the collective.

Active in education as an assistant professor at Pratt Institute, Mick has also taught or served as a critic at Syracuse from 2010-2012, Harvard in 2010, Yale from 1997-2005, Nebraska from 2003-2005, and both UPenn and Roger Williams intermittently.

A design partner at Lippincott focused on Experience Design, Product Design and making interactions with complex systems more intuitive, I strive to make all touch points — physical and digital — unite a brand through one experiential condition ideally creating moments of action (not reaction) which uplift a brand creed, stimulate rituals and breed evangelists.

Led the Design Innovation teams responsible for creating global design standards, prototyping and piloting new product lines, and digital products. Iterated and improved the core offering including physical and digital integration, brand experience, media and app support, object cataloging and growth opportunities. Developed WeWork, Headquarters by We, Made by We, Global Access, HE WeWork, and WeLive (prototype).• Led a cross-functional team of designers, researchers, product developers, and strategists and generated over $1B in savings• Developed comprehensive creative goals and implementation strategies collaboratively with leadership in order to optimize $1B in revenue• Engaged in new business develop opportunities by building relationships with Fortune 100 clients and driving creative thought-leadership• Led Research and Data group to strengthen creative work through target insights from member analysis and improve digital offerings• Led development of co-branded partnerships and product development with Vitra, Hay, Muuto, StudioBricks, and others• Fostered a healthy and effective culture with a focus upon communication, collaboration, innovation, and workflow practices• Developed all standards and guidelines for WeWork global roll-out and ensured compliance• Created vision for products and services and influenced across multiple product teams to deliver a cohesive and elegant user experience.• Lead, evolve, and inspire a team of passionate UX/UI designers and researchers, architects, planners, and designers globally.• Active, diplomatic leader, served as a vanguard for expressive design and new standards.• Envisioned and drove high-order logistics to scale the team and function, and promoted a high bar for craft and quality across the organization. • Drove operational and executional excellence while leading creative thinking at scale across diverse product and service releases, platforms, locations and devices.

* Led the creative direction for media, campaign, TV, retail, development, graphic design, digital design, and experiential for all marketing led projects; including marketing strategy and playbook development.* Managed multi-disciplinary teams in North America* Successfully led global thought leadership and the creative direction, project management and implementation of worldwide initiatives including the Samsung S8/S8+ and the Note 8 global launches* Collaborated with all creative leads in delivering film and video ideas across retail environments, events, web, on device, and television* Led creative, innovation, and digital marketing communication teams with oversight of mobile, TV, computing, appliance and services* Developed measurable bespoke campaigns that supported the overall global strategy delivering content that resulted in 12% sales increase* Built content experiences generated over 500M impressions in just one year through activations elevating Samsung on IB Best Global Brands* Responsible for all creative for major inbound and outbound marketing channels and created a digital framework for distribution of global creative content* Led all digital creative activity including social media, management of brand websites and eCRM* Communicated and influenced at all levels in order to achieve yearly team goals and negotiate trade-offs with both regional and global teams* Led the transformation and implementation of a unified UX vision for all our products.* Collaborated with global leaders across product management and R&D to innovate and deliver the product roadmap.* Strengthened the successful execution and successful implementation of the UX strategy across Samsung global, leveraging design thinking across Samsung and its ecosystem.

• Identified and led creative solutions to increase market share from 1800 stores to 3000+ stores in just two years through new markets, brands and operational solutions• Led the global design department including marketing and event support, global store rollout, new restaurant concepts, project delivery, team management and budgets in excess of $300M• Led the team’s development of a systematic approach to design standardization including the development of yearly releases, monthly design bulletins, online database solutions, application development for design team training

• Leveraged my experience in management, digital, retail and brand experience to grow R/GA’s approach to successful implementation of digital and physical strategies• Led spatial executions for brands including Verizon, Sonos, H&M, Nike, and Samsung• Developed the Nike SB app which included a complete family tree of skating titled “Trick Tree.” The app success led to the development of the first Nike SB retail space in Los Angeles. Developed all assets including graphic design, programming, launch, standards, visual merchandising, in-store visuals, and store design.

As the 2013 NYC Syracuse Studio Critic, McConnell led the NYC exchange students through two studio projects. Focusing on data visualization, and ecological context and the need to create an adaptable face to the built environment. As one of the Spring lecturers at Syracuse, McConnell lectured on recent work including the Yas Hotel and his own New Harmony project. Prior to this semester, McConnell co-taught studio with Danny Forster from October, 2010 until December, 2012

As Managing Director for Leeser, McConnell lead global project design and delivery. As the senior leader of the firm, McConnell also was in charge of managing the office with Thomas Leeser. In charge of new business development, managing the studio, and managing the finance, McConnell used his years of experience with large firms, corporations, and high-profile projects to help expand the design-oriented small office into new areas of development. In less than 6 months, McConnell had negotiated two contracts on two international projects with budgets totaling over $450M.

• 1 of 2 Directors of North America for Starbucks• Assisted in rebranding Starbucks through its retail, visual merchandising and digital footprint• Led design for over half of North America and informing the design direction at Starbucks HQ• Led store design and construction, licensed store design management, programs and initiatives, and new concept strategy and review for over 1100 stores per year for new construction and renovations• Managed in-house designers, production teams, graphic designers, copywriters, strategists, and finance in 5 locations including NYC, Chicago, Washington D.C., Atlanta and Miami• Led streamlining efforts to cut overhead and consolidated the 5 offices into 3 locations without missing any targets for rollout• Led all outsourced firms including design oversight, contracts, and recruitment

As Director for Asymptote under its principals, McConnell was in charge of the Yas Viceroy Hotel project in Abu Dhabi. Dividing his time between Dubai and New York, McConnell supervised over 400 people involved in every aspect of the project. The F1 hotel opened in October 2009 and is the icon for the entire Yas Island project for Aldar Developments and the state of Abu Dhabi. Innovation was the hallmark of this project resulting in new methods of design and construction, new products (including lighting, systems, and integration models) and new processes for delivery. Designed and built in only 19 months, the project was one of the fastest projects of this scale in history. Work included: Yas Island Marina Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Busan World Trade Center, Busan, Korea.

While at Arnell Group/Surge Interactive (see above), developed, managed, and led deployment of Brainhead.com. An idea exchange site focused on innovation and idea documentation, Brainhead allowed users to third-party verify their ideas, research USPTO standards and methods, and develop a network of “Pros” to help assist with the ideation process. Seed funded and 1st-round-developed, Brainhead saw significant traffic and members and currently is developing both an updated site as well as an iPad/iPhone application.

As the Miami-based firm’s representative in New York from 1997-1999, McConnell led the designdevelopment of the sports and entertainment group within Arquitectonica on such projects as Bern Stadium, Metrostars Stadium, and the Pittsburgh Convention Center competition. As the New York representative, McConnell traveled extensively for both the firm and as a direct representative of Bernardo Fort-Brescia on projects in London and Riyadh. Projects included:• Westin Times Square, New York • iXL New York • Pittsburgh Convention Center • Bern Stadium, Bern, Switzerland

Senior Designer, Graphic and Environmental Design and Marketing Coordinator, 1993 – 1997At HOK Sport, McConnell was a key component of the guerilla-marketing group responsible for winning a multitude of projects for the firm including Nashville Arena, Yankees Stadium, Philips Arena, Hannover World Expo Arena, and more. In addition to marketing, McConnell was lead designer on both the Hannover Arena (Preussag Arena) and the San Juan Arena. McConnell was responsible for the overall building design, interiors, graphics and signage. Other projects include:• Nike Sports Center, Dallas, Texas • Marketing Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers Stadium Project