Download resume as PDF
Michael Tabtabai Creative Director
Cellphone: 203-645-1750
Email: michaeltabtabai@gmail.com
Blog: www.famouser.com
Twitter: @michaeltabtabai
Experience:
TBWA/Chiat/Day/Los Angeles — Creative Director
11/09 — Present
Creative Director, Pepsi and Activision (Call of Duty, Guitar Hero and DJ Hero).
Modernista! — Interactive Creative Director
07/08 — 11/09
I lead the interactive discipline across all clients, including Palm, Cadillac, Hummer and (RED). I work with the planning department, account service and production departments to create the necessary opportunities and environment for great interactive creative to thrive. I helped restructure the creative department from a traditionally segmented and siloed structure to an integrated one, where interactive creatives are partnered with ADs and CWs. I help lead this 25+ member team across all creative briefs. I’m also a member of the executive leadership team, and I’m actively involved in creative recruiting and all new business efforts.
Crispin Porter + Bogusky — Interactive Art Director
09/07 — 07/08
I was exposed to many accounts and pitches at CP+B, but I spent most of my time on the Coke Zero and Nike brands. I helped lead a small team of designers and CWs on big projects like CokeZero.com and RooftopRacer.com. But my experience at CP+B was most informed by my evolution as a writer. Since my partner was also an AD (and I was sightly better with words) I ended up writing most of our copy and scripts.
Palm Pictures — Interactive Art Director
04/06 — 09/07
I was responsible for concepting, designing and building all of Palm Pictures’ theatrical and retail
interactive marketing. Key projects included a redesign of PalmPictures.com, DirectorsLabel.com,
and HowDoYouDream.com, an innovative social network concept that I designed with acclaimed
filmmaker Michel Gondry.
Nterface llc — Partner/Interactive Art Director
12/06 — 09/07
While I was wrapping up my MFA I helped out as a partner in this startup, focusing mainly on new business development and art direction. I also helped concept, design and build social tools and websites. Projects like Scribd.com and MerchNow.com gave me an opportunity to spend more time on
interaction design and art direction for online social spaces.
Freelance art Director
2004 — 2007
I kept myself busy with freelance work prior-to, and all the way through grad school. I did a variety of web, motion graphics and print projects for great clients like: The American Museum of Natural History, Michel Gondry, Palm Pictures, Warner Independent Pictures, National Geographic Films, Res Media Group, Directors Label, ESPN, Burger King, Reebok, Nike, Everlast, and many more.
Freelance Photographer / Director
2002 — 2004
For a while after college, I did what every kid with a camera dreams of doing; I went on the road with bands and shot photos and video. I even got paid for it sometimes. My photography and short documentaries ended up on CDs, DVDs, websites and in gallery shows. Clients include Vagrant Records, Doghouse Records, among others.
Teaching Experience:
Boulder Digital Works — Fall 2009 — TBD
Founding instructor, courses TBD.
Emerson college — Fall 2009 — Creative Process
Adjunct faculty. MA Integrated Marketing Communication. Grad-Level creative course.
Parsons The New School For Design — 2006-2007 — Creativity & Computation & Principles of Code
Adjunct faculty, MFA Design & Technology department. Graduate-level introductory courses focusing on the fundamentals of programming and development for mobile platforms.
Education:
Parsons The New School For Design — Graduated ‘07
MFA Design & Technology program. GPA: 3.92, Dean’s scholarship recipient, graduated with high
honors.
Emerson College — Graduated ‘01
BA, double-major, film production and theater studies (acting). GPA: 3.7, Dean’s list, Gold Key
National Honor Society.
Additional Honors:
Current FWA Awards Judge; active panel speaker; multiple industry awards and nominations.