Senior Art Director
she/her
I was born and bred in the UK as Alayna Saori Cartz. Spent my teenage years in Japan as 國武沙織 (Kunitake Saori). And moved to Australia to study advertising as Alayna Kunitake.
The budget version of this story is, I’ve lived a lot of lives.*
You may think this gives a person a bit of an identity crisis (it does) and invites ominous calls from the immigration office from time to time (yes sir!) but what it does most importantly, is give me the innate ability to adapt to and interpret any kind of creative brief that graces my inbox. You could say my brain’s built for this shit, so to speak.
But a brain must be trained, of course. So I took it to RMIT, where I led the industry’s largest student networking event, Pitch Night. Shortly after, I landed my first role as an Art Director at Ogilvy Melbourne, where I worked on Australia’s biggest chocolate and insurance brands for three years. I then made the move to M&C Saatchi, where I most proudly helped win the pitch for Australia’s largest online disability support platform, guided the Victorian Government through a global pandemic, and unleashed my inner nurturer by tutoring at AWARD School.
Other professional nurturing includes being an ‘Auntie’ in their awarded mentorship program, as well as DEI consulting, as an outspoken advocate for representation in the industry myself. I’m currently doing what my brain does best + taking it on its travels around Melbourne in a freelance capacity until it finds its next home.
All in all,
I’ll take the identity crisis and calls from the embassy any day to have a career like this.
*You can listen to me speak about why the above is not identity fraud (please don’t deport me) on podcast, Being Biracial. Alternatively, let’s say g’day in person 👋🏼
Accolades
2022 B&T / Diversity Category Shortlist / ‘Hireup’
2022 AWARD School Tutor / Vic No. 2 Student
2022 Rare with Google Leadership Academy
2022 Aunties Mentorship Program
2022 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Consultancy
2021 International Spotlight Photography Awards Judge
2021 BestAds / Outdoor Winner / ‘Everyday Arena’
2020 Publications in Gabberish and ScreenHub
2019 Rare with Google Masterclass Delegate
2018 RMIT Pitch Night Project Manager
2018 D&AD New Bloods Pencil Winner / ‘Pass It On’
Select Clients
AAMI Insurance, BP, Cadbury, CommBank, Hireup, Hostplus, OREO, Origin Energy, The Natural Confectionery Co, Victorian Government, Worksafe, World Vision
Enough from me, here’s what other people have to say:
“Alayna is all the things an employer loves: diligent, respectful, inquisitive and driven. She’s an imaginative, clever, strategic and collaborative mind. I first met Alayna as a keen and unique RMIT Graduate, who was an amazing sponge. Willing to learn, evolve and adapt her folio - she showed huge passion and drive for breaking into the industry and I was thrilled to hear she had. I was even more thrilled a few years later when the opportunity presented itself to hire her. Alayna’s won business and built great client relationships and agency culture. She’s passionate about behaviour change and ideas that change the way brands operate in the world. She’s an impeccable art director, a brilliant presenter and an excellent human.”
✧ Emma Robbins, Executive Creative Director / M&C Saatchi
“Alayna came for an internship at Leo Burnett and quickly proved her worth. Every task was approached with enthusiasm and a level of finesse beyond her years. It’s not always easy fitting into a creative department but she did it with poise and charm. Wonderful ideas and real skills in her art direction craft. Highly recommend.”
✧ Sarah McGregor, Executive Creative Director / Dentsu
Say G’day
📧 alaynacartz.contact@gmail.com
in Alayna Kunitake
📞 0481409885
日本語も話せますので是非遠慮なくご連絡お願い致します