HELLO!
I’m Emmanuel, a Senior Art Director and visual storyteller driven by ideas that move people. I came up through time-based media at Rutgers (BFA, Visual Arts), so I think in movement, layers and meaning. I bring that to everything I make, from social campaigns and brand systems to music videos.
At UWG, I’ve art directed work for the National Pork Board, the Heisman Trophy Trust and Coca-Cola, helping brands show up authentically for diverse, influential audiences. That work has earned two Telly Awards.
I work where culture and creativity meet: concept, design, motion, video and direction, all in service of work that connects — clearly, powerfully, and with purpose.
CONTACT
eknightondesign@gmail.com
RESUME
Emmanuel KnightonSenior Art Director, Designer, Multimedia Artist
New Jersey (NYC metro) · eknightondesign@gmail.com · emmanuelknighton.com
SUMMARY
Senior Art Director with two Telly Award credits, building culture-driven campaigns across food, sports and music from concept through production and post. I lead shoots and creative teams, and work hands-on across art direction, design, motion and video. My independent music work and time-based art background point toward entertainment and fashion.
EXPERIENCE
UWG — New York, NY (remote & hybrid from NJ)
Senior Art Director — Apr 2025 – Present
• Sole creative lead on National Pork Board’s Soulful Pork “Grilling Season”: directed four recipe videos from concept through an Atlanta shoot.
• Senior Art Director on NPB’s “When The Feast Becomes The Flex” social series (Bronze Telly, 2026): set the creative approach and shot list, streamlining one shoot to deliver both social recipe videos and recipe photography.
• Created AI-assisted storyboards (Midjourney + Photoshop) for Ford’s “From the Ground Up” social series, directed by Child (Prettybird); the series won a Gold Telly in 2026.
• Lead creative direction for NPB content production, own the platform’s visual identity, and supervise editors across video and social.
Art Director — Apr 2024 – Apr 2025
• Heisman Trophy Trust (2023–2025): designed and edited 1,000+ social posts and videos, first under a group CD, then led a mid-program revamp to a fresher, more modern look; built monthly social calendars and Instagram collaborations.
• Directed interviews with Heisman legends and current hopefuls for the Trust’s social channels.
Junior Art Director — May 2022 – Apr 2024
• Junior Art Director on NPB’s Soulful Pork “Reimagine Traditions” social series (Silver Telly, 2024).
• Produced 100+ Essence Fest assets for Coca-Cola and Ford (2022).
• Designed UWG’s cultural calendar campaigns, including Black History Month, Pride, Juneteenth and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Freelance Art Director & Director, NY/NJ — 2013 – Present
• Geno Five music video: concepted, wrote and directed; built and animated the 3D world, then composited and edited the final cut.
• YOBE album (2020): developed the concept and art direction, shot the photography and designed every release asset.
• Tora New York: logo mark, a light identity system, key visuals and logo applications.
• GTL Paris 2024: graphic design and video editing for event assets.
SKILLS
Creative: art direction, concepting, directing, brand identity, photography, 3D modeling and animation, compositing, motion design, video editing, social and programmatic (OLA)
Tools: Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere, Blender, Midjourney, PowerPoint, Canva
EDUCATION
Rutgers University, BFA, Visual Arts, concentration in Media (time-based art: video, installation, performance)
AWARDS
• Telly Award, Bronze 2026, Social Video: Series, Food & Beverage: “When The Feast Becomes The Flex” (Senior Art Director)
• Telly Award, Silver 2024, Social Video: Series, Food & Beverage: “Reimagine Traditions” (Junior Art Director)