Emely Perez, Design Director, McCann NY

Emely Perez is a Creative Designer and illustrator with a broad portfolio of work. She is currently Design Director at McCann NY, focusing on the Verizon business.

This Brooklyn-born creative got her Bachelor’s degree in Communication Design at the New York City College of Technology. Immediately after graduation, Emely broke into advertising with her acceptance into the 4A’s Multicultural Advertising Internship Program (MAIP). The program placed her at J. Walter Thompson New York, now, Wunderman Thompson, as a design intern.

In the seven years, she was at J. Walter Thompson, Emely went from MAIP intern to Senior Designer. She gained experience in brand research and architecture, working on some of the most famous global brands, including Smirnoff, Puma, Walmart, Rolex, Campari Group, and many more. From branding to art direction, web design to design systems, Emely has covered a lot of ground.

Emely has come this far, not just because of her innate talent and bionic work ethic, but because of how she approaches the work. Navigating the popular misconception that design is purely visual, she uses every opportunity to prove that it is so much more.

Emely‘s latest highlight was being awarded a Distinguished Alumna Award from her alma mater along with a citation signed and sealed by the President of the Borough of Brooklyn during the City Tech Foundation’s Best of New York Gala. She was also recently honored as one of the Drum’s 50 Under 30 – “Women Leaders of Tomorrow,” a “SHOTS Rising Star” and made the 4A’s list of the “100 People Who Make Advertising Great.” In 2016, she was named a “MAIPer to Watch” by the 4A’s. She has won an ANDY, two Clios, a London International Award, and a few Cannes Lions, but what she is most passionate about is not the recognition but mentorship. She was featured in a 2015 issue of AdWeek on the importance of mentoring and has dedicated several years as a “MAIP Coach”.