About
Started in design. Stayed for the ideas.
For nearly 20 years I’ve led creative across design, copy, strategy, and experiential for the U.S. Army, State Farm, Citi, Anheuser-Busch, SC Johnson, Google, and TransUnion.
I started as a designer, and I’ve led design teams throughout my career. I care about the craft and getting it right. I still see the kerning, and the work has to hold up close.
I’m the creative partner people bring in when the brief is complicated. I find the thread that makes everything connect, then help turn it into work worth making. The why and the how matter to me as much as the idea itself.
I grew up in Buffalo and live outside Chicago with my family. You’ll find me in the garage with a 1975 Trans Am, landscaping, restoring furniture, or collecting cards with my kid.
Do good. Be good. Go Bills.
Experience
Selected, 2013 to now
2025 to now
Adam Horrigan Creative
Independent Creative Director. Strategy and creative for experiential and brand engagements. Google, TransUnion, Databricks, Intuit.
2025
Pinnacle
Executive Creative Director. Won Emotiv’s CES debut as a new business pitch, then directed it. Freedom Forum’s 1A Fest.
2024 to 2025
Hirschfeld
Head of Creative. Led the agency rebrand from HMS to Hirschfeld. Heluva Good! activations across three bowl games.
2022 to 2024
Publicis
Senior Creative Director. Experiential Agency of Record for Citi Global. Won 8 of 12 new business pitches. Citi Global Experiential Playbook.
2017 to 2022
TMA
Creative Director. U.S. Army and State Farm multicultural across brand, film and experiential. Neighborhood of Good, Pathfinder Arena.
2013 to 2017
Earlier
Associate Creative Director at SGK. Design and art direction at Energy BBDO, OKRP, ARC, Conversant.
Education
School of the Art Institute of Chicago, MFA Visual Communications Design
Buffalo State College, BA Art
Honors and awards
2024
Event Marketing Silver
Financial Communications Society
2023
Davey Awards Silver, Branded Entertainment
Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts · Nature’s Way, Nature Finds A Way
2020
Pro Awards Gold, Best Use of Content Marketing
Chief Marketer
2020
Reggie Silver, Experiential Small Budget Brand Activation
ANA
2019
Pro Awards Bronze, Best Use of Event or Experiential Marketing
Chief Marketer
2019
Pro Awards Silver, Best Cause-Based Campaign
Chief Marketer
2019
Gold Ex Award, Best Consumer Environment
Event Marketer · State Farm, Neighborhood of Good
2019
Reggie Silver, Experiential Campaign $1M and up
ANA
2015
Fred A. Hillbruner Artists' Book Fellowship Honoree
SAIC
2014
HOW Magazine Self Promotion Award
HOW
2013
Joan Flasch Artists' Book Collection
SAIC
2012
Dean’s Grant Recipient
SAIC