DARRELL ALLEN

Executive Creative Leader

Brand, Content & Design

I lead multi-disciplinary creative teams to build visual-first brands, launch original content, and grow audiences across digital, social, broadcast, and experiential platforms.

Open to Executive Creative Director, VP of Creative, and Head of Brand & Design roles in New York, New Jersey, and remote.

View Work

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story can make all the difference.

I am the Director of Global Design & Presentation at The Associated Press, where I lead a 25+ person creative organization across design, motion, video, interactive, and product-adjacent storytelling. My teams have helped transform AP into a visual-first brand and produced award-winning work recognized by the Webby Awards, James Beard Foundation, and Overseas Press Club.

My leadership spans brand identity, digital content, motion storytelling, campaign development, and large-scale interactive features. I specialize in building creative cultures, scaling global workflows, and connecting visual storytelling to organizational strategy, audience growth, and revenue.

I’ve led creative vision for high-impact journalism, corporate branding, consumer products, and cross-industry collaborations in finance, healthcare, and tech. I’m passionate about guiding teams, elevating design standards, and shaping content experiences that resonate across platforms.

Visual Storytelling

Award-Winning Narrative Design for Global Audiences

I lead creative direction for visually rich stories that blend design, reporting, data, motion, and interactive elements. My work brings complex topics to life through immersive storytelling that strengthens brand trust and drives engagement.

Role:
Executive Creative Direction · Creative Strategy · Story Development · Motion & Video Direction · Interactive Design

Strategic Design & Storytelling for Business Impact

As a practical innovator, I build strategic design cultures that inspire and empower teams to drive real business impact. I push the boundaries of what’s possible—solving customer challenges, creating engaging content, and enabling teams to execute with purpose. My expertise spans original digital programming that drives revenue through storytelling, branding initiatives that establish global creative identities, data visualization that simplifies complex narratives, and immersive digital storytelling that fosters a creative-first culture. By leveraging strategic planning, audience insights, and cutting-edge design, I craft solutions that not only engage but also generate measurable business outcomes.

Data Visualization & Interactive Design

Engaging Audiences Through Simplified Visual Storytelling

Create compelling interactive experiences and data visualizations to elevate audience understanding of complex news stories.

Redesigned the visual language of AP’s interactive storytelling, integrating modern design principles to make data visualizations both engaging and intuitive.

Delivered rich, user-centric interactive designs that drive exploration and comprehension.
Enhanced the accessibility of complex information through sleek, minimalist visuals.

Selected work from 2024-present

Role: Creative Direction, Design, Development, Social Strategy

Driving Revenue Through Digital Storytelling

Original Programming

Develop new revenue streams by creating and monetizing original digital video content, such as mini-documentaries that engage and inform audiences.

Leverage AP’s extensive archival video resources and journalistic expertise to conceptualize and produce pilot mini-documentaries. Pitch these innovative digital products to prospective advertisers and distribution partners to unlock incremental revenue.

Created a scalable framework for producing original content, driving increased engagement across digital platforms.
Generated incremental revenue streams via targeted advertising and strategic partnerships.

Selected work from 2022-present

Role: Creative Direction, Design, Development,

AP News Design

Establishing a Global Creative Identity

Enhance production output while ensuring consistent brand identity across all digital products.

Developed a cohesive global brand identity system, enabling producers and editors to streamline design workflows and focus on content creation.

Delivered a clean, recognizable aesthetic that differentiates each video product for a global audience.
Increased output efficiency by embedding brand consistency directly into existing video workflows.

Selected work from 2022-present

Role: Creative Direction, Design, Development,

Next-Generation Audiences

Anticipating Tomorrow’s Consumers

Adapt to shifting audience preferences and consumption habits shaped by generational and cultural changes, emerging technologies, and evolving media landscapes.

Using a sprint process to create a social strategy to build and grow younger audiences while creating targeted engaging content that establishes brand recognition and generates revenue.

Selected work from 2020-present

Role: Creative Direction, Design, Development, Social Strategy

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VOICES OF PROTEST

Explore the powerful stories of protestors crying for change all across the US.

Product Design & Brands

RED ELIXIR - ASCENIV - CANTOR FITZGERALD

Designed marketing products to drive sales and increase brand awareness among consumers. Developed content strategies focused on attracting new customers through advertising, branding, and informational campaigns.

Worked with Red Elixir Energy Drink on marketing, sales, and brand awareness initiatives. Developed social media content for ASCENIV by ADMA Biologics to enhance branding and audience engagement.

Created a range of content for Cantor Fitzgerald, including promotional videos, app design, conference materials, billboards, and various print assets.

Selected work from 2020-2023

Role: Creative Direction, Design, Development,