Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Eimer.
I earned an Associate of Arts in Commercial Art from Johnson County Community College in 1984. My first job in advertising came from a referral from my barber: her husband owned a small agency sans a creative department. I didn’t understand the power of networking at the time, but this shows that you never know which door opportunity will step through. Over the years, I’ve learned to adapt to changes in the industry, from building production files by hand to using a Mac to learning UI using Figma (and, soon, working with AI). But the greatest influence on my career has been the people. I’ve had the great fortune of working with – and learning from – an incredibly talented group, including John Muller, David Marks, Paul Welsh, Mary Schuler, Phil Smith, Bret Smith, and Brett Posten, to name a few. Collectively, they taught me that creative is an expression of strategy, and cannot blend in. Not every client agrees, but the smartest strategy ever written won’t save creative that doesn’t stand out. And likewise, breakthrough creative is a waste of money if it doesn’t resonate with the target. Most importantly, John Muller taught me to believe in myself. I want to pass that on to every student and young professional I work with.
Like everyone, I’ve worked hard, and it hasn’t always been easy – but I wouldn’t change a thing because that’s how we learn, right? As I struggled to find my first job in advertising, an agency creative director told me, “colleges shouldn’t graduate people like you.” He was right: my portfolio sucked, and at that point in my career, I wasn’t investing the effort it took to do good work, let alone succeed. His words were exactly the motivation I needed. I reworked my portfolio and changed how I thought about my career. That experience taught me to challenge myself even today. I think that’s just how creative people evolve and get better. Change can be both exciting and terrifying, all at the same time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a freelance Creative Director, Senior Art Director, and Senior Designer who excels at – and specializes in – creative strategy and creative visualization, especially in unexpected ways that help brands stand out in their category. A short list of the clients I’ve worked with includes Revive Health, BarK, Mothersauce, Wayside Waifs, KC Bier Co, Wendy’s International, McGraw-Hill, and Saatchi X.
There are so many talented creatives out there so it can be challenging to articulate a point of difference, but clients tell me that my years of experience – and the ability to understand and express strategies in distinct and salient – ways make me different.
We could end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
What matters most to me is family. Our son Matthew is 27 and pursuing a career in aerospace engineering. Daughter Abby is a 21-year-old film student. Both are incredibly kind, smart, and genuinely good people. I’ve been fortunate to be self-employed for 17 years, which has given me more opportunities to be involved in their lives as they’ve grown up. My wife Erica and I have volunteered and attended Boy Scouts, Lacrosse, Marching Band, and Choir. I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.
On top of all that, my career allows me to do something I love every day. How lucky am I?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eimercreative.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-eimer-aa29b72/
- Other: https://www.behance.net/MARK7710
