I’m on a mission to make the world a better place use design to be a better human.
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About me
Amanda McKinley
Senior Art Director & Design Lead @ Esri
I'm a hybrid designer–part art director, part systems thinker–who believes design is how we make sense of the world.
With 12+ years of experience in both agency and in-house roles, I love solving complex problems with equal emphasis on strategy and creativity. I am a visual storyteller and design all sorts of things across web, brand, and product marketing.
While I am now in tech, my roots are in advertising, so campaign concept development is my absolute jam. I love developing ideas and stories in the context of a creative challenge, always asking how we can make something or say something that actually matters to people.
I have a lot of experience leading large-scale CMS migrations that require both technical expertise and the ability to deliver concept-driven art direction. And while I’ve led high-visibility projects for one of the world’s largest tech companies, I still approach each new brief with curiosity.
I lead a design team at Esri, large-scale initiatives developing systems, visual storytelling, and strategy. Currently redesigning the next generation of Esri Academy.
People I’ve worked with
“I had the pleasure of working with Amanda for 3 years and simply put, she is one of the most talented and dedicated designers I have ever met. The bottom line is that Amanda is the best kind of designer because her talent goes well beyond the traditional design skill set. She not only improves everything she works on, she makes everyone around her better. If you have the chance to work with Amanda, take it.”
– Jay Shapiro, Esri
“Amanda is an inspiration. She is one of those few who go above and beyond expectations no matter how big or small the task. Her work is beautiful, she is incredibly ambitious, and when those two qualities get paired with her entrepreneurial spirit, you quickly begin to see how powerfully gifted she is when it comes to leading and following through projects not for the faint-hearted.”
– Baroosh, Amusement Park Entertainment
“Amanda possesses very special interpersonal qualities. She is a natural leader, and people gravitate towards her. When she speaks, people listen. Having worked closely with her for over the years, we've both experienced great times and of course, not-so-great moments, but it's those moments that matter—how you get back up and recover and pick others up along the way is what counts.”
– Alex Smailes, Esri
TL;DR
12+ years experience in tech and advertising
Led design for global tech, SaaS, at enterprise scale
End-to-end thinker: concept through dev handoff
Mentor + team lead with a love for collaboration
I believe design should be playful, practical, and human