GIULIA PAPALEO

Creative Director / Brand Strategist + Visual Communication / PR & Media Strategist

Crafting Transformative Brand Narratives & Strategic Communication. Bridging AI, Technology & Brand Strategy Through Communication.

I believe that effective communication has the power to shape industries, influence public perception, and establish thought leadership. With over ten years of experience in corporate/visual communications, public relations, and strategic brand positioning, I collaborate with AI leaders, agencies, startups, entrepreneurs, and global media groups to develop impactful narratives, foster engagement, and navigate the complexities of emerging technologies.

Beyond brand strategy, I specialize in corporate storytelling, viusal communication, crisis communication, and strategic media relations, ensuring that organizations establish a strong market presence while maintaining credibility and influence. I have successfully led creative campaigns that secured high-profile media placements across DACH area and international Global, positioning brands and executives as key aspetcts in AI, innovation, and digital transformation.

My expertise spans AI, Creative Storytelling, emerging technologies, B2B SaaS, and regulatory tech, as well as automotive, quiet luxury sector, photography, television, fashion, automotive, and Lifestyle for global corporate brands. By merging data-driven communication strategies with compelling storytelling, I craft brand narratives that are both authoritative and culturally relevant.

πŸš€ Having worked with renowned agencies such as Serviceplan, Martin et Karczinski, AVANTGARDE Group, and BLACKSPACE, I have been instrumental in shaping brand identity, corporate messaging, and strategic communications for global brands.

βœ” Kia – Global Brand Repositioning & Communication Strategy
As part of the Blackspace and Avantgarde teams, I played a key role in Kia’s global rebranding, implementing a new brand experience, corporate messaging strategy, and PR framework. This transformation resulted in a 14% increase in Kia’s brand value since the launch of its new logo and identity in 2021, reinforcing the brand’s positioning as a leader in innovation.

βœ” Volkswagen Racing – Brand Experience & Sponsorship Growth
I led the strategic development of Volkswagen Racing’s brand spaces at major international automotive exhibitions, enhancing brand perception, audience engagement, and sponsorship value. By leveraging immersive experiences and media-driven brand activations, VW Racing achieved significant media visibility and market traction.

βœ” Siemens Real Estate – Corporate Identity & Communication Strategy
Overseeing the corporate identity transformation for Siemens Real Estate, I developed a comprehensive communication framework, aligning internal messaging, corporate branding, and external PR efforts. This initiative streamlined Siemens’ global brand perception, reinforcing its leadership in sustainable infrastructure and innovation-driven real estate solutions.

πŸ’‘ Fluent in German, English, Spanish & Italian, I have successfully developed and executed global and DACH-focused - international PR strategies, ensuring that organizations establish a commanding voice in the creative industry.

 

 

IMG_2724

Selectet Clients

Brands & Businesses 
Over the years, I have collaborated with a diverse range of global brands, agencies, and startups across industries such as Tech, Quiet Luxury, Beauty, Fashion, Automotive, Photography, TV, and Lifestyle.

Would you like to collaborate?
Let’s create something visionary together.

Fields of Expertise

Strategic & Creative Leadership 

As a Creative Director & Brand Strategist, I specialize in transforming brands into meaningful,
visually compelling experiences that connect with audiences on an emotional and strategic level.

mehdi-mirzaie-eHBkHD9_cn0-unsplash

CREATIVE DIRECTION

Strategic and aesthetic leadership to ensure compelling, coherent brand narratives.

β€’ Art Direction
β€’ Creative Strategy & Concept
β€’ Development
β€’ Visual Storytelling & Editorial Design
β€’ Motion & Interactive Design
β€’ Web & Digital Design
β€’ Print & Layout Design
β€’ Photography & Brand Imagery

shubham-dhage-5Sh0zR_mYQ4-unsplash

BRAND
DESIGN

Defining and shaping brands with a clear vision, strong positioning, and a distinctive identity.

β€’ Brand Strategy & Positioning
β€’ Brand Archetypes & Tonality
β€’ Brand Concept & Messaging
β€’ Brand Design Systems & Guidelines
β€’ Print & Media Concept Development
β€’ Brand Purpose & Values
β€’ On-Site Brand Implementation

shubham-dhage-5OTqYa9uBZk-unsplash

INTERACTION DESIGN

Enhancing digital interactions through intuitive, user-centered experiences.

β€’ UX Research & Design Thinking
β€’ Information Architecture & User Flows
β€’ Data Evaluation & Research Planning
β€’ Digital Interfaces & Accessibility
β€’ Wireframing
β€’ Prototyping
β€’ App Design
β€’ Web Design

li-zhang-xRRQlR8Qu-Y-unsplash

SPATIAL DESIGN

Transforming physical spaces into immersive brand experiences.

β€’ Guidance system / Wayfinding
β€’ 
Scenography & 3D Sketching
β€’ Brand Space Concepts
β€’ Vistor Customer Journeys
β€’ Interactive Exhibits
β€’ Staging Concepts
β€’ On-Site Support
β€’ Execution Collaboration

Skills & Tools

🌍 Leadership & Teamwork:
Leading teams of 20+ creatives, Creating environments where creativity thrives, Aligning creative direction with business impact.
Inspiring and motivating teams to reach their full potential, Fostering collaboration across cross-functional teams, Providing mentorship and professional growth opportunities for team members, Balancing creative innovation with strategic business objectives, Promoting a culture of open communication and idea-sharing, Navigating challenging situations with resilience and adaptability, Building trust and maintaining strong, productive team relationships.
πŸ€– AI & in Creative Tools:
OpenAi, MidJourney, Adobe Sensei / Firefly AI, GoogleLabs, Runway ML, Brandwatch, Sprinklr
πŸ–₯ Creative Design Tools:
Figma, Adobe X, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Canva, Procreate, Adobe After Effects,
Cinema 4D, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, Canva, TouchDesigner
πŸ’‘ Strategic & Design Thinking:
Google Analytics, Miro, Mural, InVision, Adobe XD, Unity, Sketch, Canva
πŸ“Š Project Management: 
Jira, Asana, Trello, Slack, Teams, Monday.com

Career

Brands & Businesses

Over the years, I have collaborated with a diverse range of global brands, agencies, and startups across industries such as Quiet Luxury, Beauty, Fashion, Automotive, Photography, TV, and Lifestyle.

Would you like to collaborate?
Let’s create something visionary together.

Founder, Creative Director
& Brand Strategist

β†— GIULIAPAPALEO.COM
2015 – Present
Leading strategic brand development, corporate communications, media relations, and thought leadership for global clients across luxury, beauty, fashion, automotive, and lifestyle industries. Developing and executing high-impact storytelling, public relations strategies, and reputation management to enhance brand visibility.

Creative Lead of Design, Production, Conception
β†— HSE.DE
2024 – 2025
Overseeing corporate storytelling, PR campaigns in DACH area, and executive positioning for one of Europe's leading lifestyle and retail platforms. Leading integrated communication strategies, ensuring message consistency across media channels, and managing brand reputation.

Freelance Creative Director & Pitch Strategy
β†— SERVICEPLAN.COM
September 2024
Developing brand communication strategies, media narratives, and high-profile pitch presentations for clients in the DACH area. Shaping storytelling approaches for press and digital platforms.

Freelance Creative Art Director & Brand Strategy Consultant
β†— MARTINETKARCZINSKI.DE
July 2024
Developed global brand communication strategies, corporate storytelling, and media positioning for luxury brands. Led brand experience design, public relations initiatives, and executive messaging to enhance worldwide visibility and audience engagement. Collaborated with cross-functional teams across international markets to ensure consistent brand narratives and PR success across digital and experiential platforms.

Exhibition Design &  AI-Driven Storytelling
β†— Heinrich-BΓΆll-Stiftung
February 2024 – May 2024
Curated an AI-powered immersive exhibition for my MASTER Projekt
"Aqua Nostra! on climate change and glacier preservation, integrating visual storytelling, generative design, and data visualization. Combined NASA & ESA climate data with AI tools and TouchDesigner, creating dynamic narratives to engage audiences and foster global awareness and dialogue on environmental sustainability.

Creative Art Director – Strategic Brand Communication
β†— 19H13.COM
June 2023 – November 2023
Led AI-driven brand storytelling, strategic communication, and digital content creation for global clients. Developed immersive narratives using generative design, machine learning, and interactive media to enhance brand engagement, media impact, and thought leadership positioning. Collaborated on multi-platform campaigns, aligning AI-powered creative strategies with corporate messaging and audience engagement goals.

Art Director – AI-Driven Brand Experience
& Strategic Communication in Brand Space/Exhibition 

β†— AVANTGARDE.NET
January 2023 – June 2023
Directed AI-powered brand experiences, spatial design, and experiential marketing for global luxury and automotive brands. Integrated generative design, machine learning, and interactive storytelling to create immersive brand spaces and high-impact exhibition narratives. Developed strategic communication frameworks, enhancing brand engagement, audience interaction, and media visibility.

Visual Designer – Global Brand Experience & Strategic Communication intern
β†— BLACKSPACE.COM
August 2019 – March 2020
Developed global brand identity systems, visual storytelling strategies, and immersive brand experiences for high-profile luxury clients. Created cross-platform communication concepts to enhance brand positioning, audience engagement, and corporate messaging. Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams across international markets to craft impact-driven narratives aligned with global brand strategies and market trends.

Tutor – Screenprinting
β†— University Pforzheim
June 2018 – April 2019
Taught screen printing techniques and visual storytelling with a focus on brand communication, design experimentation, and creative expression. Guided students in hands-on printmaking processes, emphasizing tactile brand narratives and strategic visual impact.Fostering creativity through hands-on workshops.

Visual Designer & Studio Manager – Brand Communication
β†— ZEROEIGHT.DE
September 2017 – September 2018
Managed studio operations, brand communication, and visual strategy for global clients. Led branding, digital experiences, and corporate storytelling, ensuring cohesive brand narratives across print, digital, and experiential platforms. Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop strategic design solutions aligned with market trends and audience engagement goals.

Visual Designer
& Photography Director

β†— ARTINACTION.DE
September 2016 – September 2017
Led visual design, photography, and digital branding, crafting strategic brand narratives and cross-platform storytelling. Developed content strategies that enhanced audience engagement, brand positioning, and corporate messaging, ensuring a consistent visual identity across digital and print media.

Education Certificat

πŸŽ“ M.A. Design & Future Making
I hold a Master of Arts in Design and Future Making from DesignPF, where I focused on integrating design with sustainable and innovative practices. This interdisciplinary program has equipped me with essential skills and knowledge to tackle complex challenges in the design field, and to leverage design as a transformative force for innovation and sustainability.

Key Focus Areas:
Future-Oriented Design: Creating solutions for tomorrow with emerging technologies and sustainability.
Ethics & Corporate Values: Aligning design with ethical standards and societal impact.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Working across disciplines to solve complex design challenges.
Research & Innovation: Identifying trends and applying innovative design methods.
Interactive Design: Combining traditional models with dynamic user-centered design.
Leadership & Self-Management: Leading teams, managing projects, and aligning goals with business objectives.
User Experience Design: Designing intuitive and impactful user experiences.

Skills:
Cross-Functional Team Leadership: Leading and collaborating with creative teams.
Branding: Crafting strong, impactful brand identities.
Visual Communication: Designing to communicate messages clearly and effectively.
Design Thinking: Applying a human-centered approach to problem-solving.
Design Tools: Expertise in InVision and Adobe Creative Cloud.
Critical Thinking & Creative Strategy: Analyzing and delivering innovative solutions.
πŸŽ“ B.A Visual Communication Design
I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication from DesignPF, where I developed expertise in designing information across various media formats. This program emphasized creativity and social competence, preparing me to tackle the communicative challenges faced by businesses, science, culture, and civil society.

Key Highlights:
Semester Speaker: Served as the representative for my cohort, facilitating communication between students and faculty.
Certification as a Communication Signage Designer: Completed certification under Dagmar Korintenberg at Flunder Raumservice Studio, enhancing my skills in signage and wayfinding design.
Certification as a Pictogram Designer: Achieved certification in pictogram design from Juli Gudehus, equipping me with expertise in creating intuitive visual symbols for communication.

Program Focus:
Future-Oriented Design: Developing innovative design solutions that address emerging challenges.
Theories of Management & Corporate Governance: Understanding frameworks for leadership and governance in design.
Ethics & Corporate Values: Exploring the ethical implications of design decisions and their societal impact.
Project Management & Controlling: Gaining practical skills in managing projects, including budgeting and resource allocation.
Design Methods, Models, and Theories: Learning diverse design methodologies to enhance creativity and innovation.
Linear Models & Interactive Design: Integrating traditional and interactive design models to create dynamic user experiences.
Leadership & Self-Management: Focusing on personal development as a leader in design and team dynamics.
User-Centered Design: Prioritizing design practices that focus on creating meaningful, user-centric experiences.

This program equipped me with the knowledge and skills to use design as a transformative tool for creating innovative, sustainable solutions that address both human and business needs.
πŸ“ƒ Certificate: Communication Signage Designer
Completed a specialized certification under the guidance of Dagmar Korintenberg at Flunder Raumservice Studio, enhancing my skills in effective signage and wayfinding design. This certification deepened my understanding of how visual design can guide people through spaces and improve navigation and communication.
πŸ“ƒ Certificate: Pictogram Designer
Achieved certification in pictogram design from Juli Gudehus, equipping me with the expertise to create intuitive visual symbols that convey information quickly and clearly, ensuring easy and effective communication across different contexts.

ο»Ώ

STUDIO GIULIA PAPALEO
BLUTENBURGSTR. 26, 80636 MÜNCHEN
PAPALEO.GIULIA@HOTMAIL.COM

ο»Ώ

LINKEDIN
INSTAGRAM
BEHANCE

Β© 2025

Logo-GiuliaPapaleo-text-web_Zeichenflache-1-Kopie
View