
Cadillac Rebrand
challenge
younger luxury buyers weren’t buying into the legacy
Despite a rich legacy and fresh product innovations, Cadillac was struggling to connect with younger luxury consumers. To re-establish it as a modern symbol of American achievement, we needed more than a new logo—we needed to reimagine how the brand showed up across every channel and consumer interaction.
solution
one bold, modern brand voice at every touchpoint
Branding isn’t just what you say to consumers—it’s how you engage them. With that mindset, I built and led a cross-functional creative team to transform every Cadillac touchpoint. From CRM to site, product photography to social, we created work that spoke in one voice and behaved like a modern luxury brand across the full consumer journey.
my role
Creative lead responsible for setting the creative vision and building the team from the ground up. I hired, structured, mentored, and worked shoulder-to-shoulder with a fully integrated, cross-discipline creative team.
results at a glance
a foundational shift for an iconic brand
Refreshed and elevated creative across all consumer touchpoints (1000+ deliverables)
Boost in Buzz and Purchase Consideration among 35–49 demo (YouGov BrandIndex)
5.2% increase in global sales (GM Authority)
Ranked top 6 in brand quality perception (Consumer Reports)
how it came to life
new look. one voice.
We revitalized Cadillac’s visual identity with a more premium, optimistic aesthetic using a lighter palette, refined typography, cinematic photography, and Mondrian-inspired layouts.
A more confident, clever tone of voice was rolled out across every channel—ensuring the brand spoke consistently and compellingly at every touchpoint.
This work created a cohesive and elevated brand experience that reflected Cadillac’s reemergence as a modern, world-class luxury brand.
vehicle photography
bringing products to life
photography by Patrick Curet
To establish a lifestyle-forward aesthetic, we commissioned fashion photographer Patrick Curet to capture the full Cadillac vehicle line-up in aspirational, editorial-style moments. These images redefined Cadillac visually — infusing the brand with cultural relevance and cinematic style across digital, print, CRM, and social. The sophisticated, human-centered storytelling created emotional resonance with next gen of luxury buyers.
smarter CRM
a personal touch
dynamic content delivery system
We redesigned and developed Cadillac’s email program to function like a luxury concierge. Through a four-touch email journey personalized by user behavior, we delivered vehicle content tailored to where the consumer was in their journey—product storytelling, specs, offers, and timely nudges. This smart, modular CRM system improved engagement, simplified delivery, and gave Cadillac a direct line to shoppers with dynamic utility and elevated design.
premium direct mail
To reimagine direct mail as a luxury brand moment, we created immersive physical experiences:
Escalade “Date Night”
A test-drive invitation sent with a $100 dining card — treating Escalade consumers like VIPs.
ELR “Origami”
A mailer that unfolded into a sculptural experience spotlighting the artistic design of Cadillac’s first electric vehicle.
social
trending at the speed of Cadillac
cultural content
Beyond implementing a new community management tone of voice, we brought Cadillac into cultural conversations with quick-turn, social-first content.
For the Oscars, we designed vintage movie posters during the live show, matching Cadillac vehicles to Best Picture nominees. On Record Store Day, we created a collector’s series of vinyl-inspired art — pairing nameplates with music genres. These timely, beautifully executed social pieces connected with our target’s interests during relevant moments in cultural.
impact
This wasn’t just a rebrand. It was a reintroduction — a chance to remind consumers what Cadillac stands for and what it could become. By elevating the brand’s presence across every consumer interaction, we helped Cadillac reestablish itself as a bold, modern expression of American luxury.
Core Team:
Zelley, GCD
Mike Brooks, ACD
Marguerite Adragna, ACD
Luke Palushaj, Design Director
Bob Pokrywka, ACD
Adam Burkett, ACD
Brett Warkentien, ACD
Brian Paynter, Sr Copywriter
Jaime Perry, Sr Copywriter
Sean Perry, Sr Copywriter
Jessica Bush, Sr Art Director
Chris Everhart, Sr Art Director
Bryan Durco, Sr Art Director
Laura White, Art Director
Jessica Ashburn, Art Director
Kelsey Webster, Jr Copywriter
Leah Kane, Jr Copywriter
Collin Magin, Jr Copywriter
Andrew Zelley, Jr Art Director
Lauren Bunker, Intern Copywriter