About me
Maciek Michalski is a highly acclaimed South African executive creative director, designer, and branding expert with more than two decades of experience in advertising and design. He has held senior leadership roles focused on mentoring teams, providing strategic direction, and delivering award-winning creative work.
Originally from Poland , Maciek is recognised as one of the country's leading creative thinkers. He is known for his collaborative approach, curiosity-driven process, and ability to create memorable, culturally resonant brand identities that fuse African perspectives with global appeal. At the heart of his philosophy is building strategic brands with depth and distinctiveness through compelling storytelling. Maciek's work spans the globe, with projects delivered for clients in the UK, US, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, and New Zealand.
Maciek is a seven-time judge for the Loerie Awards (South Africa's premier creative honors) and has been ranked among the Top 3 Design Studios, Top 3 Creative Directors, and featured in the Top 25 Creative Directors (Creative Pool) multiple times.
Since co-founding Hitchcock Michalski in 2014 with Fiona Hitchcock, Maciek Michalski has served as Design Director and Founding Partner, driving the boutique branding agency's growth into a globally recognised player in strategic brand design.
Under his creative leadership, the studio has specialised in distinctive, culturally nuanced identities for clients across Africa - Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and beyond (USA, Italy, New Zealand).
His hands-on approach, starting every project with pencil and paper and drawing inspiration from art, architecture, fashion, and film, has consistently delivered bold, distinctive work that helps brands navigate complex market challenges.
Skills
Brand Management, Branding, Creative Direction, Directing, leadership, mentorship
Sector Experience
Accounting & Finance, Banking, Education, Finance, Hotels & Resorts, Oil & Gas, Retail, Travel & Leisure
Awards
Clios - Shortlist, Clios - Silver, D&AD Award - Nomination, Loeries - Bronze, Loeries - Gold, Loeries - Grand Prix, Loeries - Silver, One Show - Merit
Trade Associations
#17 Ranked Creative Directoron 17th September 2020 Project featured:Amarone Wine Label
on 25th September 2020 Project featured:Fonts for the future.
on 25th September 2020 Project featured:Builders Evolution
on 25th September 2020 Project featured:OFM Music Box
on 28th September 2020 Project featured:Pioneering Spirit
on 9th October 2020 Project featured:Antalis Paper Cups
on 10th October 2020 Project featured:Appassimento Wine Label
on 14th October 2020 Project featured:ProvidusBank Corporate Identity
on 19th October 2020 Project featured:ROCK 4 AIDS
on 21st October 2020 Project featured:Flight Coffee
on 10th November 2020 Project featured:Oceans Dialogue
on 13th November 2020 Project featured:Appzone Corporate Identity
on 5th July 2021 Project featured:InvestNaija Investment Platform
on 16th February 2022 Project featured:Shop of Hope
on 18th March 2022 Project featured:Quarto Press
on 22nd February 2023 Project featured:Wigwe University Brand Identity Design
on 22nd January 2025 Project featured:NCX Brand Identity
on 25th March 2025 Pro member:
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Maciek Michalski has been a Contributor since 18th March 2025.