My name, Maya, comes from Mount Maya in Kobe, Japan.
The mountain is home to the "Ten-million-dollar Night View", and although my net worth hasn't quite reached ten million dollars yet, here's a little more about me so you can help achieve that goal and more.
I’m a Japanese-American art director
I was born in a slow beach town, was whipped into shape across the Pacific Ocean, learned that people actually say “Y’all” down south, and am now trying to catch subway trains that seldom come on time
Making Club Penguin music videos on Windows Movie Maker was the beginning of my creative career
I spent 5 years translating BTS’ Japanese content
The Purple and Yellow M&M’S signature is my handwriting
My great-great-grandfather invented furikake, a Japanese seasoning for rice - which means taste is ingrained in my blood
I try to convince myself that my cat views me as his equal, not a subordinate
I’m not one to decline generous donations to my retirement fund
If you'd like to talk about opportunities or want to get in touch, I'm just an email away 📬
Currently an Associate Creative Director / Art Director @ BBDO New York.
Email: mayaiwata25@gmail.com | Phone: 512-294-0794 | LinkedIn
AWARDS
M&M’S Super Bowl (2023)
Gold: Cannes Lions – Creative Strategy, Food & Drink
Bronze: Cannes Lions – Creative Strategy, Brave Brands
Shortlist: Cannes Lions – Creative Strategy, Market Disruption
Shortlist: Cannes Lions – PR, Food & Drink
Shortlist: Cannes Lions – Brand Partnerships, Sponsorships & Collaborations
Silver Pencil: The One Show – Integrated, Integrated Campaign
Merit Award: The One Show – Experiential & Immersive, Craft, Storytelling
Bronze Pencil: The One Show – Cultural Driver, Popular Culture Impact
Shortlist: The One Show – Public Relations, Community Building
Shortlist: The One Show – Social Media, Stunts & Activations
Shortlist: The One Show – Social Media, Craft - Writing
Best in Show: The Caples Awards
Gold: The Caples Awards – Integrated Campaign
Gold: The Caples Awards – Radical New Strategy
Silver: The Caples Awards – PR
Shortlist: Campaign US BIG Awards – Integrated
Shortlist: Campaign US BIG Awards – Consumer Packaged Goods
Shortlist: Campaign US BIG Awards – Best Idea That Taps Into Culture
Silver: Cresta Awards – Influencer Campaigns
Silver: Cresta Awards – Social & Influencer, Influencer Campaigns
Bronze: Cresta Awards – Integrated Campaign
Bronze: Cresta Awards – Social & Influencer, Social Campaign
Shortlist: Cresta Awards – Social & Influencer, Innovative Use of Social Media
Bronze: London International Awards – Integration, Confections/Snacks
Finalist: London International Awards – Creativity In PR, Food and Beverage
Finalist: London International Awards – Use of Social Media & Influencers, Foods
Nominee: Webby Awards – Integrated Campaign
Nominee: Webby Awards – Best Use of Social Media
Honoree: Webby Awards – Brand Strategy
Winner: Effies – Snacks & Desserts
Winner: Effies – Timely Opportunity - Products
Snickerchief (2023)
Shortlist: The One Show – Social Media, Stunts & Activations
Silver: FAB Awards – Confectionery & Snacks, Guerrilla Marketing
Rescue Dogs Pay Their Own Way (2023)
Bronze: Cresta Awards – Creative Use of Data, Creative Technology
M&M’S Character Evolution / A New Day for the M&M'S Characters (2022)
Bronze: Effies – Snacks & Desserts
Bronze: Effies – Youth Marketing Products
The Academic ‘Not Your Summer’ (2022)
Gold: Epica – Branded Content, Music Videos
Silver: Clio Awards – Design Craft, Other
Bronze: Clio Awards – Branded Entertainment & Content, Partnerships
Bronze: Clio Awards – Branded Entertainment & Content, Music
Bronze: Clio Awards – Design Craft, Image Creation
Bronze: Clio Awards – Digital / Mobile & Social Media Craft, User Experience
Bronze: Clio Awards – Digital / Mobile & Social Media Craft, Other
Shortlist: Clio Awards – Audio Craft, Music
Bronze: Music Clio Awards – Digital Websites
Bronze: Music Clio Awards – Branded Entertainment
Winner: Webby Awards – Advertising, Media & PR, Best Use of Animation or Motion Graphics
Gold: The One Show – Moving Image Craft, Innovation in Lockdown
Bronze: The One Show – Moving Image Craft, Innovation in Moving Image Craft
Silver: The One Show – Moving Image Craft, Use of Technology
Silver: The One Show – Interactive & Mobile Craft, Visual Craft, Animation
Bronze: The One Show – Interactive & Mobile Craft, Innovation
Winner: AICP Awards – Digital Experience
M&M’S Messages (2021)
Bronze: Effies – Marketing Innovation Solutions
AAF ADDYs (2019-2020)
AAF District 10 ADDY Bronze (Television Advertising) – Waze (2020)
AAF Austin ADDY Gold (Television Advertising) – Waze (2020)
AAF Austin ADDY Gold (Print/Magazine Advertising) – Dave’s Killer Bread (2020)
AAF Austin ADDY Gold (Illustration) – Dave’s Killer Bread (2020)
AAF Austin ADDY Gold (Integrated Consumer Campaign) – Spirit Airlines (2020)
AAF Austin ADDY Silver (Print/Magazine Advertising) – Spirit Airlines (2020)
AAF Austin ADDY Silver (Art Direction) – Build-A-Bear Workshop (2020)
AAF Austin ADDY Silver (Print/Magazine Advertising) – Greyhound Bus (2019)
RECOGNITION
ADCOLOR® Future (2023)
1 of 30 (out of 399 applicants) chosen based on strong leadership potential, sustained involvement in reaching back, interest in partnering with leadership to drive change through DEI initiatives, and innovative thinking to solve today's problems. ADCOLOR® FUTURES is a unique program that is dedicated to identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders in the advertising, marketing, media, and public relations industries.
NextGen Mentorship Program - Mentee (2023)
Creative LIAisons Program - Mentee (2023)
BBDO NY MVPV (Most Valuable People Values) Award (2021)
4A’s MAIP Fellow (2019)
experience
BBDO New York
Associate Creative Director (Feb 2024 - Present)
Senior Art Director (May 2022 - Feb 2024)
Art Director (April 2021 - May 2022)
Junior Art Director (Feb 2020 - April 2021)
Art Direction Intern (June 2019 - August 2019)