Cedric MURAC

What was your very first job?

I was an assistant art director at BETC, an advertising agency in Paris. It was a happy place for me to start, one of the most creative and stimulating environment I had the pleasure to be part of. I was working long hours, but I did not care. I remember being eager to learn, proud, excited and mostly grateful I was entering a field that I was fascinated with and one I really Loved.

Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails.

I am the creative vision for the beauty and fragrance campaigns for Aramis and designer Fragrances at Estee Lauder Companies.  I am responsible for creating and sustaining brand identity for 7 unique global brands, all with very different esthetics and brand point of views. I also manage an amazing team of 30 creative professionals that bring these concepts to life. 

How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? What was the train of events that brought you to where you are today?

I believe that creativity is something you are born with. Some people are lucky enough to get to train that inner creativity. And I believe it is a never-ending process, at least it is for me. I was always curious, open to new experiences. I think that is a critical component of my creative thinking. I do not recollect a singular moment in life that made me realize the creative world was right for me, but I can list many moments that reminded me I needed a different perspective, that I wasn’t satisfied enough, that I wasn’t ready to settle. I love Paris with all my heart, but I decided to move to NYC to get a new angle, to be surrounded by different people. Teaching in art school was an extremely rewarding experience for me, defying expectations, guiding my students and sharing my experience with them only reminded myself I was lucky enough to be doing something that sincerely belonged to me.

In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?

Inspiration comes from everything you make contact with, over the course of your life. Experiences become part of the process : pop culture, travels, personal memories, my circle of friends and so on. From old school advertising to the power of digital and social media, I like experimenting, mixing classical disciplines, arts and visuals innovations.

If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, more for the creative work and innovation it required, rather than its recognition or industry "success," what would it be?

I like to believe that everything I am currently working on has the potential to be my best piece of work. I do not have a project I am most proud of because, in a way, I am extremely proud and unsatisfied with all of them. You can always do better, I firmly believe in this attitude. It keeps me interested and motivated. Ultimately what I am most proud of is to mentor and guide my team, and see people around me growing and succeed.