Laurie Hollar
FREELANCE CREATIVE DIRECTOR | COPYWRITER
Hi, I’m Laurie, but most people call me Hollar.
I am a purposeful, playful Copywriter and Creative Director with sharp instincts, a collaborative nature, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. I encourage brave ideas and have the passion and experience to bring them to life. Whimsical at times, and a warrior when necessary, I’m driven by endless curiosity and a fearless spirit.
My recent roles have involved leading creative teams, but I’m now focusing solely on freelance opportunities that bring me back to my roots—writing and ideating from the ground up across a wide variety of brands and categories.
I’m a pinch hitter, sharpshooter, guaranteed three-pointer. A force to be reckoned with when it comes to concepting. And the queen of creative exploratories. I thrive under tight deadlines, with complex briefs, and the most challenging clients.
I lead with clarity and focus—no swirl, no time wasted. Pushing creative boundaries while keeping the process on track and enjoyable is my superpower. Equal parts problem-solver and storyteller, I excel at amplifying others’ ideas and identifying the sparks that evolve into bold, impactful concepts. From innovative 360-degree campaigns to platform-specific content across multiple channels, I ensure that every element contributes to the larger vision and supports overarching goals.
An accomplished writer, I can seamlessly step into roles like writing scripts, crafting manifestos, and developing pitch decks—whatever it takes to keep the work moving forward. I’ll even tackle channel copy (yes, you read that right). No creative task is too big or small; I approach everything with the same energy and precision.
I invented the first GPS for kids, turning 'Are we there yet?' into 'We’re already there?!' and earning global industry recognition. Partnered with comedy music phenoms The Gregory Brothers to create “Tech Genius on the Holidays,” a viral TikTok hit that delivered some very merry KPIs for T-Mobile. Conceptualized and wrote an Instagram Stories miniseries for AMC Networks’ Into the Badlands, transforming mindless tapping into life-or-death decisions and shortlisting at Cannes. I’ve also spearheaded and helped win new business pitches for high-profile brands, including Peloton, Legoland Florida, Kool-Aid, Johnson & Johnson and T-Mobile.
I live in a river house in the woods just north of Manhattan with my clowder of cats. I kayak every chance I get. (You should see my shoulder muscles.) And I might be the only Creative Director in the world who bought their dream home in New York while on production in Romania. If you’ve done the same, I’d love to swap stories over a glass of ţuică.
EXPERIENCE
Freelance Copywriter / Ideator / Creative Director / Pitch Winner | Hollar Creates LLC | January 2025 - Present
Creative Director | Monks NYC | April 2021 - December 2024
Creative Director | TBWA\Worldwide NYC | May 2020 - April 2021
Creative Director | Firstborn NYC | April 2018 - April 2020
Senior Copywriter / Associate Creative Director / Creative Director | VML NYC | March 2013 - April 2018
Senior Copywriter | UniWorld Group NYC | February 2012 - March 2013
Copywriter | ML Rogers NYC | March 2011 - February 2012
CLIENTS
Google / Metro / T-Mobile / Intuit / Uber Eats / Visa / Legoland / Beats / AMC Networks / Peloton / Toys R Us / Skinny Cow / Hillshire Snacking / Bagel Bites / Heinz 57 / TGI Friday’s Frozen Foods / Contadina / Campbell’s Soup / Burger King / Checkers / Kool-Aid / Ford Motor Company / Valvoline / Diageo / Smirnoff / Corona / Seattle’s Best Coffee / Unilever / Johnson & Johnson / Visine / Zyrtec / Halls / ORB Wellness / Chewy / Madame Tussauds / The American College of Financial Services
EDUCATION
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Concentration in Advertising
SKILLS & INTERESTS
Brand Positioning, Content Creation, Creator Collaborations, All Things Digital, Cross-platform Social Campaigns, Inspiring Fresh Thinking, Creative Strategy, Harnessing Generative AI Tools, Rapid Prototyping, Problem Solving, Script Writing, Production, Collaborative Leadership, Storytelling, Copywriting, Client Engagement, Pitching, Brainstorming, Building Teams, Cross-departmental Collaboration
AWARDS
Tempo by Beats: The future of Apple’s product experiences
D&AD Graphite Pencil
Design Transformation / Operational Transformation
D&AD Wood Pencil
Digital Design / Service Digitisation
Quest To Legoland: The GPS built for kids
Silver Cannes Lion
Entertainment
App / Games
Silver Cannes Lion
Entertainment
Brand Experience: Mobile
Silver Cannes Lion
Mobile
Innovation In Brand Experience
Bronze Cannes Lion
Digital Craft
Native & Built-In Feature Integration
Bronze Cannes Lion
Mobile
Activation By Location
Bronze Cannes Lion
Design
Graphic Design
D&AD Wood Pencil
Digital & Mobile
Graphic Design
One Show Silver Cube
Interactive: Apps / GPS / Location Technology
Silver Jay Chiat Award
Strategic Excellence
Product/Service Creation
Webby Award Winner
People’s Choice
Games: Family & Kids
Webby Award Winner
Mobile Sites & Apps
Best Use of GPS or Location Technology
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Creative Data
Use Of Real-Time Data
2 Cannes Lions Shortlists
Outdoor
Travel & Transport
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Design
App
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Entertainment
Excellence in Partnerships
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Digital Craft
Data Storytelling
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Digital Craft
Innovative Use of Technology
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Entertainment
Digital & Mobile Games
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Mobile
Data / Insight
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Creative Data Lion
Data-Technology
Communication Arts Winner
Annual 58
Mobile
AIGA Winner
Mobile
Games / Apps
2 Silver El Ojo de Iberoamerica Awards
Mobile Games / Media
Use of Data
Gold Ciclope Award
Digital Craft App
Gold El Ojo de Iberoamerica Award
Better Experience With The Use Of Data
The A-List Awards Shortlist
Interactive Games
Silver London International Awards
Digital Apps
Surviving The Badlands: The first miniseries created only for Instagram Stories
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Social & Influencer
Brand Storytelling
Legoland Dollars: The kids’ theme park currency listed on foreign exchange boards
Silver Cannes Lion
Media
Cannes Lions Shortlist
Direct
4A's Partner Award
Brand Partnership/Large Agency
