Efe Can Akar

Creative Director

Istanbul | TR

Skills

Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Lightroom
Adobe InDesign

View all

Interests

Philosophy

Psychology

Sociology

Art

Physics (especially quantum mechanics)

Neuropsychology

Industries

Creative Agencies

Other

Home Summary Activity Projects Work experience Education history Connections Companies

In my own words

— Efe Can

I’m a multidisciplinary designer and creative consultant with over 10 years of experience in branding, packaging, UI/UX, and creative direction.

From building identities for startups to art directing campaigns for global brands, I bring a strategic mindset and visual storytelling approach to every project. My work has reached across Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia — both remotely and on-site — and I’m now actively seeking new opportunities to bring that international perspective to teams in the EU, US, Canada, or Singapore. I specialize in:• Branding & Packaging Systems• UI/UX & Web Design (in progress)• AI-assisted Creative Workflows• Cross-cultural Creative Strategy• Remote Collaboration Let’s build brands that not only look good — but make an impact.

Trajectory

Jul 2024 — Now

Creative Consultant & Founder · E.C.A. Creative Consultancy

Founded and led a remote creative consultancy serving global clients across the food & beverage, pet care, and hospitality sectors. Directed full-scope branding, packaging, and creative strategy projects from concept to execution. Key highlights: • Rebranded Pin Drinks from the ground up — including packaging, positioning, and influencer marketing — resulting in increased shelf visibility and digital traction. • Developed complete brand identity and product storytelling for Petipure, from naming to 3D AI-assisted catalogue characters. • Designed in-store branding and UI/UX experience for Agora Café & Restaurant, enhancing both physical and digital customer journeys. • Oversaw all visual assets for international trade exhibitions and cross-border marketing campaigns. • Collaborated with marketing and content teams to align visuals with strategic business goals.Founded and led a remote creative consultancy serving global clients across the food & beverage, pet care, and hospitality sectors. Directed full-scope branding, packaging, and creative strategy projects from concept to execution. Key highlights: • Rebranded Pin Drinks from the ground up — including packaging, positioning, and influencer marketing — resulting in increased shelf visibility and digital traction. • Developed complete brand identity and product storytelling for Petipure, from naming to 3D AI-assisted catalogue characters. • Designed in-store branding and UI/UX experience for Agora Café & Restaurant, enhancing both physical and digital customer journeys. • Oversaw all visual assets for international trade exhibitions and cross-border marketing campaigns. • Collaborated with marketing and content teams to align visuals with strategic business goals.

Nov 2023 — Mar 2024

Creative Manager · Pin Drinks

Led the creative vision and execution for all Pin Drinks branding and packaging, managing a cross-functional team of 5 creatives including designers, copywriters, and marketers. Key achievements include: • Developed and launched packaging designs for new beverage lines, which were independently nominated by Crown Holding Co. for the global “Cans of The Year” awards. • Aligned brand visuals across digital and physical platforms, contributing to a measurable rise in brand engagement and social media metrics. • Ensured international packaging compliance for markets including the UK, UAE, and Qatar, enabling export growth. • Partnered with marketing and product teams to craft campaigns that reflected business goals and enhanced product storytelling.

Feb 2022 — Jan 2024

Marketing Artist · La Lorraine Bakery Group - Turkey & Middle East

Provided creative support for La Lorraine’s marketing efforts across the Caucasus and Central Asia regions. Delivered a wide range of B2B visual assets and collaborated directly with the internal marketing team to ensure brand consistency and campaign effectiveness. Key contributions: • Designed exhibition visuals, social media content, point-of-sale materials, and B2B communication assets for regional marketing campaigns. • Developed and executed the full visual identity for a large-scale corporate event in Antalya, attended by over 500 employees and business partners. • Ensured all visual outputs aligned with brand strategy and messaging, maintaining quality and timely delivery under direct supervision of the Marketing Director.

Feb 2023 — Nov 2023

Senior Graphic Designer · BAL Agency

Delivered creative solutions across print, digital, and social platforms for a wide range of clients in various industries. Acted as a lead designer on major projects and collaborated closely with account managers and international clients. Key achievements: • Led the creative execution of campaigns for global brands including Beko (Kazakhstan), Coca-Cola (Kazakhstan), and Lassa (UK) within the agency pipeline. • Translated strategic briefs into impactful visual concepts aligned with each brand’s identity. • Mentored junior designers and provided art direction to ensure consistency and quality across all outputs. • Balanced multiple projects under tight deadlines, consistently delivering on-brand and on-time creative assets.

Apr 2019 — Feb 2022

Graphic Designer · Freelance

Worked independently with clients across the US, Europe, and the Middle East, delivering tailored design solutions across branding, packaging, and digital communication. Managed all aspects of client relationships, from briefing to final delivery. Key highlights: • Created full brand identities, marketing materials, and packaging designs adapted to regional markets and cultural nuances. • Maintained high client satisfaction and repeat business through clear communication, reliable timelines, and design quality. • Leveraged design thinking principles to enhance the storytelling and functionality of both print and digital assets. • Balanced multiple remote projects simultaneously while adapting to various industries and design requirements.

Jul 2017 — Apr 2019

Graphic Designer · LDS Ambalaj

Provided packaging and print design services for clients in the manufacturing sector. Focused on delivering production-ready visuals aligned with brand and functional requirements. Key contributions: • Created packaging concepts and final artwork tailored to client specifications and industry standards. • Prepared high-quality, print-ready files that met technical requirements of manufacturers and printers. • Worked closely with clients and production teams to ensure design feasibility and accuracy. • Contributed to increasing brand consistency across physical product lines.

Nov 2014 — May 2017

Junior Graphic Designer · Albayrak Gayrimenkul

Created digital content and visual materials to support the company’s real estate marketing efforts. Focused on enhancing the visual identity of property listings and increasing customer engagement through design. Key contributions: • Designed social media visuals, digital banners, and print assets for ongoing property campaigns. • Helped streamline the visual presentation of property portfolios to improve market appeal. • Collaborated with the sales and marketing teams to align visuals with target audience expectations. • Gained foundational experience in fast-paced design environments with client-facing responsibilities.