A year-long residency at Outernet London. A Cannes Lion, a D&AD pencil and a Ciclope grand prix. Art Director Flora MacLeod just arrived at Electric Theatre Collective, and her portfolio is pretty mega.

Channel 4’s 2023 idents weren’t just iconic. They weren’t just award-winning. They were groundbreaking in the sphere of design, and Flora had a huge creative influence over one of the key scenes. Other projects during her time at Optical Arts included slick CG product animations for the likes of Dyson, Aveda and Bowers & Wilkins, as she quickly became a close collaborator of Fabrice Le Nezet and Dan Tobin Smith. Her work at Outernet London, Hidden Life (also award-winning), was a five-walled, four-storey-high immersive experience. Inspired by the beauty, diversity and crucial existence of Plankton, science and nature have often played a part throughout her career, including during her time at Lab-Meta.

Flora joins ETC’s growing 3D design team, working closely with Will Denning and James Britton to nurture the proposition and craft tactile moving imagery for brands across tech, beauty and fashion. “I have always been really invested in the emotive side of creative work and love when visuals meet sound and story”, she says. “Joining ETC is a really unique opportunity. Part of a small, nimble team with lots of potential for creative exploration, yet plugged into the wider VFX and colour teams for seamless ingenuity. I’m really energised about what’s to come.”

James Britton, Strategy Director, adds: “Flora’s arrival marks the next chapter for our 3D design team. Her sense of aesthetics is unmatched and she operates from a place of pure tactility. I’m excited to work with her on some interesting opportunities we have brewing.”

In her own words:

– Fave place for inspo?

I think probably the Barbican, because not only do they have insane architecture inside and out, they also have great exhibitions and an amazing line-up of music events. Artists can be found exploring more experimental parts of their practice which I think is brilliant. You can go and work on your laptop there too, it’s a great ambient third space. Side note: I did a guided architecture tour of the barbican once, would highly recommend that! 

– Most exciting thing about being in East london? 

I already live nearby but it’s pretty cool to be working on Brick Lane in such a busy creative hub now. I’m not sure on the Brick Lane best spots just yet, but if you wander up to Dalston, House of MoMo is pretty hard to beat.

– What did you want to be when you grew up (when you were younger)?

I had a Vet phase, because I loved animals so much. And then of course, an Artist. I left it to unfold organically, but I always had a gut feeling I was going to be in a creative industry somehow.

– OK, but now you’re an Art Director… Tell us about your house – does it aesthetically reflect your professional style?

I have a massive Ernst Haeckel poster of flowers in my room and another of some graphic abstract mushrooms. I also have artist books, ones that reflect the natural world and artistic themes that often show up in my work!