Graphic designer, artist, creative director, author, business development advisor, creative coach, multimedia artist, inspirational speaker, and educator. She is the author of 11 books on creativity, personal development, and social change.
Founder of the ThinkUpside Down counter-culture book imprint and social movement, Aliyah Marr is a creative director with a stellar list of Fortune 100 clients: companies such as IBM, American Express, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and Chivas; she is a published author with articles in major magazines, such as Create Magazine and Business Week.
Aliyah believes in the transformative power of creative thinking and brings all her years of teaching, marketing, and design experience to the table in helping others become the creative architects of their own lives.
With a Fine Arts degree from the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris France, Aliyah taught graphic design, art, interactive programming, and new media at Parsons (The New School), Pratt Institute and The School of Visual Art in New York City while working as a Senior Art Director for Digitas, and as a Senior Design Analyst for Aaron Marcus and Associates. She has created many e-learning tutorials on design, was the design lead for an interactive training manual on the Hummer, and worked as a designer for two feature films.
She writes books on creative empowerment, gives keynote addresses and seminars, teaches workshops, and works as a corporate trainer.
A Note from Aliyah Marr
I have been a visual designer for most of my professional life. I started out as an artist, became an editorial illustrator, then a graphic designer, and finally a multimedia designer. Along the way, I taught graphic design and interactive programming at the three top design schools in NYC and published many e-learning modules and video tutorials. I have also written and published several books on creative development and creative empowerment.
After one session with Aliyah a 50-year old deep emotional trauma was dissolved and in its place is pure love. The process seemed effortless and the sorrow is gone. “After One Session With Aliyah”
Dee H.
Fresh, bold ideas and outlook when it comes to the creative. “Fresh, Bold Ideas”
Sharon Fleischmann
Faculty member at School of Visual Arts
I was able to get my answers to my questions and fully understand the steps in learning the product. I was able to stop and ask questions [during the corporate training session], and then repeat… “‘Likely to Recommend’ Score of 10”
Working with Aliyah was a blessing. She listened to my higher vision and guided my rewriting with precise suggestions. She truly has the ability to unlock a writer’s potential. Aliyah’s style is sweet and sincere.… “I strongly recommend Aliyah Marr”
Within a month or so, she had negotiated a TV advertising deal… “She Never Gives Up”
Wesley Negus
Technical Sales Account Manager at Texas Instruments
Amazing talent and super easy to work with. “Be Amazed”
Don Durban
Planet X
Aliyah helped a dream come true for me—we worked together to launch my first book! I am so grateful for her expertise and commitment to her work. She listens carefully while advising to ensure the best outcome and she stays focused to help reach deadlines. Thank you, Aliyah. “Aliyah helped a dream come true for me…”
Kyra Oliver
Entrepreneur, Founder, and CEO of Your Own Utopia
Aliyah is a very creative and talented professional that is a joy to work with. “Creative & Results Oriented”
Russell Youngblood
Instructional Technologist at NASCO
Knowledgeable with professional publishing techniques; she taught me a lot along the way… “I recommend her!”
Ben Luman
Aliyah is a great teacher who has awakened strengths that have been dormant in me.
“A Great Mentor”
Enrique Leyva
Economist
…extra-ordinary intuitive insight, years of hands on experience in life coaching. “Solution-Oriented Life Coaching”
Darrell Bell
Independent Transportation Professional
Aliyah has a special gift in that she can get to the root of your personal and professional issues very quickly. “Be Empowered”
Mark Ninci
President of SD Tech Services, Chief Technology Officer, MktMetrics
Credentials
Portfolio | Skills | Testimonials | LinkedIn Profile
Art Director | Creative Director | | Content Creator | Visual Designer | Corporate Trainer | Instructional Designer
Published Books
--> All Aliyah's books and games on Amazon
Working with Aliyah was a blessing. She listened to my higher vision and guided my rewriting with precise suggestions. She truly has the ability to unlock a writer’s potential. Aliyah’s style is sweet and sincere.… “I strongly recommend Aliyah Marr”
Fresh, bold ideas and outlook when it comes to the creative. “Fresh, Bold Ideas”
Sharon Fleischmann
Faculty member at School of Visual Arts
Aliyah is a great teacher who has awakened strengths that have been dormant in me.
“A Great Mentor”
Enrique Leyva
Economist
Amazing talent and super easy to work with. “Be Amazed”
Don Durban
Planet X
Aliyah has a special gift in that she can get to the root of your personal and professional issues very quickly. “Be Empowered”
Mark Ninci
President of SD Tech Services, Chief Technology Officer, MktMetrics
After one session with Aliyah a 50-year old deep emotional trauma was dissolved and in its place is pure love. The process seemed effortless and the sorrow is gone. “After One Session With Aliyah”
Dee H.
I was able to get my answers to my questions and fully understand the steps in learning the product. I was able to stop and ask questions [during the corporate training session], and then repeat… “‘Likely to Recommend’ Score of 10”
Aliyah is a very creative and talented professional that is a joy to work with. “Creative & Results Oriented”
Russell Youngblood
Instructional Technologist at NASCO
…extra-ordinary intuitive insight, years of hands on experience in life coaching. “Solution-Oriented Life Coaching”
Darrell Bell
Independent Transportation Professional
Aliyah helped a dream come true for me—we worked together to launch my first book! I am so grateful for her expertise and commitment to her work. She listens carefully while advising to ensure the best outcome and she stays focused to help reach deadlines. Thank you, Aliyah. “Aliyah helped a dream come true for me…”
Kyra Oliver
Entrepreneur, Founder, and CEO of Your Own Utopia
Knowledgeable with professional publishing techniques; she taught me a lot along the way… “I recommend her!”
Ben Luman
Within a month or so, she had negotiated a TV advertising deal… “She Never Gives Up”
Wesley Negus
Technical Sales Account Manager at Texas Instruments
Skills
Here is a list of my skills. While no one can actually claim guru-level expertise on so many things, I taught motion graphics, video editing, user interface design, and user experience design at Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, and The School of Visual Arts in NYC.
As a design teacher and corporate trainer, I have taught classes in some of the subjects below, or trained clients in some of this software (the topics/software I have taught are marked with an * below). If something isn't listed here, just ask, chances are I know something about it.
- Adobe Creative Cloud*
- Adobe Creative Suite*
- advertising
- After Effects*
- art direction*
- book design
- Adobe Captivate
- brand development
- brand management
- branding
- business creation
- business development
- business strategy
- client management*
- CMS
- communications
- concept development*
- content creation*
- content management
- content strategy
- copywriting
- corporate branding*
- corporate identity
- corporate training
- creative direction
- creative strategy*
- creative writing
- customer service
- digital media
- Director*
- Dreamweaver*
- e-learning publishing
- editing
- Flash*
- graphic design*
- Google Analytics
- illustration*
- Illustrator*
- logo design*
- packaging
- personal branding*
- photography
- Photoshop*
- Premiere*
- print design
- product design
- product development
- product ideation
- public speaking
- publishing
- seminars
- social media manager
- software training
- technical trainer
- typography
- user experience design*
- user interface design*
- video editing*
- video production
- visual design*
- voice-over
- website analysis
- WordPress*
- workshops
