Austin Ripmaster
Portland,OR
Summary
Visionary leader with almost 20 years of experience shaping global brands through a balance of strategy, creativity, and cultural insight. Expert in brand architecture, creative direction, and marketing systems that scale—delivering board-level strategy with street-level impact. Builds world-class teams, mentors next-gen talent, and translates complexity into clarity across luxury, lifestyle, and consumer markets.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Brand/Executive Creative Director
Lucchese Bootmaker
Dallas, TX
01.2022 - Current
- Lead a team of 17 across Brand, Marketing, Creative, Digital Commerce, Media, and Advertising.
- Developed and led an in-house creative studio encompassing design, art, copy, visual merchandising, UX/UI, concept mapping, and creative strategy.
- Defined brand architecture and positioning for a 143-year-old American icon brand.
- Concepted and directed cinematic campaigns and editorial narratives celebrating craft, heritage, culture, and style.
- Built integrated content and media programs with cut-through storytelling and art direction.
- Elevated customer experience through bespoke programs, collaborations, and omni-channel retail.
- Sit as one of five members of our Executive C-suite, with regular engagement, direct input, and reporting to our Board of Directors.
- Overseen a 4x increase in revenue.
Chief Design Officer
Space Machine Inc.
Portland, OR
01.2019 - Current
- Founded and scaled a future-thinking consultancy focused on brand, design, and creative strategy.
- Delivered insight-led, human-centered solutions for global clients, including Nike, Motorola, and Aspen Ski Co. among others.
- Led enterprise-level brand transformations, innovation sprints and cultural positioning strategies.
- Mentored creative teams and developed frameworks to integrate design thinking at an enterprise level.
Director of Brand Marketing
Adidas
Portland , OR
06.2015 - 12.2018
- Headed brand communications for a North American business unit, overseeing marketing strategy, activation, media, retail, insights, and creative.
- Managed a $20M+ annual marketing budget, external agency relationships, and managed a 25-person integrated team across four countries.
- Directed key city strategies for NYC and LA, driving business transformation and cultural relevance.
- Developed partnerships and activations with KITH, 424 Fairfax, and other top specialty retailers.
Global Brand Management
Nike, Inc
Beaverton , OR
05.2011 - 08.2014
- Supported global brand and creative strategy implementation across seven key markets.
- Developed integrated campaigns and activation programs for major product launches.
- Contributed to digital experience project “The Chance,” driving global engagement.
Education
Master of Science - Strategic Design & Management
Parsons School of Design
Paris, France05-2018
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA05-2002
Skills
- Executive leadership
- Brand strategy and architecture
- Marketing
- Creative direction
- Art direction
- Content strategy
- Advertising and media expertise
- Retail management
- Product collaborations
- Customer and cultural insights
- Trend forecasting
- Design thinking
- Talent development
Languages
French
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Professional
Timeline
Vice President, Brand/Executive Creative Director
Lucchese Bootmaker
01.2022 - Current
Chief Design Officer
Space Machine Inc.
01.2019 - Current
Director of Brand Marketing
Adidas
06.2015 - 12.2018
Global Brand Management
Nike, Inc
05.2011 - 08.2014
Master of Science - Strategic Design & Management
Parsons School of Design
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
University of California, Berkeley