DESIGN MANAGER, REFINE · DUBAI, UAE

John
Martin

Art director and brand-builder working across identity, campaigns and film, currently leading design at a Dubai real estate developer.

[NICE TO MEET YOU] 「 കാണാൻ സന്തോഷം 」 [SCROLL DOWN]

ജോൺ
An Art Director
& Brand Builder
bornin Kerala
Nowbasedin Dubai

Though raised in Kerala, I spent my early career building brands across India before moving to the Gulf, then a stint directing digital creative for clients in Canada. Six years on, I lead the design function at a Dubai real estate developer, translating business goals into brands people trust.

6-8 · FOLIO OF JOHN    ·    EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR 2025
24 UNIQUE PROJECTS OVER 3 COUNTRIES [AND COUNTING]
Brand Systems
Uniquely Built On
namingandcraft

വിശ്വാസം
[01]
Experiential Craftsmanship

Driven by the belief that a brand shapes how people feel before they read a single word, my goal has always been to turn naming, identity and visual systems into something market-ready and quietly memorable.

[02]
Thoughtful Direction

Design is a bridge between business intent and human trust. Every project I lead is rooted in listening first, whether that's a leadership brief or a director's shot list, and shaped with intention from naming through to final cut.

[MY OFFERINGS]
Expertise
andSkills

Bridging brand strategy and craft, my practice moves between naming, identity systems, campaign direction and hands-on video/CGI production. The aim stays the same across every project: brands that feel considered, not generic.

01Art DirectionRELATED WORK ↓
02Brand IdentityREFINE
03Campaign StrategyVAI MARKETING
04CGI & AI VisualsREFINE
05Video & Colour GradeSANFORD ME
06Creative LeadershipREFINE
Built
Bold

കല
Made
Human
[MY WORK REVOLVES AROUND 3 PRIMARY OBJECTIVES]
[01]
Brand Clarity

Turning naming, identity and visual systems into brands that market-launch teams can actually sell with.

[02]
Creative Leadership

Directing designers and external creative teams so every touchpoint, print to film, tells one consistent story.

[03]
Craft in Production

Staying hands-on in CGI, AI-assisted visuals and colour-graded film, so the craft never gets lost in the strategy.

[COMPANIES I'VE BUILT BRANDS FOR]
Some of My
good Partners
REFINE
VAI MARKETING MANAGEMENT
SANFORD MIDDLE EAST DWC
MONEETIZE — CEIF
LEROC MEDIA SERVICES
RADWORX MEDIA SERVICES
[MY CAREER SO FAR]
The prequel
to Today

The story so far — from Kerala to Dubai, with a detour through Canada, and wherever else good brands are being built.

2026 — NOWRefineDESIGN MANAGER
2024 — 2025RefineMULTIMEDIA DESIGNER
2024Moneetize — CEIFJUNIOR ART DIRECTOR
2022 — 2024VAI MarketingSENIOR CREATIVE DESIGNER
2021 — 2022Sanford ME DWCCINEMATOGRAPHER / EDITOR
2020Leroc MediaSENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
2019Radworx MediaGRAPHIC DESIGNER