About
Chris Avantaggio is a freelance Creative Director with a passion for great brands and big ideas. He has over 15 years of advertising industry experience creating impactful work with measured results. Specializing in art direction and design, he is an enthusiastic problem solver and creative collaborator with strong consideration for striking visuals — he was named one of Business Insider’s 30 Under 30 most creative people in Advertising. His ideas have built a local Maine agency into a national powerhouse with award winning creative thinking and innovative use of media.
Never one to sit still, he also founded and operates the trademarked Maine lifestyle brand LiveME® as a celebration of his home state of Maine. Since 2009 it has become one New England’s most iconic bumper stickers — with thousands of products sold in retail locations across Maine and swag shipped to every state in the USA.
EXPERIENCE
Avantaggio Creative, Scarborough, ME
Creative Director/Founder (2024 – Present)
LiveME®, Portland, ME
Creative Director/Founder (2009 – Present)
The VIA Agency, Portland, ME
Creative Director (2020 – 2024)
Associate Creative Director (2012 – 2020)
Senior Art Director (2010-2012)
Art Director (November 2007 – 2010)
Ad Age's 2011 & 2018 Small Agency of the Year
MAKE: Portland, ME
Art Director Freelance (May 2007 – November 2007)
Crispin Porter + Bogusky, Boulder Colorado
Art Director Intern (January 2007 – May 2007)
EDUCATION
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (2002 – 2006)
B.A. Creative Advertising
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Buisiness Insider - 30 Under 30 Most Creative In Advertising
AdWeek - 50 Creatives Whose Brilliant Ideas and Beautiful Craft Will Make You Jealous
Yankee Magazine - 10 iconic bumper stickers you are bound to spy on a New England road trip.
One Show
Luerzer's Archive
Hatch
Communication Arts
How Design
Draplin Design Co. “Pretty Much Everything”