WELCOME TO MADE BY MARIANA
About Me.
I'm Mariana Bakus, an advertising student who thinks in systems and writes with intention. I don't start with how something looks; I start with what's happening in culture and work backwards. My best ideas come from weird rabbit holes and figuring out how a brand can live inside that moment without forcing it. To continue learning outside of class, I analyze advertising, film, and cultural trends. Outside the creative bubble, you’ll find me lost in music, film, or a random history rabbit hole. Scroll to see more of me!
⚡ QUICK FACTS
⚡My friend almost drowned me when I was 10 as she was trying to lift herself out of the water
⚡I know a ridiculous number of pop culture references
⚡I go through phases of obsession: Pilates, yoga, cycling, and old Hollywood movies, with my current one being tennis
⚡I'm a good writer; the first job I ever wanted was to be a journalist
⚡I had a 12th-grade reading level in 7th grade
⚡I had almost 100,000 listening minutes on Spotify last year
⭐ EDUCATION
Michigan State University, 2024-2027
Bachelor of Science in Advertising Management
Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Dean's List Scholar
☀️ THINGS I LIKE
🎸MUSIC (favorite artist is Bob Dylan, favorite song is "Diamonds and Rust" by Joan Baez)
🌿 Walks in nature
🌊 Swimming
🚵 Biking
🎾 Tennis
🎬 Movies (favorite movies are Almost Famous & Inception)
📺 TV (favorite TV shows are Succession & Breaking Bad)
🌵 SKILLS
Microsoft Office Suite 🌵 Google Workspace 🌵 Canva 🌵 CapCut 🌵 Clipchamp 🌵 Figma 🌵 Adobe Creative Suite 🌵 Photoshop 🌵 Audition 🌵 Premiere Pro 🌵 HTML 🌵 CSS 🌵 SPSS 🌵
Brand Strategy 🤠 Copywriting 🤠 Editorial Writing 🤠 Consumer Insight 🤠 Cultural Research 🤠 Trend Analysis 🤠 Competitive Analysis 🤠 Social Media 🤠 Qualitative Research 🤠 Quantitative Analysis 🤠 Brand Voice Alignment 🤠 Campaign Concepting 🤠 Data Coding & Categorization 🤠 Attention to Detail 🤠 Customer Service 🤠 Presenting 🤠
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PORTFOLIO FEATURES
My portfolio includes a range of mock-up advertising campaigns and designs that showcase my abilities in areas such as campaign development, branding, and visual communication. Each project reflects my passion for bold ideas, thoughtful strategy, and creative storytelling.
01.
Campaign Development
Creating integrated campaigns that connect with audiences across digital and traditional channels.
02.
Brand Strategy/Projects
Developing positioning frameworks and brand architectures that differentiate in crowded markets. Creating unique and impactful brand identities.
03.
Visual Communication Designs
Creating visual communication designs that showcase my creativity in conveying messages through visual elements.
MY PROJECTS
