EMPATHY IS MY SUPER STRENGTH.
DETAIL IS THE MUSCLE I USE TO FLEX IT.
I am an Editor in Belief.
My name is Maddie Black and I’m a creative strategist, copywriter, creative director and Editor in Chief of Outspoken Magazine.
I like to describe myself as someone who is not only meticulous with my eyes, but with my heart. While belief drives me to tell tales of identity, my intricacy (or “editor eye”) helps me see the core of who someone is. Editor in Belief is not just a clever play on words, it’s a lifestyle.
For me, that lifestyle all started when I first came out of the womb.
It was on January 21st 2004 and it was a very cold day as some of us Aquarius babies are well aware of (♒️).
As my parents recall, I did not cry at all when I was born. Trust me, that’s not an exaggeration, but a fact. They tell me this all the time.
Even in the midst of the brutal cold, I did not shed a tear. Instead, I smiled.
That smile is what makes me who I am. It’s the key to unlocking the smiles of everyone I encounter.
Much of being an empath has made me a detail-oriented person. I am aware of what people are feeling and what they might say before they even say it.
But speaking from a technical standpoint, being meticulous is something that’s helped me significantly when it comes to strategy, copy, creative direction, and my magazine.
In the end, detail isn’t just something I see with my eyes, but with my heart.
That’s why I call myself an Editor in Belief.
However, I don’t just apply that title to my personal life…
From working with brands like Adidas, Spotify, and Diageo, being an Editor in Belief travels with me no matter what I do.
Here are some projects I’ve worked on so far:
HOW I FOUND MY “EDITOR”
From October 2022 to March 2023, I was apart of D&AD Shift New York: a Google - led night school on design and advertisement. Through this program, I found what made me an Editor. I had the opportunity to work on creative briefs for Adidas, Spotify and Diageo. As a result, I gained skills in creative strategy, copywriting, and creative direction.
Client
Adidas
Year
2022
My Role
Creative Strategist, Copywriter, Creative Director.
Ask
Create a strategy for locally led programming around the Women’s World Cup in New York City, using retail, digital and social to celebrate women’s soccer.
Insight
Gen Z and Millennials believe they are the trailblazers who will make the world a better place.
Idea
In this game of life, Gen Z and Millennials are lighting the fire with every kick they take towards the goal of a better future. The trailblazers are coming. Impossible is nothing.
Client
Spotify
Year
2022
My Role
Creative Strategist and Copywriter
Ask
Find ways to encourage new and current Spotify users to engage with and discover the world of Audiobooks.
Insight
Gen Z are the explorers of the new age in all kinds of audio. This generation learns more about themselves through what they listen to.
Idea
The world of audiobooks on Spotify gives Gen-Z the opportunity to explore more of what they love, and more of who they are. Spotify: Explore more.(Winning Brief💅🏾)
Client
Guinness Zero (Diageo)
Year
2022
My Role
Creative Strategist and Copywriter
Ask
Bring new drinkers into the Guinness family through new occasions, using our Guinness 0.0 offering
Insight
This generation of Gen-z and Millennials are more conscious of their drinking habits. According to the insider, 56% of millennials consider themselves mindful drinkers compared to 37% of baby boomers and older generations.
Idea
Whether it’s a casual occasion or an event to remember, Guinness 0.0 proves that less alcohol doesn't mean lack. Less is more.
How I found my “belief”
Prior to my experience with D&AD Shift, I was immersed in the world of theatre and film. I was accepted into Exploring the Arts for acting and participated in Kashif Incubator’s Inaugural cohort of The Brownsville Initiative. This was how I found my Belief. From film production to script writing, I learned that no matter how big of a career transition I make, I am a storyteller who should have faith in the stories I want to tell.
Exploring the Arts (Sept 2018 - June 2022)
As an honorary alumni of Exploring the Arts (a non-profit organization created by Tony Bennett), studying theater helped me understand the importance of breathing life into the stories I portray.
With acting, I had to believe in every person I embodied. Theater helped me understand that a story isn’t just something you write on paper or edit for a video. It’s what you live and breathe.
Through this program, I took a variety of theater classes from improvisation to screenwriting (along with career-building skills).
“Alone together”
Collaborative video I produced and co wrote with my cohort dedicated to performing artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. (click on picture to watch)
Kashif Incubator (August 2022)
In August of 2022 (fresh out of high school graduation), I was selected to be a part of the inaugural cohort of the The Brownsville Initiative. This workshop was a 3 week film program created by Kashif Incubator: a production company whose done projects like First Match on Netflix.
During this program, I created my own short film called “AVA” with the help of my co-creators, Jesse Roman and Angel King.
This program was my first introduction to telling stories around the Black youth experience.
“AVA”
Me on the set directing “AVA” (click on picture to watch)
Sista Brunch Podcast
Created by producer, actress, and activist Fanshen Cox , Sista Brunch gives a platform for Black women in all forms of media to tell their experiences and stories (in journalism, film, content creation, etc.).
I was given the opportunity to edit short clips to post on Instagram and Youtube in order to gain traction for the podcast and amplify the stories each woman told.
