A close-up black and white photo of a man with a long, curly beard wearing clear eyeglasses and a knitted hat, standing indoors near a door and a framed picture on the wall.

“PLAN with clarity. BUILD with integrity. and always stay curious.”

SHAUN O’ROURKE

Creative Director, brand architect, and founder of Black Irish, a remote-first creative studio known for transforming complex ideas into brands, products, and experiences people believe in.

With a career spanning startups through Fortune 500 organizations, Shaun partners closely with founders, executives, product leaders, and marketing teams to clarify vision, align strategy, and bring ideas to life, primarily when those ideas don’t yet fully exist. His work sits at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and execution, ensuring that design is not just visually compelling but commercially effective.

Close-up of two playing cards, the Jack of Clubs and the Queen of Clubs, with the Queen showing her face and hand gesture, on a black background.
Black and white photo of a brick wall with graffiti and a neon sign that reads 'ALL WE HAVE IS NOW'.

Driven by passion

Recognized for his collaborative leadership style, calm presence, and ability to guide initiatives from early concept through launch and scale. Works seamlessly across disciplines including design, product, and marketing, acting as a connective force that turns ambition into action and strategy into tangible results.

As a founder, Shaun brings an entrepreneurial mindset to every engagement. He understands timelines, budgets, stakeholders, and the real-world pressures teams face. He is known for delivering clarity where things feel uncertain, momentum where projects stall, and credibility where brands need to earn trust.

Shaun’s approach to design is both human-centered and outcome-driven. He believes great creative work should do more than look good, it should make sense, solve problems, and move organizations forward. Whether launching a new product, evolving a brand, or leading creative direction across digital platforms, his focus remains consistent: create work that feels real, resonates emotionally, and performs in the market.

Remote By Design

“I work best with organizations that value collaboration, thoughtful execution, and design as a strategic advantage. Remote by design and globally experienced, I am open to national and international opportunities where creative leadership, clarity, and follow-through matter.”

- Shaun O’Rourke

Night view looking up at the sky with a building's facade and balconies below. The building has illuminated windows and brick exterior, and there is a metal staircase on the right side of the image.

CORE EXPERTISE & ATS

Creative Direction · Brand Strategy · Visual Identity Systems · Design Leadership · Cross-Functional Collaboration · Product Storytelling · Go-To-Market Creative · UX/UI Collaboration · Digital Design · Design Systems · Remote Team Leadership · Stakeholder Alignment · Concept-to-Launch Execution

“an exceptional creative director and art director-one of those rare talents who can translate strategy into world-class creative with clarity, taste, and consistency.”

—Steve Luttmann

A black mug with a skull design sitting on a wooden surface near a vintage radio, with a lake and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.
Black and white photo of a metal dish drying rack with a glass underneath on a wooden surface.
Close-up of a worn, peeling sticker on a black metal post with a city street in the background featuring buildings, cars, and blurred lights.
Old red wooden door with peeling paint on a red wooden wall, with shadows from string lights cast on the wall.
Torn and damaged parking or warning sign attached to a textured wall that is painted in turquoise and beige. The sign has text and images that are not fully legible, with additional smaller stickers or posters, including one featuring a person wearing sunglasses and a helmet.
A collage of various photos and handwritten notes on a wall, including a black-and-white vintage movie poster, a photograph of a young man in a leather jacket, and several handwritten messages and signatures.