Aala Khlaief
Art Director & Brand Strategist · Tunisia · KSA

AALA KHLAIEF

Building brands that command attention.

7+ years crafting brand identities and campaign systems for leading names across MENA — with deep roots in the Saudi Arabian market.

Available · Open to KSA Relocation · Q2 2026
Tunis, Tunisia  ·  Open to KSA Relocation
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7+ Years Creative Practice
250+ Projects Delivered
Saudi Arabia Market Specialist
Brand Identity & Campaign Direction
Subway · Cinnabon · Neproplast · Colissimo
Riyadh · Tunis · MENA
7+ Years Creative Practice
250+ Projects Delivered
Saudi Arabia Market Specialist
Brand Identity & Campaign Direction
Subway · Cinnabon · Neproplast · Colissimo
Riyadh · Tunis · MENA
Clients & Partners
Subway Saudi Arabia KSA client logo
Cinnabon KSA client logo
Carvel ice cream KSA client logo
Neproplast Saudi Arabia client logo
Colissimo Tunisia client logo
Dekra client logo
Tawuniya Saudi Arabia insurance client logo
Subway Saudi Arabia KSA client logo
Cinnabon KSA client logo
Carvel ice cream KSA client logo
Neproplast Saudi Arabia client logo
Colissimo Tunisia client logo
Dekra client logo
Tawuniya Saudi Arabia insurance client logo

I don't design logos.I build brands.

Strategy
Shapes
Every Mark.

Brand IdentityArt Direction F&B BrandingCampaign Strategy Visual SystemsOutdoor & OOH Social DesignBrand Storytelling

I'm Aala Khlaief — an Art Director and Brand Strategist based in Tunisia, with 7+ years building visual identities and campaign systems that move markets across MENA, with deep specialization in the Saudi Arabian landscape.

My work begins before the first sketch: in the business brief, the audience insight, the competitive white space. I translate strategy into visual systems that don't just look right — they work commercially, scale operationally, and hold meaning over time.

From leading a full studio in Riyadh to directing campaigns for global brands like Subway, Cinnabon, and Carvel, I operate at the intersection of brand thinking and visual craft — bringing both to every project, at every scale.

0+
Years Experience
0
Viral Campaigns
0+
Projects Completed
Tools
Adobe Illustrator · Photoshop · InDesign · After Effects · Premiere Pro
Languages
Arabic (Native) · French (Fluent) · English (Professional)
Capabilities
01
Brand Identity Systems
Full visual identity — logotype, color systems, typography, brand governance
02
Campaign Art Direction
Teaser-to-reveal strategy across social, outdoor, and digital activation
03
F&B & Hospitality
Deep expertise in Saudi F&B — menus, packaging, in-store, social
04
Social Design Systems
Scalable template architectures maintaining brand consistency across platforms
05
Brand Storytelling
Narrative campaigns connecting product with audience through visual language
06
Creative Strategy
Translating business briefs into creative platforms and visual directions
07
OOH & Outdoor
Billboard, DOOH, 3D LED screens and large-format campaign design
08
Team Leadership
Studio management, junior designer training, creative quality control

The New
CreativeArsenal.

Integrating cutting-edge AI tools into every phase of ideation, production, and campaign development

Actively using in production
Nano Banana 2
Image Generation
High-quality AI image synthesis for campaign visuals, key art concepts, and rapid ideation. Used for generating photo-realistic brand environments and product scenarios.
Flux
Image Generation
State-of-the-art image generation model for producing campaign visuals, mood boards, and brand imagery with exceptional detail and style control.
Seedance
Video Generation
AI-driven video creation for social media content, product teasers, and motion campaigns — enabling rapid production of high-quality video assets from static concepts.
Kling
Video Animation
Advanced AI video animation tool for bringing brand visuals to life — transforming static campaign imagery into dynamic motion content for social and digital platforms.

The MethodBehind the Mark.

Every project follows the same strategic foundation — regardless of size or sector

01
Brief & Discover
I start where most designers don't — with the business. Market position, audience behavior, competitive landscape. The brief is interrogated, not just read.
02
Strategy & Concept
One insight becomes one platform. A clear creative direction — with a rationale — before a single visual is made. This is where the work wins or loses.
03
Execution
Design that works at every scale — from a 3D billboard to a 9:16 story. Visual systems built for consistency, not just the hero asset. Production-ready, always.
04
Deliver & Scale
Files, guidelines, and templates structured so any team can run with them. The brand doesn't stop at handoff — it's built to live and grow independently.
Experience
2023 — 20263 Years · Riyadh, KSA
Studio Leader & Art Director
L1X Studio — Saudi Arabia
  • Led the full creative studio — managing briefs, timelines, and visual output across multiple simultaneous clients in the Saudi market
  • Directed all art direction and campaign work for Subway KSA, including the Cheetos x Subway product launch and the Footlong Sidekicks Cookie campaign across social and OOH
  • Developed the Neproplast Water Monster campaign — a phased teaser-reveal concept featuring 3D LED screens that generated widespread organic reach across Saudi Arabia
  • Art directed Cinnabon x Carvel KSA collaboration — in-store digital screens, social media, and product launch materials
  • Built internal design workflows reducing production turnaround by 40% while maintaining premium output quality
KSA · Studio
2021 — 2023Part-time · Present
Art Director — Freelance
Clab Agency — Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Directed social media art direction and visual strategy for regional brands — developing scalable content systems across platforms
  • Created campaign art directions from concept to delivery — mood boards, visual references, and final production-ready assets
  • Collaborated directly with client brand managers, presenting and defending creative strategy in high-stakes agency reviews
  • Continuing as a part-time contributor on selected campaigns and brand projects
KSA · Ongoing
2019 — 20212 Years · Tunisia
Founder & Creative Director
AK Academy & Training — Tunisia
  • Founded an independent creative studio delivering brand identity and campaign work for local and regional clients
  • Developed and delivered structured design training programs for junior designers — covering brand fundamentals, campaign thinking, and professional production standards
  • Managed full client-facing consultancy cycles from strategic brief to final brand delivery
Tunisia · Studio
Education
Master's Degree
Multimedia & Web Services
Master's Program · Tunisia

Featured
Work

Campaign direction and brand systems for global names in KSA and MENA

Drag to explore
Cheetos x Subway product launch campaign art direction by Aala Khlaief, Art Director Riyadh Saudi Arabia
01
3.2k views
Collab Launch · KSA
CHEETOS
x SUBWAY
Subway KSA — L1X Studio, Riyadh
Product launch art direction for the iconic Cheetos x Subway collaboration — social media and outdoor formats in Saudi Arabia.
View on Behance
Cinnabon x Carvel KSA collaboration campaign by Aala Khlaief, Brand Strategist Saudi Arabia
02
2.8k views
F&B Collab · KSA
CINNABON
x CARVEL
Cinnabon KSA — L1X Studio, Riyadh
Art direction for the Cinnabon x Carvel collaboration — in-store screens, social content, and product visuals for the Saudi market.
View on Behance
Subway Footlong Sidekicks Cookie campaign social media and OOH design by Aala Khlaief, Art Director KSA
03
2.1k views
Product Launch · Social + OOH
SUBWAY
FOOTLONG SIDEKICKS
Subway KSA — L1X Studio, Riyadh
Full social media art direction and outdoor campaign for the Footlong Sidekicks Cookie launch across Saudi Arabia.
View on Behance
Reframed Wisdom brand campaign for Colissimo Tunisia by Aala Khlaief Art Director
04
1.7k views
Social + Outdoor · Independent
REFRAMED
WISDOM
Colissimo Tunisia — AK Studio
Independent campaign for Colissimo, reframing wisdom quotes through the lens of fast delivery — social and outdoor billboards.
View on Behance
Neproplast Water Monster viral campaign Saudi Arabia 3D LED screen by Aala Khlaief Art Director Riyadh
05
4.6k views
Viral Campaign · Teaser + 3D OOH
NEPROPLAST
WATER MONSTER
Neproplast KSA — L1X Studio, Riyadh
Phased teaser-to-reveal campaign that went viral across Saudi Arabia — featuring 3D LED screen activations and a creature narrative.
View Full Portfolio
250+
All work on
BEHANCE
Explore All
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I contribute premium PSD mockups and AI assets to Freepik — production-ready files built for designers and agencies, including Saudi-market specific human mockups and device templates. Every file is fully layered and ready to use.

Freepik Contributor
Saudi Man Smartphone Mockup
AI Mockup · Premium
Saudi Man
Smartphone
Isolated · Phone screen mockup
Saudi Man Tablet Mockup
AI Mockup · Premium
Saudi Man
Tablet & Table
Conference · Tablet screen mockup
Silver Laptop Pedestal Mockup
PSD Mockup · Premium
Silver Laptop
Pedestal
Studio setup · Layered PSD
Phone 17 Pro Mockup
PSD Mockup · Premium
Phone 17 Pro
Dark Studio
Rock setting · Layered PSD

Let's
Build
Together.

Available for new projects

Open to Art Direction and Brand Strategy roles — full-time in KSA or project-based across MENA.