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Kiasma, Contemporary Art Museum, Helsinki
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“Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that's why it is so complicated.”  PAUL RAND

I'm currently a Creative Director, with over 15 years of experience in visual storytelling across luxury fashion, beauty, and fragrance. My work includes Creative, Visual Merchandising, and Store Design — shaping brand experiences that are both emotionally engaging and commercially effective.

With a deep understanding of aesthetics and consumer behavior, I merge artistic vision with strategic thinking to craft immersive environments and compelling brand narratives. Passionate about the details and driven by purpose, I believe in the power of creativity to elevate both brand identity and business impact.

My name is Elena d'Auria

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I am currently the Creative Director for Tom Ford Beauty and Balmain Beauty in North America, leading the region’s Creative, Visual Merchandising, and Store Design strategy. I manage a team of designers, supervise the creative operations of the region and oversee internal and external agencies, leading the execution of the projects across all retail touch-points.

I am also in charge of the region’s promotional and design budget, managing several million dollars in annual investment, to ensure strategic, brand-aligned allocation across all creative, VM and retail initiatives.

My role is fully 360°, encompassing every aspect of execution: from setting the creative direction, defining the color palette, materials, and aesthetic in alignment with global guidelines, to asset selection and invitation design (both physical and digital). I oversee floral direction, vendor collaboration for buildouts and custom furniture, and coordinate directly with retailers and installers to ensure flawless in-store execution. I also work closely with internal teams to secure stock, product displays, staff training, and education support.

From site surveys to final installation and on-site supervision, I manage every detail, including the final selection of photographers to document setups and events.

Previously, I held a similar role for Kilian Paris and Éditions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, where I focused on the fusion of art and luxury in fragrance. Prior to that, I spent several years at Parfums Christian Dior in New York, directing Visual Merchandising and Retail Experience across skincare, makeup, and fragrance. I led concept-to-execution for in-store animations and installations.

Earlier in my career, I was based in Paris as a Retail International Architect for Dior, overseeing global store design and rollouts.

I began my professional journey as a Retail Design and Merchandising Designer at L’Oréal Luxe in Paris.

I hold a Master’s in Industrial Design (highest honors) from the Strate College, in Paris, with a focus on Branding, Packaging, and Retail Design, and a Bachelor’s in Industrial Design (109/110) from the Politecnico di Torino, specialized in Product and Graphic Design.

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TOM FORD | AW 2024 RUNWAY LIVESTREAM, Creative Direction

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TOM FORD | 2024 OSCAR'S BEAUTY SUITE, Creative Direction

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TOM FORD | 2025 OSCAR'S BEAUTY SUITE, Creative Direction

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TOM FORD I OOH OMBRÉ LEATHER CAMPAIGN, Creative Direction

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TOM FORD I EVENT KIT CONCEPT, Visual Merchandising

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TOM FORD | ROSE EXPOSED, Visual Merchandising & Experiential Design

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FREDERIC MALLE I ARMORY SHOW & PR DINNER, Creative Direction

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TOM FORD I SEPHORA GONDOLA DESIGN, Visual Merchandising

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BALMAIN I POP UP DESIGN, Visual Merchandising & Experiential Design

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BALMAIN I FRAGRANCE CONFIDENTIAL PRESS PREVIEW, Creative Direction

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BALMAIN I SPECIAL EDITION HAND-PAINTED BOTTLES, Creative Direction

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BALMAIN I OLFACTIVE SCULPTURES, Creative Direction

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DIOR I TIMES SQUARE TAKEOVER, Creative Direction

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DIOR I MISS DIOR NYC POP UP, Creative Direction & Experiential Design

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DIOR I MISS DIOR LA POP UP, Creative Direction & Experiential Design

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