Leilanni Todd is a creative director and digital artist with nearly two decades of experience across advertising, fashion, and emerging technology. She has led award-winning campaigns for agencies including Mother NY, Droga5, TBWA\ Media Arts Lab, and Squarespace, creating work with Apple, Airbnb, Google, Nike, The New York Times, among others.
In 2022, she created Floam World—a surreal cinematic universe where humor and absurdity collide. In 2025, she was named the inaugural Creative AI Pioneer by The One Show, and she is an adjunct professor at NYU Tisch, teaching Generative AI for Virtual Production at NYU’s Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center.
Floam World & AI Practice
In 2022, Todd created Floam World—an ongoing surreal universe where humor, absurdity, and visual excess collide, and the sentient “Floam” rule all.
Her practice spans experimental film, digital fashion, 3D animation, and world-building.
In 2024, her short AI film Everyone is Chair screened at the Tribeca Festival in New York.
Recognition
Todd’s work has been widely recognized across the art, fashion, and advertising industries. Her projects have been featured in Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, The New York Times, Wired, Fast Company, and It’s Nice That among others.
She has earned accolades at major award shows including Cannes Lions, D&AD, The One Show, The Clios, The Effies, The Webbys, Ad Age, and Adweek.
In 2025, she was awarded the inaugural Creative AI Pioneer Gold Pencil (Individual) by The One Show.
Teaching & Speaking
Todd is an adjunct professor at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she teaches Generative AI for Virtual Production in the Master of Professional Studies program at the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center, a new facility dedicated to the future of filmmaking and storytelling.
She also speaks on AI in advertising, film, and creative practices, exploring how new tools are reshaping the art of storytelling.
CURRENT:
PART-TIME EDUCATOR
Adjunct Professor, NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Spring 2025 Semester
Special Topics: Generative AI for Virtual Production.
Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Virtual Production Program at the Martin Scorsese Virtual Production Center.
CURRENT:
CREATIVE DIRECTION, FREELANCE AND CONSULTING
Airbnb, Apple, Droga5 Accenture, Google, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, RGA, NIKE, PUMA, IPSY, Penfolds and various film and entertainment properties.
TBWA\Media Arts Lab, LA / Creative Director
Squarespace, New York / Creative Director
Droga5, New York / Associate Creative Director
Mother New York / Senior Creative
Chandelier, New York / Senior Creative
LEILANNI, Toronto / Fashion Designer & Founder
Gee, Jeffery & Partners, Toronto / Art Director
Ogilvy & Mather, Toronto / Art Director
PREVIOUS:
FULL-TIME EXPERIENCE
Ontario College of Art & Design. Art Direction
Toronto, Ontario
Ontario College of Art & Design.
5th-year Advanced Thesis, Fine Art Studies
Florence, Italy
George Brown College. Fashion & Technology
Toronto, Ontario
EDUCATION
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Airbnb
Apple
Apple #ShotOniPhone
Apple iPad
Carly Rae Jepsen
Club Monaco
Dove Hair & Skin
Google
IPSY
Lil’ Yachty
MAC Cosmetics, Viva Glam
MailChimp
No.7
Old Navy
Penfolds
PoolSuite Grand Leisure
PUMA
Rovio
Sesame Street
Stella Artois
Squarespace
Target
TargetStyle
The New Museum
The New York Times
Victoria Beckham
Winona Ryder
YouTube -
Cornell Tech 2025
MediaTech Panel: AI-Driven Content Creation.
From Assistance to Co-Creation
PanelistTribeca Festival 2024
AI Shorts Program
Panelist
Screening: Everyone is ChairSLMBR PRTY x NYU Production Lab October 24, 2024
“AI for Artists: Friend or Foe?”
Panelist
Screening: Everyone is ChairSignals 2024
Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) & DigiBC
Screening: Everyone is Chair & Delivery Included
FILE 2024 | Aesthetic Synthetics
International Electronic Language Festival
QUBIT AI: Leilanni Todd
Screening: Floating -
Non-exclusive representation:
Runway’s Talent Network
The Gardening Club
.Monks (formerly Media Monks)
ZUKUNFT
Creative Partner Programs with the following:
Runway CPP
LUMA CPP
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ONE SHOW
Gold - Under 100k Budget - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Silver - Television Short Form - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Silver - Online Film Short Form - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Bronze - In-House: Agency-Initiated & Originated Projects - Squarespace
Bronze - ADC Awards Photography - Squarespace “Welcome to Winona”
Merit - Craft / Sound Design - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Merit - Interactive and Online / Single - Squarespace “A Cautionary Tale”
Shortlist - Moving Image Craft - Direction - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Shortlist - Online-only Video / Single - Squarespace “A Cautionary Tale”
D&AD
Graphite Pencil - TV Commercial - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Graphite Pencil - Art Direction / Film -The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Wood Pencil - Tactical Film Advertising - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Shortlist - Film Advertising / Writing for Film Advertising - Squarespace “A Cautionary Tale”
Shortlist - Film Advertising / VOD Commercials over 30 seconds - Squarespace “A Cautionary Tale”
CANNES LIONS
Bronze Lion - Sound Design - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Bronze Lion - Breakthrough on a Budget - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
Shortlist - Corporate Purpose & Responsibility - The New York Times “The Long Fight”
CLIOS
Bronze - Copywriting - product & Service - Squarespace “A Cautionary Tale”
WEBBYS
Webby Award - People's Voice - Video Scripted - Squarespace “A Cautionary Tale”
Webby Award - People’s Voice - Advertising, Media & PR -Squarespace “A Cautionary Tale”
Honoree - Advertising, Media & PR / Integrated Campaign 2020 - Squarespace “A Cautionary Tale”
AD AGE
Agency of the Year - In-house - Squarespace, 2020
Agency of the Year - Droga5, 2019
Agency of the Decade - Droga5, 2010-2019
Creativity Pick of the Day - Squarespace - A Cautionary Tale
Creativity Pick of the Day - Squarespace - Welcome to Winona
Creativity Pick of the Day - The New York Times - The Truth has a Voice
Creativity Pick of the Day - The New York Times - The Truth Will Not be Overlooked
Creativity Pick of the Day - Mailchimp - Brains
LURZER’S ARCHIVE
Spot of the Week - The New York Times - The Truth has a Voice
THE EFFIES
Bronze 2019 - Software & Apps - The Brain
SHOTS AWARDS
2021 Bronze Agency of the Year - Squarespace -
Welcome to Winona, Squarespace
Vogue Magazine , People Magazine, Adage, Adweek, The Drum, Wired
A Cautionary Tale, Squarespace
Adage, FastCompany, It’s Nice That, MusebyClio, Communication Arts, Shots, The Drum, Shootonline
The Long Fight, The New York Times
Adage, Shoot
The Truth Has a Voice, The New York Times
Adage, Adage, Adweek, The Independent UK, Digiday, Fast Company, EOnline, Business Insider, Washington Post, It’s Nice That
Mailchimp Presents, Mailchimp
Variety, DigiDay, The Drum, It’s Nice That, It’s Nice That
Angry Birds
Adweek, Engadget, CampaignUS, HypeBeast, npr, IGN, Muse
More in Store, Target
Glamour Magazine, Architectural Digest, CNBC, Refinery29,
Victoria Beckham, Target
Vogue Magazine , Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle Magazine, Allure Magazine, Glamour Magazine, US Magazine, People Magazine, EOnline, Bustle, USA Today, Refinery29