Today we’d like to introduce you to Aline Elmurr.
Aline, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story is one of bridges—between cultures, languages, and continents. While I was born and raised in the United States, my family’s roots are in Lebanon. In the 8th grade, my life took a pivotal turn when we moved back to Beirut. It was there that I truly discovered my heritage, learned Arabic and French, and developed a multicultural lens that defines my creative perspective today.
After earning my BA in Graphic Design and an MA in Media Studies, I began a career that has spanned over 20 years, including roles as an Art Director at several multinational advertising agencies and teaching design at the college level. However, the most transformative chapter began when my husband, Samer, and I moved to Yemen for work.
Living in Yemen was a beautiful culture shock and remains one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. It was there that Samer and I realized our combined talents—his in market research and mine in branding—could offer something unique to the world. In 2010, we co-founded Platform, a visual communications agency built on the belief that effective communication must be rooted in deep cultural and market understanding.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Building a business is never a straight line, but doing so in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region brought a unique set of challenges. We successfully established Platform in Lebanon, Yemen, and Morocco, working on everything from peace-building and social development projects to brand identities, advertising campaigns, and media monitoring for private and governmental sectors.
However, political instability in the region eventually forced us to make a difficult choice. While our heart for our international work remained, we decided to relocate our family and our headquarters to the United States for a more stable future. Moving an established agency and starting over in a new market was a challenge, but it also allowed us to bring a global perspective to a more local, personal level.
Today, Platform is proud to call Jefferson, Georgia, home.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the Co-Founder and Creative Director at Platform. We are a visual communications agency that offers a range of graphic design services to businesses of all sizes. We specialize in creating full branding systems—not just a logo, but a cohesive identity that allows a business to communicate clearly and effectively. What sets us apart is our research-heavy approach; we don’t just design, we investigate to ensure every pixel is backed by an understanding of the target market.
A core part of my identity as a founder is our “Design for Good” initiative, where we find creative ways to give back to the community. In addition to providing design work for many non-profit organizations, I currently serve as an Admin Assistant and Social Media Manager at Jefferson Middle School (JMS), where I’m able to provide professional design services to the school system. I collaborate directly with the PTO, school clubs and classes on real-world design projects, such as creating custom spirit wear. I also love stepping into the classroom as a guest speaker for entrepreneurship classes, sharing my 20 years of industry experience to inspire the next generation of creators and business leaders.
Whether I am working with a student club, a local non-profit, or a multinational corporation, I believe that every organization deserves a strong platform to tell its story.
Any big plans?
Our future is about deepening our roots right here in Greater Atlanta and Jackson County. As an active member of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, my goal is to continue helping small businesses and local non-profits find their voice and compete on a professional stage.
We plan to expand our “Design for Good” initiative, partnering with more educational institutions and community-driven organizations to ensure that “good causes” always have “great design.” For us, Platform isn’t just about business—it’s about using our 20 years of global experience to empower the community we now call home.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.platformagency.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/platformagency
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/platformagency
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/platform-agency
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aline-elmurr
Image Credits
Ansleigh T Photography
