Madison Leigh Absher
Madison operates at the intersection of design strategy and production leadership—where creativity meets logistics and vision meets real-world execution.
She began her career at Bombshell Productions, a woman-owned experiential studio, as a producer before transitioning into the design department. That dual foundation shaped her leadership style: empathetic to timelines, fluent in budgets, and instinctive in anticipating challenges before they surface. Today, she manages the full creative lifecycle: from early client conversations and estimating to design execution, asset governance, fabrication-ready file development, and on-site installation oversight.
Prior to Bombshell, Madison spent three years at Absher Design Group as Studio Manager and Multimedia Graphic Designer, supporting nonprofits, galas, and fundraising campaigns through cross-channel branding and production services. That experience strengthened her belief that design should serve more than aesthetics—it should serve people.
Her early career in film production, working with Paramount Pictures, Fox Searchlight, Netflix, and Happy Madison Productions after graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design, instilled a disciplined understanding of visual storytelling. In film, every frame matters. In experiential design, every detail carries the same responsibility.
At Bombshell, Madison leads environmental graphics, wayfinding systems, cross-platform visual ecosystems, and fabrication-ready design across luxury, enterprise, and nonprofit activations. Whether reviewing CNC files, refining color specifications, or troubleshooting vinyl on install day, she ensures creative intent translates seamlessly into physical space.
She was a key contributor and co-producer of the award-recognized FENDI Caffè installations in Miami’s Design District (2021–2022), projects that earned honors from Event Marketer, Chief Marketer and the American Advertising Federation. Beyond design, she plays an active role in award submissions, vendor coordination, and cross-department alignment—bridging creative ambition with operational accountability.
Madison is recognized for building scalable visual systems, mentoring cross-functional teams, and delivering high-impact activations that elevate brand storytelling while respecting scope and resources. What sets her apart, however, is her commitment to partnership. She believes experiential design is relational, not transactional. Clear communication, steady presence under pressure, and consistent follow-through turn one project into long-term collaboration.
She supports nonprofit initiatives, values mentorship, and believes creativity should serve both commerce and community. While her work is strategic and precise, there is always a throughline of personality—an appreciation for bold character, thoughtful detail, and design that feels unmistakably itself. (Yes, that philosophy extends to her lifelong love of charismatic dachshunds.)
Madison believes great design is not only seen—it functions, connects, and endures. She is committed to advancing experiential marketing through thoughtful innovation, creating environments that are as strategically sound as they are emotionally resonant. Whether leading large-scale activations or mentoring emerging creatives, she is guided by the belief that the most powerful work leaves people—and partnerships—stronger than it found them.
• Savannah College of Art & Design - BFA in Film & Television
• American Advertising Awards "Gold ADDY" - Multiple Years & Projects
• American Advertising Awards "Silver ADDY" - Multiple Years & Projects
• SILVER Angel Award - Excellence in Public Service Advertising - Multiple Years & Projects
• 2023 FAB 50 Winner
• 2022 FAB 50 Winner
• 2022 PRO Awards Winner
• 2022 Experienece Design & Technology Awards Winner
• 2022 ILEA Awards (International Live Events Association) Winner
• 2021 exAwards Winner
• 2021 Experience Design & Technology Awards Winner
• 2021 PRO Awards Winner
• 2021 FAB 50 Winner
• 2015 Red Dot Award: Communication Design (Winner)
• 2015 42nd Student Academy Awards, (Nominee / "Best Drama")
• 2015 Top Shorts International Film Festival (Winner / Audience Choice Award, Best Actor - Jan Harrelson, Best Supporting Actor - Matt Rossitch)
• 2015 Silver Springs International Film Festival (Winner / Best Student Film)
• 2015 M.P.S.E. Golden Reel Award (Winner / Verna Fields Award)
• 2015 WonderRoot's Generally Local, Mostly Independent Film Series (Winner / Best of the Festival)
• 2014 Roseville Film & Animation Festival (Winner / Best U.S. Short)
• 2014 Y'allywood Film Festival (Winner / Best of the Festival)
• 2014 SCADemy Award Recipient: Best Narrative Film (Nominee), Best Cinematography (Nominee), Best Production Design (Nominee), Best Costume Design (Winner), Best Sound Design (Nominee)
• WINNER 2014 MOST VOTED FILM - SHOW US YOUR FUNNY FILM COMPETITION
• WINNER BEST MICRO-SHORT - HOUSTON COMEDY FILM FESTIVAL
• American Advertising Federation
• SAG/AFTRA
• American Advertising Federation-South Florida
What do you attribute your success to?
Curiosity, resilience, and a genuine investment in people.
When something feels ambitious or constrained, I don’t step back—I lean in. I enjoy solving complexity. I look for structure inside chaos. That mindset has allowed me to grow across roles, expand my skillset, and consistently deliver beyond expectations.
Equally important is relationship-building and trust. I approach every client interaction as a long-term partnership, with transparency and consistency. Creative work can only thrive when there’s mutual respect and open communication, and I work hard to cultivate that on every project (and even with my goals in life). Those relationships often become the foundation for repeat collaborations and expanded opportunities.
Working within a woman-owned experiential company has reinforced the importance of visibility and representation. Success, to me, isn’t just achievement—it’s creating space for others to see what’s possible.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stay open to nontraditional paths.
Some of the most defining moments in my career didn’t come from formal applications or perfectly mapped plans. They came from proximity, community involvement, and relationships built through shared creative work. Being active in professional organizations, saying yes to adjacent opportunities, and showing up consistently expanded my trajectory in ways a linear path never could.
Talent absolutely matters. But initiative, visibility, and genuine relationships often open the doors that talent alone cannot.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t allow yourself to be typecast.
Experiential design and production can be intense and, at times, male-dominated. Early on, it’s easy to be placed into a narrow lane. My advice is to widen it yourself. Expand your operational fluency. Sit in on fabrication meetings. Learn how budgets are structured. Ask how files are prepped for CNC. Volunteer for install days.
The more you understand the full ecosystem—from concept through execution—the more leverage and confidence you’ll have in shaping your own path.
And if something sparks your interest, even if it feels slightly outside your role, explore it. Growth rarely happens inside a perfectly defined job description. You may discover strengths you didn’t know you had—and those strengths may become your edge!
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is alignment—bridging creative ambition with financial and logistical realities.
Luxury and enterprise brands often carry strong aesthetic standards and bold expectations. The responsibility lies in translating that vision into an achievable scope without compromising integrity. That requires strategic communication, budget fluency, and collaborative transparency across design, fabrication, and client teams. It’s a balancing act, but it’s also where leadership lives.
The opportunity, however, is expansive.
Experiential marketing is expanding into hybrid ecosystems, with physical environments supported by digital, motion, and social content extensions. Designers who understand both the visual storytelling and the production infrastructure are uniquely positioned to lead.
The future belongs to those who can design beautifully and execute responsibly. This field rewards professionals who understand the full stack, from vinyl application and materials sourcing to brand governance and cross-platform strategy. When you can move seamlessly between vision and viability, you become indispensable.
I believe the next era of experiential design will reward those who combine narrative thinking with operational intelligence, and creatives who can build environments that are not only visually compelling but also sustainable, scalable, and deeply human.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Intentional creativity. Integrity in execution. And using my work to create opportunity for others.
It should communicate clearly, function seamlessly in real-world conditions, and respect the people and communities experiencing it. Creativity carries responsibility.
Empowerment and visibility matter deeply to me. I care about creating space for those who don’t always have one; whether that’s women navigating male-dominated industries, individuals with disabilities, or causes that need stronger advocacy. Throughout my career, I’ve supported nonprofit organizations and pro bono initiatives because I believe creativity should extend beyond revenue. It should serve people, amplify voices, and create meaningful impact.
Collaboration is also a core value. The strongest outcomes happen when diverse perspectives are respected and aligned toward a shared goal. I strive to lead with transparency, steadiness, and empathy—both in client partnerships and within teams.
Professionally, I’m ambitious, detail-oriented, and solution-driven. Personally, I protect joy, relationships, and the interests that keep creativity sustainable. Ambition is powerful, but sustainability is wiser.
At the end of the day, I want my work (and my presence) to contribute to something larger than a single project. If I can build beautiful environments while also building opportunity and advocacy into the process, that’s success to me.