Ahmer Kalam ahmer@hierarchy.design

Ahmer means red.

Red is Life. Love. Energy. Attention. It’s difficult to ignore.

Ahmer Kalam as a toddler at a birthday celebration

I’m grateful to the people who have shaped my journey.

You know who you are.

Ahmer Kalam and his brother sitting on steps as children
Ahmer Kalam as a boy with his mother beside a blue car
Ahmer Kalam on a red carpet with colleagues
Ahmer Kalam with a band on stage
Ahmer Kalam with friends at a dinner table
Ahmer Kalam with friends, black-and-white photo
Ahmer Kalam in a large group photo outdoors
Ahmer Kalam on the red carpet at the Emmy Awards
01 / 08
Where I’m from

Born in Karachi.
Raised in Hong Kong.
Made in New York.

New York skyline at sunset
The journey

I’ve crossed borders, cultures, and worlds.
Met people who changed the way I see things.
Found ideas in unexpected places.
And learned that no matter where we come from,
we’re moved by many of the same things.

Curiosity brought me here.
Creativity keeps me moving.

The agency years
  • Young & Rubicam1996–2006
  • Howald Kalam2006–2009
  • McCann2009–2011
  • McGarryBowen2011–2015
  • Design HierarchyNow
See my full résumé →

Attention is easy.
Meaning is hard.

Close-up portrait from Design Hierarchy’s social impact work
Women walking arm in arm, from Design Hierarchy’s social impact work
A craftsman in his workshop, from Design Hierarchy’s work
Earth wrapped in clouds and rings of light, from Design Hierarchy’s work
01 / 04
Design Hierarchy

So I started Design Hierarchy, to give that attention to the ideas that deserve it.

Founders, artists, humanitarians and philanthropists. People trying to change something.

hierarchy.design →
Photography

And sometimes I make things
just because they need to exist.

Grand Central Terminal, empty — photograph by Ahmer Kalam
The Oculus at the World Trade Center — photograph by Ahmer Kalam
The Empire State Building lit red at night — photograph by Ahmer Kalam
An empty Times Square at night — photograph by Ahmer Kalam

New York has been home for more than 25 years. These are the moments I find beautiful about it.

More photography on Unsplash →
The Celestial Crystal Project gallery, 121 Orchard Street

The Celestial Crystal Project, 121 Orchard Street, New York. Made with astrologer Demitra Vassiliadis.

Purchase at IXIM.co →
Sultan of Sultans

As Sultan of Sultans,
I’m exploring art.

Paintings about what we worship: money, status, faith and desire.

Filthy Rich, painting by Ahmer Kalam as Sultan of Sultans
Filthy Rich
Saint Mona, painting by Ahmer Kalam as Sultan of Sultans
Saint Mona
sultanofsultans.com →
Kind words

“Our youngest Creative Director”

Ted Bell, Chief Creative Officer, Young & Rubicam

“A great eye and a big heart.”

Joyce King Thomas, President and CCO, McCannXBC

“On a scale of one to ten, he’s an 11.5.”

Gordon Bowen, Global Chairman, dentsu mcgarrybowen

Portrait of Ahmer Kalam