We pay attention for a living.
To people. To behavior. To the details others skip. To the difference between what a client asks for and what the business truly needs.
That attention is where the work begins.
Madplum started with a search for something more thoughtful.
Before Madplum became a creative company, it began as an instinct shared by Shannon and Clay Cahoon: look beyond the obvious, find what feels personal, and make the experience of receiving it as meaningful and memorable as the thing itself.
That practice of discovery, curation, making, and presentation became the foundation of the company.
The work roster has expanded. The instinct has not.
Built small on purpose. Expanded through collaboration.
Madplum is led by senior strategists and creatives, supported by a trusted circle of designers, writers, filmmakers, developers, researchers, and storytelling specialists.
We build the team around the work, not the other way around.
That gives clients direct access to experienced people, fewer handoffs, no inflated markups, and a group shaped specifically for the assignment.
Shannon Cahoon
Turning scattered pieces into a story people can follow.
Shannon works closely with leaders to uncover the human and strategic truth inside a challenge, align people around it, and turn it into work that moves through an organization with clarity and purpose. In everything she does, she balances head and heart—pairing sharp strategic thinking with a deep understanding of what makes people connect, participate, and return.
Her work spans brand strategy, customer experience, storytelling, creative direction, and design initiatives that turn audiences into communities. Always at the forefront of what’s next, Shannon embraces emerging technology—including AI—as a creative multiplier, using it to work smarter, move faster, and keep growing both personally and professionally. For Shannon, the tools evolve; but the commitment to human connection never changes.
Clay Cahoon
Clay turns complex ideas into clear, distinctive, and deeply considered experiences.
His work brings together identity, digital design, storytelling, visual systems, and the unexpected details that make an experience feel more human and memorable.
He leads the creative expression of Madplum’s work with a focus on clarity, craft, and emotional precision.
Built around the work, not the org chart.
Behind every engagement is a global network more than two decades in the making. It gives us access to skilled strategists, designers, writers, filmmakers, developers, and researchers at every level, assembled around what the work actually requires rather than what a fixed roster happens to offer.
Where it helps, we bring AI agents into the process for research synthesis, rapid prototyping, and production support. That keeps senior attention focused on judgment, craft, and the decisions that matter most. Whoever we bring to the table, the work is held to the same meticulous standard we’ve built our reputation on.
A few things we never forget.
Notice what others are missing.
The most valuable insight sits in plain sight, waiting for someone to take it seriously.
Make meaning before making materials.
A deliverable without a clear idea behind it is just decoration.
Be honest enough to improve the work.
Good partnership means saying the useful thing, not the comfortable one.
Leave room for surprise and delight.
It’s the unexpected detail people remember and return for.
Small team. Wide field of view.
Madplum’s work has crossed categories including construction, beauty, food and beverage, philanthropy, consulting, staffing, architecture, retail, hospitality, technology, and lifestyle brands.
The range matters because the best idea is rarely hiding in only one industry.