Howard Lim

Business and Brand Architect

Howard A. Lim grew up in Santa Barbara, California, in a family of eight siblings. His passion for creativity ignited at the age of five through finger painting. After completing his Applied Art and Design education at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, graduating in the top 10% of his major, and pursuing graduate studies in Advertising and Digital Media at the Art Center of Design in Pasadena, he founded HOW CREATIVE® in 1987. Lim's pioneering contributions to digital media design and advertising for Fortune 100 companies, such as Apple, Disney, Paramount, Xerox, Oracle, Cirque du Soleil, Mattel, AT&T, and HP, positioned him at the forefront of contemporary branding with profound results.

MGM and Philips Interactive Media:

Lim's expertise in introducing DVDs to a market dominated by VHS and Betamax was instrumental in the rise of DVD technology, which became the dominant home movie viewing technology.

ABC Networks:

Developing offline ABC animations was a significant challenge, but Lim's innovative approach revolutionized and contributed to the motion graphics category.

University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB):

Lim branded UCSB's ACCESS card, a product combining debit card features with student ID. His successful campaign established the ACCESS card as the industry standard for universities across the United States.

Disney:

Lim created a presentation kit to attract investors for a stage production of Disney's hit animated film The Lion King. The award-winning musical became the third longest-running show on Broadway and the highest-grossing musical ever, earning over $9 billion to date.

DreamWorks:

The Promotion Marketing Association in NYC sought HOW CREATIVE's help to address DreamWorks' brand challenges. Lim's leadership revitalized DreamWorks' identity, increasing attendance by 24%, and establishing PMA as a key business resource.

After a decade leading the digital revolution for Fortune 100 companies, Lim recognized that over 95% of businesses falter or plateau within 3 to 5 years. He developed a solution to empower businesses to achieve their full potential, benefiting stakeholders and contributing to a robust economy.

Leveraging his creativity and business acumen, Lim pioneered the We Design Businesses® framework through his exclusive SIM System™, catalyzing heightened profitability, inspired cultures, and industry-leading brands. The SIM System empowers enterprises to unleash untapped potential, expedite timelines, amplify profitability, and transcend sector limitations. Lim has led paradigm shifts in businesses and industries, positively impacting the economy and societies.

Los Angeles Marathon:

Lim revitalized the Los Angeles Marathon's brand with a memorable identity system, leading to record-breaking attendance and the largest participation of 22,000 in its 15-year history.

WSS:

Lim's new business model and brand identity for the struggling athletic footwear company led to a 100% sales increase in just seven months for remodeled stores. Over the next seven years, store locations grew from 54 to over 100 nationwide, pushing retail revenue to over $1 billion.

opticwash:

Lim repositioned and rebranded "Shade Saver" to "opticwash" and developed business strategies to increase its appeal and functionality, leading to its growth into a brand leader in major malls, airports, car washes, and military locations.

Flying Dutchman:

Lim revitalized Flying Dutchman by connecting its brand to the legendary ghost ship. The store's redesign, weekly wine tastings, and live radio shows led to its growth from one to five franchise locations within two years, attracting a new and loyal customer base.

Santa Monica, 3rd Street Promenade:

Lim repositioned and rebranded the Convention and Visitors Bureau to transform Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade into a top shopping destination, attracting billions in business revenue and boosting the local economy.

Lim's contributions have earned him recognition in esteemed publications like the Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal. He advises organizations such as the Cal Poly College of Liberal Arts Dean's Associate Advisory Council and has received numerous accolades, including the INPEX Lifetime Achievement Award, iCAN Speaker Award, and HOW Design Award.