The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Austin, fragrance industry strategist, creative director, and founder of Austin Advisory Group as SCAD Executive in Residence for the university’s 2026-2027 academic year. 

 

Austin brings extensive experience in fragrance creation, brand development and creative direction, with a career spanning the art of perfumery, luxury brands, retail, hospitality and cultural institutions. 

 

As Executive in Residence, he will engage with students and faculty across SCAD’s preeminent Schools of Fashion, De Sole School of Business Innovation, and Building Arts, exploring how scent and sensory thinking can inform the creative process, from the development of fragrances and brands to the design of spaces and experiences. He will also advise on curriculum and academic projects that connect creative exploration with real-world applications.

 

“Real Work. Real World. is our theme for this academic year, and Paul Austin embodies that message,” said SCAD Chief Academic Officer Jason Fox. “Throughout his time with SCAD, Paul has consistently connected students directly to the real-world stakes required to create exceptional fragrances and scents. In recognition of that impact, we are proud to name Paul as an Executive in Residence. In this new role, he will work closely with our business of beauty and fragrance, luxury and brand management, fashion design, interior design, and fashion marketing students, faculty, and academic leaders as we amplify our promise to prepare talented students for creative professions.”

 

Austin is the founder of Austin Advisory Group, a New York-based strategic and creative firm working with brands, founders and cultural institutions. Its work spans brand creation, creative direction and the development of distinctive products, films and sensory experiences, including projects involving Estée Lauder Companies, SK-II, Rolls-Royce and The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Austin co-created LilaNur Parfums, an India-inspired luxury fragrance house launched internationally through retailers including Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods and Good Earth in India. His practice includes a longstanding relationship with Robertet, the family-owned French fragrance house based in Grasse. He serves as a strategic advisor to the company and conceived its award-winning Seed to Scent platform.

 

Earlier in his career, Austin served as Global Head of Fine Fragrances at Quest International, overseeing the creative, strategic and commercial direction of the business worldwide. Following Quest's acquisition by Givaudan, he continued as Senior Vice President, Fine Fragrances.

 

“We're seeing an extraordinary change in how people engage with scent,” said Paul Austin. “Fragrance is moving beyond the perfume bottle and finding its way into art, design, architecture and everyday life. As more of our lives become digital, experiences that engage our senses and bring us together become increasingly important. What excites me about SCAD is the opportunity to explore scent as part of the creative process from the outset, whether we're developing a fragrance, imagining a new brand or designing an experience.”

 

Austin has been a dedicated champion of the university, previously serving as a mentor for the SCAD Perfume Atelier during the 2025–26 academic year. Now, expanding his role as an Executive in Residence, his expertise will be leveraged to guide curriculum and student work across a broader range of academic disciplines. Austin joins an esteemed list of industry leaders in SCAD’s Residency program including Robert Chavez, former executive chairman of Hermès Americas; Kate Aronowitz, Portfolio Operations lead at GV; Bob Weis, former President of Walt Disney Imagineering and Global Entertainment Lead at Gensler; Leslie Odom, Jr., Tony and Grammy Award-winning performer; Nicolette Robinson, actress and producer; and Deke Sharon, singer, composer, and producer.

 

As the global leader in art, design, and innovation in higher education, SCAD’s In Residence program reflects the university’s commitment to connecting students with accomplished leaders across creative industries. Through mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and engagement with real-world challenges, the program enriches the academic experience and prepares students for careers in an evolving creative landscape.

 

For more information about SCAD, please visit SCAD.edu.