About
18 months in New Zealand has been a tremendous experience. As I can’t really separate my professional experience from my personal one (New Zealand has a way of blending those two quite vigorously), and this site does not do it either. In my time in Christchurch, I worked on a lot of accounts. A few of them big (measured by a country of less than 4 mill.), many of them small, and even more of them tiny. All of them delivered good times, great people, and colorful experiences. Some of the work I created may be considered good, some expected, and some I might burn for in hell.
As osmosis has its (sometimes evil) way, you tend to adapt to your surrounding. And this is not limited to ordering “fush and chups” or raving about one’s weeeekeeeend. Christchurch is by no means a creative powerhouse like Wellington or Auckland (to a certain degree), but it offers a phenomenal lifestyle. Beaches, mountains, wilderness, and a few agencies to work for. The creative conditions were defined by miniscule budgets, great co-workers, provincial marketing cowboys directors, and often conservative campaign expectations. At the same time however, it felt real, honest and human. Coming from the United States, this was very refreshing.
Osmosis, … right. As I need to keep my fire burning, I look forward to moving back to Denver. Not that Denver could be considered a creative mecca, but the proportionally larger size of the creative community allows for a higher level of (self-) criticism and expectations.
A few notes about the way I play:
I love my felt-tip markers, my sketch pads and my white-out. In the same breath, I also appreciate a perfect execution, polished typography, and intuitive usability. Nothing beats ideas and the ability to sell them. Over the past years, I transitioned from spending more time on the pad and less on the machine. There are a few darling projects however, that I tend to keep close through production, if time and resources allow. I get excited about strong copywriting, the right score and good photography. I also love small doodles and the opportunities of small budgets being brought to life by strong concepts.
I arrive in Denver on April 13. Easter Monday. Tuesday, I would like to work. Ideally, full-time in a proper agency with a creative partner. But times are tough, right? Really tough. Throw me a bone. All I ask for is an environment that fosters strong concepts, hates avoids drop shadows and employs proper copywriter(s). Freelance, project, full-time, part-time. Whatever.
So here it is, some of the work I’ve produced over the last 18 months. Please be gentle.
Have a peek, send me a line. Cheers.