Hello, my name is Travis, and I am a Creative Director with over twenty years of professional experience in advertising, marketing, branding, digital product design, games design, and financial technology.
I am a designer, writer, art director, and musician. But first and foremost, I am an ideas person.
I am currently operating as a freelance consultant, helping startups and challenger brands with tasks such as naming products, crafting propositions, developing marketing concepts, and creating ad campaigns.
My areas of expertise include luxury goods, premium drinks, fintech, gaming, music, fashion, and film.
Career:
2015 – 2021: Creative Director, Thought Machine, EC1
2012 – 2014: Brand Creative Director, ustwo / DICE, EC1
2005 – 2012: Creative Director, Cubo, W1
2003 – 2004: Creative Head, BCL, SW6
2001 – 2003: Creative, The Marketing Store, WC2
2000 – 2001: Creative, HHCL & Partners, W1
Background:
In 2000, I graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design, and started off as a hybrid creative at HHCL & Partners, who had just won Campaign’s Agency Of The Decade. I had a blast, writing and art directing ad campaigns for Egg, Iceland, and the SyFy Channel.
In 2005, I became the creative director at Cubo, a specialist ‘pleasure brands’ agency housed within the same building as HHCL, and spent the next seven years doing my best to provide inspiration and lead without seeking credit. I had immense fun, working on integrated global campaigns for Chivas Regal, Perrier-Jouët, Havana Club, Ballantine’s, Habitat, London Metropolitan University, University of East London, and ZEO.
In 2012, I was reunited with some of my old college friends at ustwo, and helped them with a company re-brand. Following on from this, I put my heart and soul into digital products and services such as Rando, Monument Valley, and DICE.
In 2015, I joined a FinTech startup which became known as Thought Machine, on an exciting mission to revolutionise digital banking. I helped build and manage our in-house creative studio, and led the development of our brand and marketing.
In short, I have worked on hundreds of amazing products and brands – from frozen food and high end whiskies, to gig ticketing apps and core banking platforms – through every kind of media and channel imaginable, including web, mobile, print, press, outdoor, video, radio, social, and experiential.
My core abilities:
Leadership – I enjoy creating a fun atmosphere and an exciting culture at work, and I never cease trying to find and share sources of inspiration. Over the years, I have learned to spot a great idea from a mile away, and I have honed my decision-making speed and coaching skills to ensure that we have something we are proud of, and feels different in the realm.
Strategy – As well as guiding creative exploration and output, I love working out the why, what, where, when, and who, before we even begin. I have been heavily involved in building many challenger brands from scratch, and I have developed a lot of techniques for getting products to become distinctive, enjoyable, and indispensable.
Concepts – I have never grown tired of blasting out ideas, as well as encouraging other people to develop theirs.
Craft – I am always writing and drawing, and my Mac skills are still strong. I am qualified to teach Adobe software.
My principal skills:
Concepts, Copy, Design, Art Direction, Brand Strategy, Team Management, Mentoring, Coaching, Presentations, Talks.
I can be contacted via the dreaded LinkedIn. I guess.