Damian Claassens
Creative Director
New York, NY, USA
9178650934
be.net/dclaassens
Design-led, US-based, Oz-biased. Creative Director, Designer, Storyteller, Design Strategist, Innovator.
Work Experience
Freelance
Creative
Putting creativity to work to create loved brands, great products, and memorable experiences.
Freelance creative, branding and design direction for various clients and agencies: Quantcast, Equal Capital Partners, Looker, Fader, Cornerstone Agency, Converse, Sonos, The North Face, Flannery Consultants, LTS, McGarry Bowen, Marina Maher Communications, and RXM.
Available on a project basis.
Freelance creative, branding and design direction for various clients and agencies: Quantcast, Equal Capital Partners, Looker, Fader, Cornerstone Agency, Converse, Sonos, The North Face, Flannery Consultants, LTS, McGarry Bowen, Marina Maher Communications, and RXM.
Available on a project basis.
March 2017
- Present
New York, New York, United States
Quantcast
Executive Creative Director
Hired to startup Q Design, the internal creative agency of Quantcast, a world leader in helping brands grow in the AI era.
• Lead brand, communication, design, and visual storytelling projects across print, product, digital and events
• Hired for and set up design studios in New York, San Francisco, and London
• Developed and rolled out new branding and communication for Quantcast
• Developed brand design system across print, digital, and motion with on-demand asset delivery
• Streamlined vendor and freelance roster, bringing down production costs by 40%
• Consolidated design work across global, EMEA, APAC and NA regions reducing duplication and churn
• Developed branding/design/event packages for key marketing events at CES, Cannes Festival of Creativity, Adweek
• Created branding packages for premier Quantcast conferences, Quantcast 'Supernova' and 'Nova' in London, Milan, Toronto, New York
• Lead brand, communication, design, and visual storytelling projects across print, product, digital and events
• Hired for and set up design studios in New York, San Francisco, and London
• Developed and rolled out new branding and communication for Quantcast
• Developed brand design system across print, digital, and motion with on-demand asset delivery
• Streamlined vendor and freelance roster, bringing down production costs by 40%
• Consolidated design work across global, EMEA, APAC and NA regions reducing duplication and churn
• Developed branding/design/event packages for key marketing events at CES, Cannes Festival of Creativity, Adweek
• Created branding packages for premier Quantcast conferences, Quantcast 'Supernova' and 'Nova' in London, Milan, Toronto, New York
January 2018
- May 2019
New York, New York, United States
Wednesday
Creative Director
Brought on to lead digital efforts for the 'Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons - The Masters' collaboration, focussing on digital and experiential activations at key locations such as Louis Vuitton's flagship Maisons and The Louvre. http://us.louisvuitton.com/eng-us/stories/masterscampaign
Also led the branding, business design and launch+build of startup luxury + social good retailer Olivela. https://www.olivela.com
Directed creative work on Bulova, IRO, Louis Vuitton, M. Monroe Jewelry, Olivela, ShopBazaar/Harper's Bazaar, Wildfox.
Key Clients: Louis Vuitton, IRO, Wildfox, Olivela
Also led the branding, business design and launch+build of startup luxury + social good retailer Olivela. https://www.olivela.com
Directed creative work on Bulova, IRO, Louis Vuitton, M. Monroe Jewelry, Olivela, ShopBazaar/Harper's Bazaar, Wildfox.
Key Clients: Louis Vuitton, IRO, Wildfox, Olivela
November 2016
- March 2017
New York, United States
Mullen Lowe Profero
Executive Creative Director/Head of Creative
Providing dedicated creative direction for both global and US-based accounts
Built a creative team from a starting group of four to 25+ specialists
Built UX/ExD discipline
Member, Lowe + Partners Global Creative Council
Overseeing digital innovation projects
Directed creative work on: Accenture, Action Against Hunger/ACF International, Amref Health Africa, Anritsu, Apple, Avon, Balloon Time, Be Brasil/ApexBrasil, Catalent, CFA, Circa Jewels, Cointreau, Country Crock/Unilever, Destination Hotels, DFS, Don Julio, HAI Healing Arts Institute, Heal the Bay, Kaiser Permanente, Lufthansa, Marzetti Foods, Milk, Mohegan Sun, Mount Gay Rum, New York Times, OnCall Learning, Remy Martin, Ron Zacapa/Diageo, Schneider Electric, Smirnoff/Diageo, Snuggle, SyFy Channel, Tough Mudder, TRESemmé/Unilever, Vonage, Western Union, Wiser Air
Red Dot Award: Communication Design 2014 - New York Times InEducation website
2014 Shorty Awards - Finalist - Smirnoff Mixhibit, Best Brand Mobile App
2012 Internationalist Awards for Innovative Digital Marketing Solutions Grand Prix - Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project
2012 Internationalist Awards for Innovative Digital Marketing Solutions Shortlist - Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project
MIXX 2012 Awards Finalist - Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project 2011
Top 10 Agencies to watch in 2012 - Ad Age Agency A-List 2012
Built a creative team from a starting group of four to 25+ specialists
Built UX/ExD discipline
Member, Lowe + Partners Global Creative Council
Overseeing digital innovation projects
Directed creative work on: Accenture, Action Against Hunger/ACF International, Amref Health Africa, Anritsu, Apple, Avon, Balloon Time, Be Brasil/ApexBrasil, Catalent, CFA, Circa Jewels, Cointreau, Country Crock/Unilever, Destination Hotels, DFS, Don Julio, HAI Healing Arts Institute, Heal the Bay, Kaiser Permanente, Lufthansa, Marzetti Foods, Milk, Mohegan Sun, Mount Gay Rum, New York Times, OnCall Learning, Remy Martin, Ron Zacapa/Diageo, Schneider Electric, Smirnoff/Diageo, Snuggle, SyFy Channel, Tough Mudder, TRESemmé/Unilever, Vonage, Western Union, Wiser Air
Red Dot Award: Communication Design 2014 - New York Times InEducation website
2014 Shorty Awards - Finalist - Smirnoff Mixhibit, Best Brand Mobile App
2012 Internationalist Awards for Innovative Digital Marketing Solutions Grand Prix - Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project
2012 Internationalist Awards for Innovative Digital Marketing Solutions Shortlist - Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project
MIXX 2012 Awards Finalist - Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project 2011
Top 10 Agencies to watch in 2012 - Ad Age Agency A-List 2012
November 2011
- October 2016
New York, United States
Publicis
SVP/Group Creative Director
Clients: LG Electronics and Home Appliances Global, LG North America, P&G Pepto Bismol, Citibank
2011 15th Annual Webby Awards Official Honoree
LG Picture Quality Experience Site
2011 15th Annual Webby Awards Official Honoree
LG Picture Quality Experience Site
October 2010
- November 2011
New York, United States
AKQA
Group Creative Director
• Hired as the 2nd employee in the newly formed New York office to build out the agency offering and team.
• Responsible for leading & executing creative concepts, art direction, and design.
• Oversaw the building of the creative team and key initial hires.
• Led team that brought the Coca-Cola, Sprite, Celebrity Cruises and Smirnoff Digital AOR business to AKQA New York.
Directed creative work on Adobe, AKQA Future Lions, Benjamin Moore, Celebrity Cruises, Coca-Cola, Comcast, Gogo Inflight, Google, Heineken, Motorola, New York Jets, Nike, Sirius XM, Smirnoff, Sprite, Thomson Reuters, Wheat Thins/Kraft, Xbox
3 SOTD, 1 SOTM award at the FWA
D&AD 2008 - Winner Mobile Marketing, Silver, Smirnoff.mobi, Smirnoff
D&AD 2008 - Nomination for Smirnoff.mobi, Smirnoff
One Show 2008 - Merit for Smirnoff.mobi, Smirnoff
One Show 2007 - Merit for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
IAB MIXX 2007 - Silver for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
IAB MIXX 2007 - Bronze for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
LIAA 2007 - Finalist for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
Webby Awards Official Honoree 2007 - Coke Show, Coca-Cola
NYF 2007 - Beverages Finalist for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
Cannes Lions 2007 - Bronze for Smirnoff.com, Smirnoff
Communication Arts Interactive Annual 13/Winner
Communication Arts, Web Pick of the Week, 07.09.07 Smirnoff.com
Clio 2006 - Shortlist for Kameo, Xbox
Eyeblaster Judges Choice Award 2005 - ESPN Fantasy Football, ESPN
Best Web Design & Site Development, OMMA Magazine, 2006
2009-2010
Agency A-List - AdAge
Creative Agency of the Year - New Media Age
Digital Agency of the Year - Campaign
Most Respected Agency - New Media Age Top 100 Agencies
Agency of the Year - Revolution
Agency of the Year - IAB
Most Innovative Companies - Fast Company
Agency of the Year, Best Creative - OMMA Magazine
2008
Digital A-List- AdAge
Digital AOY - Adweek
Digital AOY - Advertising Age
Digital AOY - OMMA Magazine
Digital AOY, Revolution Magazine
Digital AOY, OMMA Magazine
• Responsible for leading & executing creative concepts, art direction, and design.
• Oversaw the building of the creative team and key initial hires.
• Led team that brought the Coca-Cola, Sprite, Celebrity Cruises and Smirnoff Digital AOR business to AKQA New York.
Directed creative work on Adobe, AKQA Future Lions, Benjamin Moore, Celebrity Cruises, Coca-Cola, Comcast, Gogo Inflight, Google, Heineken, Motorola, New York Jets, Nike, Sirius XM, Smirnoff, Sprite, Thomson Reuters, Wheat Thins/Kraft, Xbox
3 SOTD, 1 SOTM award at the FWA
D&AD 2008 - Winner Mobile Marketing, Silver, Smirnoff.mobi, Smirnoff
D&AD 2008 - Nomination for Smirnoff.mobi, Smirnoff
One Show 2008 - Merit for Smirnoff.mobi, Smirnoff
One Show 2007 - Merit for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
IAB MIXX 2007 - Silver for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
IAB MIXX 2007 - Bronze for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
LIAA 2007 - Finalist for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
Webby Awards Official Honoree 2007 - Coke Show, Coca-Cola
NYF 2007 - Beverages Finalist for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
Cannes Lions 2007 - Bronze for Smirnoff.com, Smirnoff
Communication Arts Interactive Annual 13/Winner
Communication Arts, Web Pick of the Week, 07.09.07 Smirnoff.com
Clio 2006 - Shortlist for Kameo, Xbox
Eyeblaster Judges Choice Award 2005 - ESPN Fantasy Football, ESPN
Best Web Design & Site Development, OMMA Magazine, 2006
2009-2010
Agency A-List - AdAge
Creative Agency of the Year - New Media Age
Digital Agency of the Year - Campaign
Most Respected Agency - New Media Age Top 100 Agencies
Agency of the Year - Revolution
Agency of the Year - IAB
Most Innovative Companies - Fast Company
Agency of the Year, Best Creative - OMMA Magazine
2008
Digital A-List- AdAge
Digital AOY - Adweek
Digital AOY - Advertising Age
Digital AOY - OMMA Magazine
Digital AOY, Revolution Magazine
Digital AOY, OMMA Magazine
January 2005
- October 2010
New York, United States
Framfab
Senior Art Director
Clients: Nike, Carlsberg, Electrolux Worldwide, Volvo, Volvo Trucks Corporation Worldwide, Coca-Cola Company Nordics, Sprite, Fanta
Cannes Lions 2005 - Bronze for The Instinct, Sprite
One Show 2005 - Silver for The Instinct, Sprite
LIAA 2005 - Beverages for The Instinct, Sprite
La Fiesta de la Interactivdad 2004, Mejor Accion de Publicidad Online, Silver, Nikefreestyle.com
One Show 2004 - Finalist B2C for Carlsberg.com. Carlsberg
LIAA 2003 - Corporate Image for Nike Freestyle, Nike
Clio 2003 - Bronze for Internet Advertising, Nike Freestyle
Cannes Lions 2002 - Grand Prix for Nike Football, Nike
Cannes Lions 2005 - Bronze for The Instinct, Sprite
One Show 2005 - Silver for The Instinct, Sprite
LIAA 2005 - Beverages for The Instinct, Sprite
La Fiesta de la Interactivdad 2004, Mejor Accion de Publicidad Online, Silver, Nikefreestyle.com
One Show 2004 - Finalist B2C for Carlsberg.com. Carlsberg
LIAA 2003 - Corporate Image for Nike Freestyle, Nike
Clio 2003 - Bronze for Internet Advertising, Nike Freestyle
Cannes Lions 2002 - Grand Prix for Nike Football, Nike
March 2002
- March 2005
Copenhagen, Denmark
BLUEBERRY
Senior Art Director
Key Clients: Elle Macpherson, HealthXChange, Levis, Nike, Renault, Sony Aibo, Oneswoop, Subaru and Wrangler
August 2000
- April 2001
London, United Kingdom
Nuts About Design
Graphic Designer
Key Clients: Antony Whittaker Hair Design, Austrabelle, Cleanaway, Cougar Bourbon, McGuigan Brothers Wines, Pepper Tree Wines and Wolsely Castle.
May 1996
- May 1997
Sydney, Australia
Education
University Of Canberra
Bachelor of Graphic Design
1993
- 1996
Canberra, Australia
Languages
English (Native),
Danish (Beginner),
Dutch (Conversational),
Awards
The FWA - Favorite Website Awards
3 SOTD, 1 SOTM awards at the FWA
The Internationalist
Grand Prix - Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project
2012
British Design & Art Direction (D&AD)
Nomination for Smirnoff.mobi, Smirnoff
2008
OneShow
Merit for Smirnoff.mobi, Smirnoff
2008
IAB, IAB MIXX 2007
Silver for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
2007
IAB, IAB MIXX 2007
Bronze for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
2007
New York Festivals Awards
Beverages Finalist for Coke Show, Coca-Cola
2007
Cannes Lions
Bronze for Smirnoff.com, Smirnoff
2007
Clio
Shortlist for Kameo, XBOX
2006
Eyeblaster
Judges Choice Award, ESPN Fantasy Football, ESPN
2005
Cannes Lions
Bronze for The Instinct, Sprite
2005
The One Club
Silver for The Instinct, Sprite
2005
London International Advertising Awards
Beverages for The Instinct, Sprite
2005
La Fiesta De La Interactivdad
Silver, Mejor Accion de Publicidad Online, Nikefreestyle, Nike
2004
Epica
Bronze for Carlsberg.com, Carlsberg
2004
The One Club
Merit for Carlsberg.com. Carlsberg
2004
The One Club
Finalist B2C for Carlsberg.com. Carlsberg
2004
The One Club
Gold for Nikefreestyle, Nike
2003
London International Advertising Awards
Corporate Image for Nike Freestyle, Nike
2003
Clio
Bronze for Internet Advertising, Nike Freestyle
2003
Cannes Lions
Grand Prix for Nike Football, Nike
2002
AFA Awards
Best Use of Media, Subaru
2001
AIMIA Awards
Best B2B Website, Source Networks
2000
Macromedia APAC Awards
OLA Finalist, Coco Pops
2000
Macromedia APAC Awards
Online Branding Finalist, Subaru
2000
Macromedia APAC Awards
Best Government Site, NSW Tourism
2000
AIMIA Awards
Best B2C Solution, Coco Pops
1999
B&T/Yahoo! Awards
Best Integrated Solution, Coco Pops
1999