Looks like it’s Finland week! First had a Facebook Live with the brilliant Bruno Leo Ribeiro Art Director who just joined another agency in Finland and now we have…
Tell us about your professional journey, what were the main challenges?
I ended up in advertising by a mere fluke in the beginning. In 2002 I enrolled into a vocational college in media, with major expectations of learning about cinematography. After a year I realized that graphic design, motion design and advertising, especially digital were my strong points and I had some potential.
From there on out I got straight recruited after 3 years of school.\ I went through multiple digital agencies from Isobar Helsinki to Rehabstudios (London UK) and back to Helsinki.
I am currently working as a Creative Director at TBWA\Helsinki building it’s creative offering and talent for multiple international and domestic clients.
Biggest one being Nissan Nordic Europe and also the global Nissan account in collaboration with the TBWA network.
The biggest challenges along my way have been probably the shift from designer into a creative. Figuring out whether the direction is fit for myself and building up my personal direction of creative problem solving and that confidence that every creative needs daily.
The simplest (read hardest) way too see if you’re fit for the job is to just jump straight into the deep end and see if you can float. Get out of the comfort zone. Promise to get the job done first and then learn how to do it later. And over deliver again and again. Passion and persistency gets you there but remember to respect the craft and also ironic enough, but burn that nigh oil.
What is the most desirable skill for a creative today?
I would say definitely that ability to listen and adapt is key. Listen to the ongoing cultural shifts, conversation, data, yours clients market and people around you. Then reflect on that, there you’ll find the creative insight. A diverse skill set and understanding is more important than knowing how to be brilliant at just one thing.
If you didnt work in an agency, what would you do for a living?
I’d be a chef in my own restaurant. After creative industry my biggest passion is cooking.
Whats your take on creative awards? Love or hate?
Love them of course. Even if we still suffer from scam entries and people have shifted their opinions I think that we still have them for a reason. Creative awards are the common nominator for our industrys top work and a thing that you should still thrive towards if you work in the industry. Don’t get me wrong, there are other ways to measure great creative work as well. One being your clients business. Great creative always drives growth. But then again aren’t the cases that nail those two things usually the ones that get the awards as well 😉
What is your favourite app right now?
Probably the alarm clock. My daily life depends on it, haha!
If I want to work for you, what do I need to do?
The basic jargon would be “show us something unique etc” but nope. Just get in touch and share your work and thinking. Easy as that. If you’re a match we’ll know.
