Hello, my name is Travis. I am a creative director with over twenty years of professional experience in advertising, marketing, branding, digital product design, games design, higher education, and financial technology.

I have worked as a copywriter, art director, designer, illustrator, stylist, strategist and lecturer, although I function best as a CD as this role enables me to draw upon all of my creative faculties, and offer ‘big picture’ thinking and experience-based guidance.

I am currently operating as a freelance creative and brand consultant, helping various companies with tasks such as positioning, naming products, crafting propositions, and generating marketing concepts. Anything from designing a logo to creating a global brand platform.

My areas of expertise include luxury goods, premium drinks, education, fintech, gaming, music, fashion, and film.

Career:

2021 – present: Freelance Creative / Brand Consultant

2015 – 2021: Creative Director, Thought Machine, EC1

2012 – 2014: Brand Creative Director, ustwo / DICE, EC1

2012 – 2014: Visiting Lecturer, University of East London E16

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:

I graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in 2000 with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design, and went to work at HHCL & Partners, who had just won Campaign magazine’s highest accolade: ‘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 reunited with some of my old college friends at ustwo in Shoreditch, and helped them through 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. During this period, I was also invited to become a visiting lecturer at the University of East London – an opportunity I seized with relish, as I have always enjoyed sharing my knowledge and experience.

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. I was also instrumental in nurturing a very strong company culture which attracted and retained talent.

In short, I have worked on hundreds of amazing products and brands – from posh shoes and frozen food 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 producing tangible outputs, I love working on purpose, positioning and propositions. I have been heavily involved in building many challenger brands from scratch, and I have developed a lot of techniques for making products memorable and desirable.

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, Copywriting, Design, Art Direction, Illustration, Brand Strategy, Team Management, Mentoring, Presentations, Talks.

I can be contacted via the dreaded LinkedIn.