D_

D_

D_

Cannes Lions 2025 winning creative director who solves business problems with big brand ideas, emerging tech, art direction, social media and epic levels of nerding out.

NS

NS

NS

Cannes Lions 2025 winning creative director who solves business problems with big brand ideas, emerging tech, art direction, social media and epic levels of nerding out.

Selected Work

Selected Work

Selected Work

See my full portfolio

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About Me

About Me

“Dan can’t sit still” said by every teacher I had from 1987 - 2007.

For nearly 20 years I have played in the space between the lines of brand and innovation. The Andreas Iniesta of advertising if you will. And like the Spanish maestro, this approach has brought success and silverware.

I've split my time between ATL and digital agencies like R/GA, Adam & Eve DDB,
Fred + Farid Paris and Agency Republic (RIP). I'm currently Creative director of Innovation at T&Pm.

I was classically trained by Tony Cullingham, who drilled into me the importance of being different. I believe the way to reconnect people with brands is through different-shaped ideas in different-shaped channels. Some days, that’s a 30-second TV script. Other days, it’s an AI prototype or a gaming MVP no one’s tried before. Honestly? I love both approaches.

I made the BIMA 100 list in 2024 for leading creative AI and gaming at T&P. This was followed by two Grand Clios for a project in which Jose Mourinho disses your mates on WhatsApp. I now lead creative projects with a team of creatives, designers and creative tech using Gen AI, coding and gaming.

I love developing talent and always up for a book crit or mentoring session.

Late in my 30s, I was diagnosed with ADHD. I now advocate for different-shaped brains too. I am joint chair on the neurodiversity and disability ERG at T&P. My neurodiversity has driven me to always chase what’s next. I can confidently say, sorry Mr Young, I don’t intend to start sitting still any time soon.

TLDR - here's a podcast I made about me and my career using AI

For fans of reading here's my full CV

“Dan can’t sit still” said by every teacher I had from 1987 - 2007.

For nearly 20 years I have played in the space between the lines of brand and innovation. The Andreas Iniesta of advertising if you will. And like the Spanish maestro, this approach has brought success and silverware.

I was classically trained by Tony Cullingham, who drilled into me the importance of being different. I believe the way to reconnect people with brands is through different-shaped ideas in different-shaped channels. Some days, that’s a 30-second TV script. Other days, it’s an AI prototype or a gaming MVP no one’s tried before. Honestly? I love both.

I made the BIMA 100 list in 2024 for leading creative AI and gaming at T&P. This was followed by two Grand Clios for a project in which Jose Mourinho disses your mates on WhatsApp. I now lead creative projects with a team of creatives, designers and creative tech using Gen AI, coding and gaming.I love developing talent and always up for a book crit or mentoring session.

Late in my 30s I was diagnosed with ADHD, I now advocate for different-shaped brains too. I am joint chair on the neurodiversity and disability ERG at T&P. My neurodiversity has driven me to always chase what’s next. I can confidently say, sorry Mr Young, I don’t intend to start sitting still any time soon.

“Dan can’t sit still”

said by every teacher I had from 1987 - 2007.

For nearly 20 years I have played in the space between the lines of brand and innovation.

The Andreas Iniesta of advertising if you will. And like the Spanish maestro, this approach has brought success and silverware.

I was classically trained by Tony Cullingham, who drilled into me the importance of being different. I believe the way to reconnect people with brands is through different-shaped ideas in different-shaped channels. Some days, that’s a 30-second TV script. Other days, it’s an AI prototype or a gaming MVP no one’s tried before.

Honestly? I love both.

I made the BIMA 100 list in 2024 for leading creative AI and gaming at T&P. This was followed by two Grand Clios for a project in which Jose Mourinho disses your mates on WhatsApp. I now lead creative projects with a team of creatives, designers and creative tech using Gen AI, coding and gaming.

I love developing talent and always up for a book crit or mentoring session.

Late in my 30s I was diagnosed with ADHD, I now advocate for different-shaped brains too. I am joint chair on the neurodiversity and disability ERG at T&P. My neurodiversity has driven me to always chase what’s next.

I can confidently say, sorry Mr Jones, I don’t intend to start sitting still any time soon.

Skills

Skills

Art Direction

In this cluttered landscape, traditional skills are more important than ever.

I'm a bit of a reference hoarder and the inside of my head is pasted with my favourite ads of the last 40 years.

Never happier than working with a designer to bring a brand to life.

Gen AI

I am well versed in all forms of Gen AI:

Image Gen - Midjourney, Imagen, Frames
LLMs - Chat GPT, Gemini, Perplexity
Film Gen - Runway, Veo, Luma

Adobe Suite

I am well practiced in:

Photoshop
Premiere Pro
Adobe Express
InDesign
Lightroom
Firefly

Leadership

I am trained in creative leadership and people management. I love nothing more than leading teams and helping to develop talent.

I am a mentor with various colleges and organisations.

Creative
Direction

I have spent the last six years running advertising and innovation projects.

Writing

I have written articles on innovation,
accessibility and neurodiversity
in the following publications:

Campaign Magazine
Little Black Book
Creative Salon
Media Cat

Skills

Art Direction

In this cluttered landscape, traditional skills are more important than ever.

I'm a bit of a reference hoarder and the inside of my head is pasted with my favourite ads of the last 40 years.

Never happier than working with a designer to bring a brand to life.

Gen AI

I am well versed in all forms of Gen AI:

Image Gen - Midjourney, Imagen, Frames
LLMs - Chat GPT, Gemini, Perplexity
Film Gen - Runway, Veo, Luma

Adobe Suite

I am well practiced in:

Photoshop
Premiere Pro
Adobe Express
InDesign
Lightroom
Firefly

Leadership

I am trained in creative leadership and people management. I love nothing more than leading teams and helping to develop talent.

I am a mentor with various colleges and organisations.

Creative
Direction

I have spent the last six years running advertising and innovation projects.

Writing

I have written articles on innovation,
accessibility and neurodiversity
in the following publications:

Campaign Magazine
Little Black Book
Creative Salon
Media Cat

Awards

Awards

Awards

Snickers

Cannes Bronze Lion
Clio Sport 2024 - Grand Prix x2
Clio Sport 2024 - Gold x3
Campaign Media award - Gold
Campaign Tech Award - Commended
Drum - Gold
DMA 2024 - Silver

Malaria Must Die

BIMA 2019 - Grand Prix x2 / Winner x3
Webby Awards 2020 - Winner
Creative Circle 2020 - Silver x2 Bronze x2
Kinsale Sharks 2019 - Bronze
Campaign Innovation of the year 2019
Campaign Tech Awards 2020 -  Winner
The Drum Awards 2019 - Best Not for Profit
Cog X - Outstanding use of AI for good

BIMA 2019 - Grand Prix x2 / Winner x3
Webby Awards 2020 - Winner
Creative Circle 2020 - Silver x2 Bronze x2
Kinsale Sharks 2019 - Bronze
Campaign Innovation of the year 2019
Campaign Tech Awards 2020 -  Winner
The Drum Awards 2019 - Best Non Profit
Cog X - Outstanding use of AI for good

Move with Hart

Clio 2017 Gold

Killzone 2

Cannes Lions 2009 - Cyber - Silver 
D&AD 2010 - Graphite Pencil
One Show 2010 - Bronze 
Creative Circle 2010 - Silver x2
LIA Awards 2009 - Gold & Silver
Eurobest 2009 - Gold

Google YiS

D&AD 2015 - Wood Pencil
Eurobest 2015 - Bronze

Make Google Do it

Campaign Tech Awards 2019 - Best integrated campaign

Clients

Some of my clients

Clients

References

2 years ago Dan asked me to create a new role for him as Creative Innovation Director. Since then he has flourished and grown into a real creative leader, with genuine passion for what he does. He lives and breathes innovation. You can see his neurodiverse brain fizzing with the possibilities it presents. He comes up with ideas. He gets on the tools. He coaches others. He considers all the implications of new technology. And the hard yards of implementation. He has been involved in the most exciting innovative work at T&Pm, as two Grand Clios attest. He created the role, he is owning it and bossing it. Every future facing agency needs a little DNS in their DNA

Toby Allen

CCO Anomaly

Why Dan (or DNS, which is much cooler and therefore representative of who he is...)? Firstly he has proven track record in producing high-quality, and even more importantly, interesting creative advertising. He consistently brings a fresh perspective to every project. His art direction skills and dedication to craft have always been very strong (being an AD at the heart, I care about this stuff). And if this wasn't enough... it's matched by a unique ability to integrate his deep passion and knowledge of innovation into all aspects of his work, ensuring that the creative output is not only visually compelling but also forward-thinking.

Beyond his technical and creative abilities, Dan is a genuinely great person to have in the office. His positive attitude and collaborative spirit make him a valuable team player and a joy to work with.

Andre Moreira

Global CCO T&Pm

When I was running the creative department at R/GA London Dan was one of my go-to creatives for big projects. I promoted him to ACD for his work on Nike and Hyundai and for helping younger teams develop (but could have demoted him for mocking me when Ireland lost). He is self-sufficient, hardworking and always writes interesting and funny stuff.

Ciaran McCarthy

VP Brand & Advertising Microsoft

I love working with Dan for several reasons. First, he comes up with great ideas. Second, he's fun to work with. Third, he's dedicated as hell, with no ego that comes with it. A rare trait for freelance.

He delivers strong campaign ideas. He executes brilliantly in digital or traditional spaces. He brings writing and art direction craft. He was on hand to guide other teams. His work has helped grow our clients and bring new briefs into the building.

Sofia Carter - Marketing manager at Twitter

Carren O'Keefe

Chief Creative Officer at Digitas UK

R/GA London was one of the few agencies to credibly offer clients an ‘end-to-end’ creative proposition. And to achieve this we needed creatives that were channel agnostic, not digital or ATL, rather open minds who focused on ideas that could manifest across a customer journey, at any touchpoint, seamlessly collaborating with disciplines beyond traditional advertising to engage an audience in the most meaningful way. Dan consistently got this and nailed it. A joy to work with in every respect.

Chloe Ortiz - CEO at Survey Monkey

James Temple

Global Immersive, XR & Gen AI Lead at Accenture Song

DNS: where to begin? Dan is a shining example of enthusiasm regarding all areas of agency life and advertising in general. He has had arguably the very best in schooling, being an alumnus of Tony Cullingham's Watford course. He soaks up culture like a 12-ply Bounty towel. His insatiable appetite for new stuff is not a solitary past-time however - he shares his findings with the agency and enjoys ruminating their relative merits with colleagues from any and all departments. Dan is a social animal who works very well in a team and enjoys meeting new people. His work is of a consistently high standard. He has a positive attitude and a desire to create great work.

Mario Rossi - CFO at Microsoft

Gavin Gordon-Rogers

Co-founder of World Headquarters

References

2 years ago Dan asked me to create a new role for him as Creative Innovation Director. Since then he has flourished and grown into a real creative leader, with genuine passion for what he does. He lives and breathes innovation. You can see his neurodiverse brain fizzing with the possibilities it presents. He comes up with ideas. He gets on the tools. He coaches others. He considers all the implications of new technology. And the hard yards of implementation. He has been involved in the most exciting innovative work at T&Pm, as two Grand Clios attest. He created the role, he is owning it and bossing it. Every future facing agency needs a little DNS in their DNA

Toby Allen

CCO Anomaly

Why Dan (or DNS, which is much cooler and therefore representative of who he is...)? Firstly he has proven track record in producing high-quality, and even more importantly, interesting creative advertising. He consistently brings a fresh perspective to every project. His art direction skills and dedication to craft have always been very strong (being an AD at the heart, I care about this stuff). And if this wasn't enough... it's matched by a unique ability to integrate his deep passion and knowledge of innovation into all aspects of his work, ensuring that the creative output is not only visually compelling but also forward-thinking.

Beyond his technical and creative abilities, Dan is a genuinely great person to have in the office. His positive attitude and collaborative spirit make him a valuable team player and a joy to work with.

Andre Moreira

Global CCO T&Pm

When I was running the creative department at R/GA London Dan was one of my go-to creatives for big projects. I promoted him to ACD for his work on Nike and Hyundai and for helping younger teams develop (but could have demoted him for mocking me when Ireland lost). He is self-sufficient, hardworking and always writes interesting and funny stuff.

Ciaran McCarthy

VP Brand & Advertising Microsoft

I love working with Dan for several reasons. First, he comes up with great ideas. Second, he's fun to work with. Third, he's dedicated as hell, with no ego that comes with it. A rare trait for freelance.

He delivers strong campaign ideas. He executes brilliantly in digital or traditional spaces. He brings writing and art direction craft. He was on hand to guide other teams. His work has helped grow our clients and bring new briefs into the building.

Sofia Carter - Marketing manager at Twitter

Carren O'Keefe

Chief Creative Officer at Digitas UK

R/GA London was one of the few agencies to credibly offer clients an ‘end-to-end’ creative proposition. And to achieve this we needed creatives that were channel agnostic, not digital or ATL, rather open minds who focused on ideas that could manifest across a customer journey, at any touchpoint, seamlessly collaborating with disciplines beyond traditional advertising to engage an audience in the most meaningful way. Dan consistently got this and nailed it. A joy to work with in every respect.

Chloe Ortiz - CEO at Survey Monkey

James Temple

Global Immersive, XR & Gen AI Lead at Accenture Song

DNS: where to begin? Dan is a shining example of enthusiasm regarding all areas of agency life and advertising in general. He has had arguably the very best in schooling, being an alumnus of Tony Cullingham's Watford course. He soaks up culture like a 12-ply Bounty towel. His insatiable appetite for new stuff is not a solitary past-time however - he shares his findings with the agency and enjoys ruminating their relative merits with colleagues from any and all departments. Dan is a social animal who works very well in a team and enjoys meeting new people. His work is of a consistently high standard. He has a positive attitude and a desire to create great work.

Mario Rossi - CFO at Microsoft

Gavin Gordon-Rogers

Co-founder of World Headquarters

Drop me a line

Email me

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Email me

Add me on Linkedin

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