M&C Saatchi LA has brought creative director Norman Brown on board. He joins the agency’s creative leadership and will work alongside M&C Saatchi LA ECD Maria Smith.
Brown–who had been at MullenLowe in El Segundo, Calif., working on Acura and Facebook Marketplace–brings 15-plus years of ad experience to his new roost, with a focus on art direction and design solutions for brands worldwide.
“M&C Saatchi’s ethos ‘Brutal Simplicity of Thought’ is the essence of impactful design and something that I strive for in my work, so it is a welcome opportunity to be surrounded by others who operate with this belief,” commented Brown. “It’s a culture fueled by entrepreneurs and creative thinkers who see clients as partners in the process of uniting strategy and design to build brands.”
Practically born into advertising, Brown’s mother was an agency VP/director of broadcast and print traffic who fostered his appreciation for film and fine arts. Photography, an ever-present pursuit and influence, led him to film school and the entertainment industry. Brown’s vast experience with visual artistry for brands began after graduating from Cal Arts when he joined the Attik in San Francisco. He returned to Los Angeles with an intensified appreciation for design thinking having grown into the art director and sr. art director roles.
Over the years, Brown has turned concepts into comprehensible products and brand elevating engagements for Subaru, Honda, Lexus, Real California Milk, Sprint, The Delano Hotel and others via agencies Deutsch, RPA, Team One and Mullen Lowe, as well as in-house at Uber. One of the most personally gratifying projects, he recalled, was a multi-platform campaign for Lexus that encouraged real connections and meaningful interactions. It culminated with a December To Remember snow day and fundraiser benefiting the Boys & Girls Club.
“Advertising has the power to help ideas grow into something beautiful, whether connected to a cause, developing identity, or expanding perception,” he said. “Maria and the entire team at M&C Saatchi share an appreciation for building things that are ownable and meaningful, be it for business objective or social good. That makes for an inspiring place to be.”
Comedic Director Roderick Fenske Joins Yard Dog TV For U.S. Spot Work
Roderick Fenske, the award-winning agency copywriter/creative director turned comedic director of commercials and films, has joined Yard Dog TV for U.S. representation.
Fenske--known for his idiosyncratic casting, stylish art direction, and blend of practical and digital effects--saw his newest commercial work, for Drink Weird Ice Tea, break earlier this month. His most recent short film, I’m Dead, You’re Welcome, starring JR Russell, Taissa Zveiter, Sandy Eels, and Julia Lorpriore, is making the rounds of film festivals now, having won Best Comedy Short at the Flagstaff International Film Festival last month.
Fenske, who started out in the business as a copywriter, is one of a select group of agency creatives to have found success in both New York and London, where his last post was as a creative director at TBWA there. “I owe so much of my career to Trevor Beattie [TBWA London chairman/creative director at the time], because he believed in me and started my career directing commercials,” said Fenske, citing work for Sony PlayStation, French Connection UK, and Channel 5.
Those spots led to an invitation to become a member of the visionary Swedish film collective known as ACNE. “I learned so much there working in a directing collective. With everybody talking about how to make stuff look stylish and cinematic it was like a film school for me,” Fenske explained. “Production design is so important because humor can be much more unexpected when you have an elevated look.”
Over the course of his career, Fenske’s work has received many international awards from shows including the Cannes Lions, British D&AD, and AICP. He moved from London to Los Angeles, and during this time he met Yard Dog... Read More