DENIS THIEL / ABOUT
CREATIVITY WASN’T ON MY BINGO CARD.
I grew up around hospitality and trained as a tax clerk. Somehow, I ended up in advertising.
An odd route into creative direction. Though understanding people and knowing when things don’t add up both come in handy.
None of it was wasted.
I just don’t do your taxes.
Then things
escalated.
Big agencies. International brands. My calendar filled up. So did my job description.
I went from making the work to leading teams and taking responsibility for what left the room. Along the way, I saw how much energy goes into making an idea happen. And how easily a room full of smart people can talk it to death.
I’ve been one of those people, too.
You learn.
15+
Years in. Ego in check.
WPP
OMNICOM
PUBLICIS
Agency Networks
Teams
Led & Developed
Countless
Ideas, Projects & collaborations
There's more to me
Than my Job title.
I’m a father and a partner.
I’ve changed direction before.
I still question things I once felt certain about.
Experience helps. It doesn’t sort out your entire life.
I’m interested in what gets left out of the polished introduction. The decision you keep postponing. The thing you want but feel ridiculous saying out loud. Or the feeling that something needs to change, even though everything looks fine.
We can talk about that, too.
Stop making
ordinary
safe sh*t
SMOSS started as a reminder to myself.
Don’t make things ordinary just because ordinary feels safe.
Don’t sand down every edge until everyone agrees.
Stay curious. Make decisions. Leave
something worth remembering.
Somewhere along the way, it became the principle behind how I work.