Driving Brands Forward by Lifting People Up.
Hi, I’m Sean Bryan. As a Chief Creative Officer since 2012, and a creative lead on major brands for several decades, I have always found that best way to create results for a brand is to help it brighten peoples lives. In 1993, I found my way into the creative department at J. Walter Thompson rather accidentally, by writing a skit for the office holiday party that the CCO thought was very funny. He asked me to bring the same sense of humor to some real assignments, and I have been at it ever since. From Bud Light to Microsoft, and from MasterCard to Verizon, I have always believed that brands need to earn a place in people’s lives, by improving them, even just a little. Whether that means just bringing a smile to someone’s face, or inspiring something more significant, I always strive to help brands make a positive difference in the world.
My career began at JWT, led me to DDB Chicago, and most recently to McCann, and I have been lucky enough work on some amazing brands along the way – McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Kodak, Staples, GM, and too many others to name. I was the creative lead on Microsoft for a decade, and on Verizon for 18 years, and I love helping brands evolve over time. I find the best way to do that is to bring creative storytelling that goes beyond any one execution. By thinking in terms of long-running campaigns, I have helped to create brands that stand the test of time. For Verizon, that meant showing people the importance of a reliable network. For MasterCard, that means bringing Priceless experiences to people everywhere.
Building brands that make a difference requires more than just creativity. It requires teamwork and trust, amongst everybody at the agency and the client. I have always tried to build that trust by keeping an open mind, embracing a good idea no matter where it comes from, and keeping things fun. I have found that when the creative process is fun and upbeat, when people are cracking each other up in the hallway, you can feel that in the creative work. You can sense it on the screen. Conversely, when every step is tense, and every meeting is a struggle, you can unfortunately feel that in the creative work, too. So I always try to keep the process fun for everybody, not just to make the day more enjoyable, but to help the creative work.
I have been fortunate enough to sit on juries from Cannes Lions to the EFFIE’s. And I have been honored to win more than my fair share at the award shows, with over a hundred Cannes Lions, 9 Grand Prix, and two Titaniums so far. Outside of advertising, I developed an interest in children’s books, and along with my art director partner, I have published four illustrated children’s books. I live in Connecticut with my wife, who is a Shakespeare professor, and our many dogs.
Thanks for reading so far, and I would love to chat further about all of it.
Driving Brands Forward by Lifting People Up.
Hi, I’m Sean Bryan. As a Chief Creative Officer since 2012, and a creative lead on major brands for several decades, I have always found that best way to create results for a brand is to help it brighten peoples lives. In 1993, I found my way into the creative department at J. Walter Thompson rather accidentally, by writing a skit for the office holiday party that the CCO thought was very funny. He asked me to bring the same sense of humor to some real assignments, and I have been at it ever since. From Bud Light to Microsoft, and from MasterCard to Verizon, I have always believed that brands need to earn a place in people’s lives, by improving them, even just a little. Whether that means just bringing a smile to someone’s face, or inspiring something more significant, I always strive to help brands make a positive difference in the world.
My career began at JWT, led me to DDB Chicago, and most recently to McCann, and I have been lucky enough work on some amazing brands along the way – McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Kodak, Staples, GM, and too many others to name. I was the creative lead on Microsoft for a decade, and on Verizon for 18 years, and I love helping brands evolve over time. I find the best way to do that is to bring creative storytelling that goes beyond any one execution. By thinking in terms of long-running campaigns, I have helped to create brands that stand the test of time. For Verizon, that meant showing people the importance of a reliable network. For MasterCard, that means bringing Priceless experiences to people everywhere.
Building brands that make a difference requires more than just creativity. It requires teamwork and trust, amongst everybody at the agency and the client. I have always tried to build that trust by keeping an open mind, embracing a good idea no matter where it comes from, and keeping things fun. I have found that when the creative process is fun and upbeat, when people are cracking each other up in the hallway, you can feel that in the creative work. You can sense it on the screen. Conversely, when every step is tense, and every meeting is a struggle, you can unfortunately feel that in the creative work, too. So I always try to keep the process fun for everybody, not just to make the day more enjoyable, but to help the creative work.
I have been fortunate enough to sit on juries from Cannes Lions to the EFFIE’s. And I have been honored to win more than my fair share at the award shows, with over a hundred Cannes Lions, 9 Grand Prix, and two Titaniums so far. Outside of advertising, I developed an interest in children’s books, and along with my art director partner, I have published four illustrated children’s books. I live in Connecticut with my wife, who is a Shakespeare professor, and our many dogs.
Thanks for reading so far, and I would love to chat further about all of it.