DEON SENSKY

An experienced and versatile senior Art Director / Creative Director with awards and ambitions across all disciplines, and a driving passion for concept and craft. I've led numerous projects throughout my career and been part of pitch-winning teams at agencies big and small. I bring a wide range of skills and energy to every brief I encounter and remain consistently unfaithful to any medium. 

- problem solver and conceptual thinker
- produced work for major brands across digital, TV, outdoor, print, direct, retail, experiential
- art director on numerous shoots, internationally and in the UK
- worked alongside top producers, directors, photographers, illustrators, and designers
- responsible for budgets big and small
- very comfortable with client-facing roles
- nurtured junior teams and run creative workshops
- judged at Creative Circle
- always strive to produce work that stands out

deon@sensky.co.uk
+44 (0) 7979 503911

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Deon Sensky Creative Ltd
2012 - 2020

Over the past years I've worked for many leading agencies, including:

BBH / Ogilvy / St Luke's / AKQA / FCB Inferno / Hey Human / Albion / VCCP / Iris /
WCRS / Hometown / LIDA / Geometry / BJL / Exposure / Soul / Cheil / Space / MRM /

In that time, I’ve produced award-winning work for British Airways, Shell and Haagen-Dazs, campaigns for Audi, Honda, Vauxhall, British Gas, Thameslink, Samsung and Border Biscuits, created TV ads for Malta Guinness, experiential events for Starbucks, worked on successful pitches for NFL, Absolut, Netflix and Ministry, and produced work for many other major brands.

I’ve also produced the most popular unofficial England song of the last World Cup, have written and art-directed a kids picture book, and produced several winning campaigns for international creative competitions, the latest of which has raised over $40,000 for charity.


iris Worldwide
2008 – 2012

An eventful and successful four years at this unique, independent agency, during which time I worked across almost all of the agency’s flagship accounts. This includes major campaigns for Sony Ericsson, Philips and Volkswagen and winning several awards for integrated campaigns for Highways Agency, Marmite and SureMen. My work for Philips and Unilever was instrumental in securing them as major clients for the agency.

I was also largely responsible for the 'iris on Benefits' book, which sparked much controversy and won plaudits for it's photography. One of the images, featuring my daughter, won the coveted Public's Choice Award at the AOP Photography Awards and was exhibited among a selection of outstanding images of the year.


Claydon Heeley
2007 

During Claydon Heeley's most prolific creative era, I helped lead an ambitious digital project for Mercedes-Benz – art directing, scriptwriting and sound-mixing for what became an award-winning website for the Smart For-Two. As well as being frequently involved in pitches, I was made brand guardian for Smart, and helped oversee some outstanding work for the agency.


WFCA
2004 - 2007

Working closely with the Creative Director, my creative input and leadership over two years helped turn WFCA in to one of the top agencies outside London, thanks to numerous pitch wins, including Greene King. This featured work for ailing brand Ruddles Ale - a controversial campaign that sparked a dramatic rise in the brand's market share.


J W T
2000 - 2003

Working with top industry professionals, I produced numerous TV, print and radio ads for some of the world’s biggest brands (including Kellogg's, Boots, Kraft, Smirnoff) and created nationwide campaigns to launch a variety of new products, most notably for Persil.


Awards

FAB Silver Award 2019
Crowdiate International Creative Competition: Winner 2017
Team Darwin International Creative Competition: 2 x Winner 2015
Best MAA Award 2014
Best MAA Award 2014
Gold BIMA Award 2013
Gold BIMA Award 2013
Webby Awards Honoree 2013
Webby Awards Nominee 2013
Caples Award Finalist 2013
Team Darwin International Creative Competition: Winner 2013
AOP Award - Public's Choice Winner 2012
IPM Gold Award 2012
DMA Silver Award 2012
ISP Gold Award 2010
ISP Silver Award 2010
European Globe Awards Bronze 2009
ISP Gold Award 2009
Webby Awards Finalist 2007
Flash in the Pan Web Design Awards: Gold Award 2007
PPA Advertising Excellence Award: Best Campaign 2005
20th Annual London International Awards: Best Consumer Print Campaign 2005
Independent Awards: Best New Age Commercial 2002
TTB Awards: Silver 2002
TTB Awards: Gold 2001


References

“Deon is not only talented, he's tenacious. No obstacle is too big, no problem too tricky. Deon is one of those people who can take a seemingly unpromising brief and turn it into gold. In terms of craft, he's a perfectionist who sets himself high standards which, come hell or high water, tiny budgets or daft timings, he will meet. And he manages all this with a smile on his face. Most of all he's ambitious and if there's an empty awards shelf somewhere in your agency, I'd back this fella to fill it.”
Shaun McIlrath, Exec Creative Director, iris Worldwide


"I've had the pleasure of working with Deon for several years at a range of agencies. He is a proper creative all-rounder: solid, insight driven ideas, brilliant art direction and he’s also an excellent writer. If this weren’t a smorgasbord of skills already, he’s also a musical talent. Above all, he’s just a lovely bloke to have around the place, friendly, enthusiastic and with a great line in banter. I would love to work with him again and if you get the chance to, grab it".
Ali Brushfield, Creative Director, Earnest


"Deon has been at the heart of some of our most successful campaigns for global clients such as Sony, Marmite, SureMen and Shell. He's a talented creative with a strong work ethic who takes pride in ensuring his product is of the highest quality. He builds strong relationships with other creatives, account teams and clients, and added a tremendous amount to our agency culture".
Tom Crossley, Partner, iris Worldwide (now WCRS)


"I worked alongside Deon at Ogilvy on several campaigns - including a high profile fully integrated launch campaign for a demanding client. He is a pleasure to work with and not only got on with the creative task quickly and efficiently, but continued to produce great work. I hope to work with him again soon."
Mike Kerry, Senior Producer, Ogilvy


"Give Deon the most challenging of briefs and he'll work his magic to give you something fresh and engaging. A consummate professional, he is articulate and approachable and very comfortable in front of clients."
Arthur Parshotam, Global Creative Director, Ogilvy


“It is easy to Produce work for someone like Deon who has a clear vision and is passionate about his craft. Deon is inspirational, always pushing the boundaries and making the work as good as it can be. If you pushed me to name his other qualities I would have to say he's great fun to be around and a generous spirited man."
Jane Rattle, Head of Broadcast, iris Worldwide


“I’ve worked with Deon for a number of years. Clients have always found him articulate and passionate. As a creative, he’s never afraid to try something different or fight for what he thinks is right in answering a brief. That said, he’s always happy to discuss the rationale behind his concepts, and unlike some senior creatives, he likes to have complete understanding of client briefs. Clients have always found him articulate and passionate, and I’ve no doubt that Deon will bring a lot of experience and enthusiasm to whatever he chooses to take on next.”
Stef Zoltowski, Managing Partner, iris Worldwide


“Having never ridden a horse before, I was nervous when I was bequeathed Deon by an ill friend. But he proved himself a faithful steed indeed. I look back at those days with fondness - his powerful shoulders flexing as I rode him down the Embankment, bare-chested with the wind in my hair - and am thankful for the time we had together. Interestingly, Deon is not only a delightful geegee, but also a terribly talented creative. Award-winning ideas seem to spill out of him like rainbow-flavoured vomit. His prowess in art direction is matched only by his skill as a writer. All in all, he's a frustratingly good all-round creative bloke/horse.”
Johnny Watters, Copywriter, Claydon Heeley (now Creative Director, Ogilvy & Mather)


"Deon is a genuine pleasure to work with and instantly felt like part of the team. He hit the ground running, and asked the right questions, which is important for us as we often have only a few days to turn creative around for a pitch. He is also very versatile, coping with whatever is thrown his way and coming out with really great results at the end. There are only a handful of creatives that we would recommend here, and Deon is definitely one of those."
Roddy Adams, Senior Account Manager, Engine Group


Additional references available from:
Al Young, Creative Director, St.Luke's
Sacha Ward, Creative Director, BBH
Will Awdry, Creative Director, Ogilvy, Big Fish
Jules Vizard, Creative Director, St.Luke's
Michael Quinn, Creative Director, VCCP
Shnoosee Bailey, Creative Director, Hey Human


Professional bits

Lead Creative on numerous shoots for Philips in London, Amsterdam, and Prague - includes a major launch for Philips Sonicare for the US and UK.

Responsible for several high profile campaigns for Unilever including an ambitious campaign for SureMen featuring weird and wonderful drag races captured by the Top Gear production team / a nationwide Marmite campaign, awarded an extra £2mill media spend by virtue of overdelivering on the brief / the SureMen Last 8 Sweepstake, a World Cup activation that became Tesco’s most successful ever promotional campaign.

Brand guardian, art director, scriptwriter and sound-mixer for what became an award-winning website for the Mercedes Smart For-Two.

Lauded and vilified for my lead role as art director and producer of the iris on Benefits book. One of the controversial shots - featuring my daughter Emma - won the Public's Choice Award at the AOP Awards and was exhibited among a selection of outstanding images of the year.

Photographer and art director for the Carlsberg ‘half-empty half-full’ campaign.

Art director and client-facing role for a major social campaign for the Vauxhall Crossland X.

Created concepts for several successful experiential events for Starbucks that appeared across the UK.

Initial concept and art direction for what became ‘Social Symphony’ - an award-winning digital project for British Airways.

Regular participator in international creative competitions, with a good track record, topping the leaderboard for Crowdiate, and producing several winning campaigns for Team Darwin, including Water Aid & Miele.


Personal bits

Passions include Comedy, Music, Art, Books, Documentary, Psychology, Travel, Guitar, Football, Family.

Created arguably the most successful England football song of the Brazil World Cup. The Macarooney might have made a much bigger splash had England and Rooney not departed so early, but it was a huge amount of fun writing it, singing it, creating the dance, negotiating the song rights (less fun), producing, shooting and starring (anonymously) in the video, performing for 400 kids on their sports day, being on the front page of my local paper, interviewed by the red tops, featured on National radio, and being seen in over 170 countries. It also raised a few bob for UK charity Streetleague.

A doting dad, navigating fatherhood since 2006. Two growing sprogs, Oscar & Emma. The apple and cherry of my eye.

Project-managed the conversion of a 2 bed maisonette in to a 5 bed mini-mansion over two years, drawing the architectural plans, and getting my hands very dirty along the way.

Captain and marauding midfielder for many agency football teams and tournaments. Qualified as FA Level 2 Coach, to help lead my son’s local club from U7 to U10. Now helping coach my daughter at U9.

Keen scuba diver, with over 50 dives made around the world. Ended up opposite a huge mantaray on my last dive off the Similan Isles, Thailand.

Putting on voices and accents is irresistible to me. I’ve been a voice in several of my radio and video recordings. I also write songs, sing and play guitar.

Written and art directed kids picture book 'Baad Sheep' with the brilliant illustrator Charlie Brown.