About
Hello internet sleuth. Congratulations you have arrived at a bit of writing that has to encapsulate me.
I’m called Darren. Which was one of the most premium working class names of the 70s. Council estate kudos for sure, but a little less pizzazz once I moved to London. I once had a pitch in New York and the security thought I said my name was Diamond Simpson, and prepared my ID as such. I’ve never stopped thinking about that day. I lived that moment.
Name hang ups to one side.
I’m a highly experienced creative leader, I’ve looked after some of the world’s best digital agencies before moving over to advertising and rebooting my career.
Now I’ve completed advertising with a highest score, I’m looking to apply my unrivalled knowledge to new adventures and mischief of any kind. Maybe even my own agency. I believe in an environment of creative empowerment, giving creatives the freedom from fear to create the best work of their careers. It’s something I’ve instilled into all the teams I’ve managed, and it’s a belief that also runs throughout Wieden + Kennedy.
Wieden + Kennedy was the last place I worked full time, where I was Creative Director (or ECD depending on your company structure) for 4 and a half years of family friendly fun. Good times.
Apart from work and a council name (it’s not even a thing, forget about it). I enjoy life to the full. And when I say I enjoy life to the full obviously I mean I survive the daily abuse I get from my three and eight year olds as best I can. And the odd moment, usually hiding, crying in the toilet that I do get - I really live to the full.
So there we are. I’m a person with a name who works and has a family. We should be friends.
Experience:
August 2018 - Present
Wieden + Kennedy, London - Creative Director
Sky Showtime. McDonald’s Global, F1, FA, Converse, Sainsbury’s, Niantic, Bud Light
June 2015 - July 2018
Joint, London - Creative Director
Amazon, Vue, UKTV, Thatchers, Kettle Chips
Dec 2009 - June 2015
RKCR Y&R (Now VML Y&R), London - Senior Creative
BBC, Vodafone, Bombay Sapphire, LG, Lloyds TSB. Activa
Aug 2009 - Nov 2009
AnalogFolk, London - Partner / Executive Creative Director / Creative Director
Seat UK, Asics, Belvedere Vodka, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour
July 2008 - July 2009
Saint @RKCR Y&R, London - Creative Director
Gov Knife Crime, Lloyds, LG F1, Getty & Flickr, Bacardi
July 2006 - July 2008
Mook (Now Publicis Sapient), London - Executive Creative Director / Design Director
Nike, Sony PlayStation, Tesco, Diaggio, Mars
July 2004 - July 2006
Digit, London - Executive Creative Director / Art Director
BBC, Coca-Cola, MTV, Vodafone, Wallpaper, Motorola
July 1999 - July 2004
Telstar Records / Razorfish / Wunderman / Randommedia - Creative to Creative Director
Sony Playstation, Sega, Citroen, Ford, Land Rover, Motorola,
Education:
1996 - 1999
Salford University, Salford
1st Class Honours / Interactive Design
Awards
I have to hold my hands up and say I have never kept track of awards. I’ve judged a fair few, but never really taken much note of winning them, even though the work I’ve produced has won many. There are so many awards bodies for so many different things and it never interested me if I’m perfectly honest. If I was having fun, and the creatives and clients were happy I was happy. I know when the work is good and when it could be better.
Advertising:
Various. Most of them.
Digital:
Bafta / Habitat
Bafta / MTV2
One Show Award / Sony Playstation
Cannes Lion / Motorola
Future Marketing Award / Coca-Cola
Y-Design Award / Sony PSP
Epica Award / Nike JDI Russia