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| In Creative Minds, we ask APAC creatives a long list of questions, from serious to silly, and ask them to pick 11 to answer. (Why 11? Just because.) Want to be featured? |
Name: Brett Colliver
Place of origin: Esperance, Australia
Places lived and worked: Perth, Melbourne, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand
Pronouns: He/him
CV:
- Chief creative officer, Dentsu New Zealand, 2023-present
- Creative director, DDB New Zealand, 2016-2023
- Art director, Colenso BBDO, New Zealand, 2012-2016
- Art director, Clemenger BBDO, Melbourne Australia, 2011-2012
- Art director, DDB New Zealand, 2007-2011
- Art director, Gatecrasher, Perth Australia, 2006-2007
1. How did you end up being a creative?
I was studying graphic design and came across a book called 'I Am Amost Always Hungry' by Cahan & Associates. Their specialty was designing annual reports, but with a quality that made them stand out from every other company. They insisted on having an idea at the heart of every design. In the opening pages there was a quote from Bill Cahan saying that to him "aesthetics aren't enough, there has to be an idea." And so began my segue from design to advertising.
2. What's your favourite piece of work in your portfolio?
I'm going to say Aid Aisle because they just won the first Lions for Dentsu Creative in New Zealand, and they were also the first for a number of people on the project. There's something extra special about that. You can view the campaign here and below.
3. What's your favourite piece of work created by someone else?
I never know how to answer this, there's way too many. José González randomly popped up on Spotify the other day though, so I'm going to go with Sony 'Balls'. But rather than watch the beautiful ad again, here's the beautifully chaotic reality. Let's make sure we never lose analogue completely.
4. What/who are your creative influences?
Making sure I look at things I'm not sure I'll be interested in. That can be anything from movies to magazines in a waiting room.
5. What's on your bucket list?
I've always wanted to go to an NBA game, and last week paid way too much to finally go see the Lakers later this year.
6. What career did you think you'd have when you were a kid?
Add me to the pile of art directors who seem to say architect. What's up with that?
7. Tell us about the worst job you've ever had.
I can't say packing shelves in a supermarket at 2:00am was overly fun.
8. What's your favourite music / film / TV show / book / other of the past year?
'Poor Things' was so weird but so fresh. Loved it. However, it set my expectations way too high for Yorgos Lanthimos's next film, 'Kinds of Kindness'. If you ever stumble upon this comment Yorgos, please let me know what that was all about.
9. Tell us about an artist (any medium) that we've probably never heard of.
In reference to my origin story, check out Bill Cahan and his former studio, Cahan & Associates. A lot of the work still looks fresh these days.
10. Tell us about your tattoo(s).
Don't disown me creative community, but I'm a clean skin.
11. Early riser or night owl?
A night owl that somehow forces himself out of bed early most mornings.
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