Hey, I’m James,
a multidisciplinary creative director who snuck in through advertising’s side door from the world of tech to cause as much trouble as possible while making ads people actually want to see.
ABOUT
EXPERIENCE
Apple
Saatchi & Saatchi
TBWA \ Chiat \ Day
TBWA \ DAN
72 & Sunny
JUXT
Microsoft
XBOX
CONTACT
James McKenna
Email
Linkedin
Twitter
TikTok
I ONCE
CHALLENGED UFC CHAMP CHUCK LIDDELL TO A WRESTLING MATCH AND LOST MISERABLY.
I suppose I like to push my luck. Even creatively, I’ve never been content to play just one position. I’ve built a career using copy, art, emerging technology, and music to carve out a unique path for myself. It’s treated me well so far, allowing me to work at some of the most creatively innovative places on earth—both agency and in-house—creating ads that have trended #1 on social media, shined at the Super Bowl, and been talked about on Jimmy Fallon, and in the halls of Art Basel alike.Whether it was getting Super Bowl fans to vote BDSM to the top(ish) of the Ad Meter, or turning "talking baseball" into a way to raise millions to combat climate change for T-Mobile...
...Making the Tokyo Paralympics the most “seen” games in history, helping create shoes that talk shit for Google, producing the world’s first solar-powered GIF for Jimmy Dean, helping Disney win the war for children’s imaginations against the scourge of “screen time,” turning a vodka recipe into a 3-season TV show for Grey Goose, shaping the Metaverse at Microsoft, or making ads for over 100 games in one year at Xbox, I’ve pushed my luck—and my creativity—to try and make ads people will actually want to watch.
Currently assisting on various projects NDA'ed within an inch of their life for the largest tech company on earth. Previous freelance clients include Highdive, GS&P, 72 & Sunny, RPA, Saatchi LA, Known, and others.
Helped T-Mobile become the most valuable brand in wireless, steering brand and partnership creative during it's best performing period as a marketer and a business. I also led select creative for brands like the Paralympics, Aflac, Bank of the West, and others. Notables: Topped multiple 'best of' lists with multiple spots in the Super bowl, HR4HR campaign went "viral" on social media & raised millions of dollars to fight climate change in the process, and returned T-Mobile to the awards circuit for the first time in years. Helped make the most watched Paralympics in history
Lead creative for clients including Disney, Grey Goose, Jimmy Dean, and Energizer. Notables: winning Disney business, working with Stan Lee, and Launching Grey Goose "Fly Beyond" platform.
Lead creative for TBWA\Digital Arts Network LA. Tasked with elevating the "integrated" thinking within Chiat \ Day's more traditional tool set, partnering with global DAN offices to do the same across the TBWA network, and overseeing dedicated digital creative for for clients such as Apple, Google, Reebok, Grey Goose, and more.
Assisted the talented 72 crew on multiple accounts over multiple stints, focusing on breakthrough, technology-led creative work ranging from wearable tech and real-time advertising for Google, to national retail advertising for Target. Notables: the award-winning "Art Copy & Code" program for google.
IYKYK. Drove creative excellence on various projects at the famed digital shop, most notably work for Cisco.
Did the digital "never been done before" for fortune 50 brands at Microsoft Advertising. Specializing in gaming and entertainment clients. As co-chair of an emerging technologies team, I managed creatives, technologists, and agency partners/vendors to develop first of it's kind interactive experiences, including early "mixed reality", "metaverse", and natural user interface design work. Notables: Global ad campaigns for Fox, Sony, and WB film slates, Epic Games, Bungie, and Square Enix, Skunkworks collabs with XBOX / Kinect teams, IAB, FWA award wins, and Cannes Microsoft Beach installation.
Launched over 100 game titles as a part of the XBOX LIVE team, work included early "influencer" content with LIVE personaliaties like Major Nelson, XBOX.com takeovers, and Microsites... Remember "Microsites?" REMEMBER FLASH!? RIP.
PLAY
PLAY
When not making ads, I keep creatively busy as a songwriter (WCM), producer, and artist, taking on non-profit projects, immersing myself in new technologies...
...Failing at my attempt to be good at surfing, and doing as much pajama wrestling as my joints allow. I still haven’t gotten my rematch with Mr. Liddell.
DEATH
TO BORING
With the help of a slew of talented folks, I’ve had the good fortune to win a few awards for, and more importantly get people talking about, some of the best brands on earth.
AWARDS
BRANDS
PRESS
- The Tonight Show
- Late night with Conan
- The New York Times
- The Today Show
- Time
- WaPo
- Wired
- Kotaku
- Juxtapoz
- Art Forum
- Adweek 10 Superbowl XVVX ads
- Ad Age top SB XVXV ads
- Top 5 for social engement - Superbowl XVVX
- #1 Trending on Twitter
- #1 - Apple Music dance charts
- Creativity Online
- Lurzers Archive
- Fast Company
- Campaign For Good Awards
LET'S TALK
Need a hand on some ads? Looking to collab?
Wanna write a tune?
2024 | James S McKenna. If you’re reading this, it’s too late.