The World's Greatest Advertising Art Directors (Updated) September 11 2023
A visual directory celebrating some of the finest art directors and their craft. Of course any such compilation is wholly subjective and will understandably, elicit equal parts curiosity, delight and surprise.
However for the purposes of this post our criteria has been:
Those operating from the 1990's - when print and television walked tall, to the current climes - when technology's explosion of new platforms, has birthed an evolving, shape shifting, media-sphere.
Those who've consistently won the at the big three award competitions - D&AD, One Show and Cannes Lions.
Those with an ability for superb print craftsmanship, a talent now more relevant than ever, as it is practised across a plethora of emergent platforms.
Newer work features at the beginning, while art directing mavens of yesteryear complete the end, to give you a better historical context.
INDEX OF ART DIRECTORS:
Paul Belford / Dave Dye / Mark Reddy / Antony Nelson / David Stevanov / Hital Pandya / Santosh Padhi / Len Cheeseman /Justin Tindall / Jerry Hollens / Bob Barrie / Graham Fink / Marcello Serpa / John Webster / Helmut Krone
Names will be added as we update this blog post
If you like beautifully arranged words and images like this, you'd love our site.
PAUL BELFORD: Art Director / Designer / Founder / Website
Image: '550,000 UK jobs rely on advertising' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Ataxia. It's like Multiple Sclerosis' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Keep this in case Name some Lidl...' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Mirror mirror on the wall' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Your dream has been held in a queue' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Not every German engineering genius' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: '7:29 am' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'The D&AD Copy Book' design / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Grow people' logo design / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Drug addict? Alcoholic?' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'The more you save' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'After years of protest battery cages are to be replaced' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Sony Playstation' Man Ray inspired billboard / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'You don't have to be a clairvoyant' ad / art director: Paul Belford
Image: 'Why learn from your mistakes' ad / art director: Paul Belford
DAVE DYE: ART DIRECTOR / CREATIVE DIRECTOR / WEBSITE
Buy: Here's to the Crazy One's poster here / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'A light comes on after the door opens' Mercedes ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'It has headlights for driving' Mercedes ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Black Wednesday' Economist ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Ultra Violet rays' Economist ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Mark Denton' Arrows Archives ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Tony Davidson' Arrows Archives ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Light bulb' Economist ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Bottle caps' Adnans ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Beach umbrellas' Adnans ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'A Christmas gift from the CEO' Macallan's ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Rule of thumb' Macallan's ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Alien life forms' Economist ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Insider trading' Economist ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: Merry Down cider ad 1 / art director: Dave Dye
Image: Merry Down cider ad 2 / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'E= IQ2' Economist ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Lose the ability to slip out' Economist ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Just to the signpost' Adidas ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Free*' Adidas ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Self protection' VW Polo ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Protective Shells' VW Polo ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Protective species' VW Polo ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Hadrian's Wall' English Heritage ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Sorry if the Northern line doesn't run' London Transport ad / art director: Dave Dye
Image: 'Boot suppliers to the Scotland team' Nike ad / art director: Dave Dye
MARK REDDY: ART DIRECTOR / HEAD OF ART
Image: London Transport 'Escalators' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: London Transport 'Colour swatches' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: London Transport 'Tracks' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: London Transport 'Fingers' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: London Transport 'Rainbow' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Bernardo's 'Fuck off' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Bernardo's 'Kick you in the teeth' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Bernardo's 'Judge a boy by the cover' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: American Airlines 'What they don't teach you at Harvard' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: American Airlines 'We fly all over the US' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: The Guardian 'Pill' ad / art director: Mark Reddy & team
Image: The Guardian 'Egg' ad / art director: Mark Reddy & team
Image: Johnnie Walker 'Lights' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Johnnie Walker 'Wall' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Oxfam 'Vogue now in' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Oxfam 'Now in' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Oxfam 'Limited edition' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Oxfam 'Now in stock' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: The Guardian 'Isn't it amazing ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Vodafone 'Hello goodbye' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Vodafone 'Rhubarb' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Vodafone 'Left at the lights' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Vodafone 'Well it's 4am' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Vodafone 'Let me make myself perfectly clear' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Aqualibra 'True nature' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: VW 'Lady with dalmation' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: VW 'Policeman with bicycle' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: VW 'We don't let anything go rusty' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: VW 'What happens to a Polo after 50,000' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: VW 'To good for words' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Aberlour 'Head taster' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Aberlour 'Hogshead revisited' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Nikon 'Choosing your first Nikon' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
Image: Nikon 'Complete instructions' ad / art director: Mark Reddy
ANTONY NELSON: Art Director / ECD / Website
Image: Calm's 'Project 84' activation & PR campaign / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: 'The boy and the piano' John Lewis advert / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: 'Child abuse deaths must stop' NSPCC Wreath ad 1 / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: 'Child abuse deaths must stop' NSPCC Wreath ad 2 / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Think! 'Football' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Think! 'Selfies' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Guinness 'What every man really wants for Christmas' cologne ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Guinness 'What every man really wants for Christmas' cap ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Motorola 'One giant step for man' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Motorola 'Who would you expect to bring you the best...' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Tower Hamlets 'Kid with football' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Tower Hamlets 'Girl on cycle' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Club 18-30 'Beach' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Club 18-30 'Night club' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
Image: Club 18-30 'Swimming pool' ad / art director: Antony Nelson
DAVID STEVANOV: ART DIRECTOR / ACD / WEBSITE
Image: Samsung How to #DanceAwesome. Watch the video here / art director: David Stevanov
Image: Pitching French Films to Hollywood campaign. Watch the case study video here / art director: David Stevanov
Image: Singtel Movie Emoji campaign. Watch the case study video here / art director: David Stevanov
Image: Lego Imagine windows campaign here / art director: David Stevanov
Image: Ogilvy Asia logo / art director: David Stevanov
HITAL PANDYA: ART DIRECTOR / CD / WEBSITE
Image: Kiwi 'If these shoes could talk' ad / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Kiwi 'Possibly the highest heels ever made' ad / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Kiwi 'Van Gogh' Portraits completed ad / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Kiwi 'Leonardo Da Vinci' Portraits completed ad / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Kiwi 'Portraits Completed' brand activation / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Kiwi 'Make every step count' LGBT ad and website campaign / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Kiwi 'Make every step count' Climate change ad and website campaign / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Lyrics 'If nobody dies it isn't opera' poster / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Lyrics 'Sex, drugs and opera' poster / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Skittles 'Smuggle the rainbow' activation / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: McDonalds 'Billy' ad / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: McDonalds 'Tiffany' ad / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Levi's 'Girl' Slim jeans ad / art director: Hital Pandya
Image: Levi's 'Sex' Slim jeans ad / art director: Hital Pandya
LEN CHEESEMAN: ART & TYPE DIRECTOR
Image: Lien Foundation 'Take the final bow' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman, Gil Clark, Todd McCracken, Hoang Sa Nguyen
Image: Lien Foundation 'I wish I hadn't worked so hard' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman, Gil Clark, Todd McCracken, Hoang Sa Nguyen
Image: Lien Foundation 'If you don't like this ad tough' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman, Gil Clark, Todd McCracken, Hoang Sa Nguyen
Image: Global Alliance 'Runner up' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman, Huy Anh Le, Todd McCracken
Image: Global Alliance 'Recreational golfing' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman, Huy Anh Le, Todd McCracken
Image: Global Alliance 'Rape' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman, Huy Anh Le, Todd McCracken
Image: Sacred Hill 'Call an old friend' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman & Geoff Smith
Image: Sacred Hill 'Wouldn't it be nice we' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman & Geoff Smith
Image: Sacred Hill 'Here's to single tasking' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman & Geoff Smith
Image: New Zealand Book Council "Going West" advert / art director: Len Cheeseman, Nick Worthington, Anne Boothroyd
Image: Samaritans 'How do i know my dog committed suicide' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman, Todd McCracken, Hoang Sa Nguyen
Image: Samaritans 'Half way down was a hell of a time to realise...' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman, Todd McCracken, Hoang Sa Nguyen
Image: Schweppes 'The original gin and tonic' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman
Image: Schweppes 'Any man who can make a beer' ad / art director: Len Cheeseman
Image: Riot of Spring advert / art director: Len Cheeseman
Image: Help give back what a stroke takes away ad / art director: Len Cheeseman
Image: 'Choose one' ident for TVNZ channel TV One / art director: Len Cheeseman
Image: Remix Magazine advert 1 / art director: Len Cheeseman
Image: Remix Magazine advert 2 / art director: Len Cheeseman
Image: Hospice advert / art director: Len Cheeseman
SANTOSH PADHI: ART DIRECTOR / CCO
Image: Conqueror paper 'Kathak dancer' ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Conqueror paper 'Sadhu' ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Conqueror paper 'Tribal' ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Times of India 'Everything works better when it's outdoor' Dog ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Times of India 'Everything works better when it's outdoor' Camels ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Times of India 'Hang me again' Farmer 1 ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Times of India 'Hang me again' Farmer 2 ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Luxor pens 'Che' ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Luxor pens 'Hitler' ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
Image: Luxor pens 'Chaplin' ad / art director: Santosh Padhi
JUSTIN TINDALL: ART DIRECTOR / ECD
Image: Harvey Nichols 'Shirt being pulled' SALE ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: Harvey Nichols 'Sweater being pulled' SALE ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: Harvey Nichols 'Must have' baked beans ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: Harvey Nichols 'Must have' cat ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: Harvey Nichols 'Sale has started' ankle bruise ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: Harvey Nichols 'Sale has started' neck bruise ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: The Guardian 'Julie Burchill' ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: The Guardian 'Porn in the USAl' ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: 'Don't forget the Lurpak' Peas ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: 'Don't forget the Lurpak' Scones ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: 'Mergers and acquisitions' Financial Times ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: VW 'The new Beetle' Beano ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: VW 'The new Beetle' Snakes and ladders ad / art director: Justin Tindall
Image: VW 'Elepump' ad / art director: Justin Tindall
JERRY HOLLENS: ART DIRECTOR / PHOTOGRAPHER / WEBSITE
Image: Landrover Freelander 'Hippos' ad / art director: Jerry Hollens
Image: Landrover Freelander 'Maasai' ad / art director: Jerry Hollens
Image: Landrover Defender 'Mountain goat' ad / art director: Jerry Hollens
Image: VW 'Sharan' van within a van ad / art director: Jerry Hollens
Image: Virgin Atlantic 'London to the Bahamas' ad / art director: Jerry Hollens
Image: NSPCC 'What's like to be raped as a 3 year old?' ad / art director: Jerry Hollens
BOB BARRIE: ART DIRECTOR / FOUNDER / WEBSITE
Image: Chambers Hotel 'CCTV Experiment' activation / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: United Airlines 'Heart' advert / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Time magazine 'Acts of God' ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Time magazine 'Art imitating life' ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Time magazine 'Should it be legal' ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Time magazine 'Every face tells a story' ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Porsche 'Honestly now did you spend your youth...' ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Porsche 'Costs an arm' ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Porsche 'Didn't your doctor tell you to get more fresh air' ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Jim Beam 'You always come back to the basics' Balls ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Jim Beam 'You always come back to the basics' Griller ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Jim Beam 'You always come back to the basics' Chicago Sox ad / art director: Bob Barrie
Image: Prince spaghetti sauce 'Mona Lisa' ad / art director: Bob Barrie
GRAHAM FINK: ART DIRECTOR / CCO / ARTIST / WEBSITE
Image: Coca Cola 'Hands' ad / commissioning creative director: Graham Fink / art director: Jonathan Mak
Image: Dixon's 'Sandal' ad / art director: Graham Fink
Image: Dixon's 'Middle England' ad / art director: Graham Fink
Image: Dixon's 'Piers' ad / art director: Graham Fink
Image: Eleph- ant Magazine ad / art director: Graham Fink
Image: You have 10 seconds ad / art director: Graham Fink
Image: Still from the iconic British Airway's 'Face' commercial/ art director: Graham Fink
Image: Hamlet 'Ian Botham ban' creative media buy ad / art director: Graham Fink
Image: Benson & Hedges longer length 'Visor' ad / art director: Graham Fink
Image: Dunn & co 'Made to measure' ad / art director: Graham Fink
MARCELLO SERPA: ART DIRECTOR / CCO
Image: Havaianas 'Visual identity' over the year / art director: Marcello Serpa & team at Almap BBDO.
Image: Guarana Diet 'Stomach' ad 1 / art director: Marcello Serpa
Image: VW 'Double ticks' ad / art director: Marcello Serpa
Image: Audi 'Steering wheels' ad / art director: Marcello Serpa
Image: Audi 'Speedometer' ad / art director: Marcello Serpa
Image: Liz tights 'World leaders' ad / art director: Marcello Serpa
Image: Liz tights 'Charles and Diana' ad / art director: Marcello Serpa
JOHN WEBSTER: ART DIRECTOR / COPYWRITER / ECD / BMP DDB FOUNDER
Enjoy some of John Webster's work as an art director & copywriter here
Watch Guardian's Point of View advert here
Watch Kia Ora's crows advert here
Watch Compaq's Bird advert here
Watch Cadburys Smash Martians advert here
Watch an execllent documentary on John Webster here
HELMUT KRONE: ART DIRECTOR / CD
Image: Avis 'When you're only no.2 you try harder' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: Avis 'No.2ism Manifesto you try harder' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: Avis 'Call the president' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: Audi Fox 'Reflection' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: Oh!rbachs ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: Polaroid 'Next time you have people over' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: Polaroid 'Just how good a photographer are you' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: VW 'After we paint the car we paint the paint' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: VW 'The green fender came of a '58' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: VW 'There's a surprise in every box' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: VW 'Is the small car going out of the picture' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: VW 'They said it couldn't be done. It couldn't' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: VW 'Lemon' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
Image: VW 'Think small' ad / art director: Helmut Krone
MORE ART DIRECTORS COMING SOON!
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