For more than three decades, I’ve created Brand, Digital and Direct advertising for world-class brands of all sizes and at all stages of growth. My career focus has been on melding strategic branding with effective selling to create powerful campaigns. I am now independent (serving as Fractional CMO and Fractional Executive Creative Director) after spending nine years as Chief Creative Officer for Rain the Growth Agency.
Before Rain, I held creative leadership positions at top national and global agencies (Ogilvy/OgilvyOne/Ogilvy Interactive, DDB, Hill Holliday, Y&R, RAPP, Havas).
Outside of work, I enjoy photography and teaching; I have spent years on the faculty of The International Center of Photography in New York City and the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland.
Current roles:
Fractional Creative Director: Big Arrow
Prior to joining Rain as CCO, I worked as the creative lead for this group of fantastically smart people. The team has deep experience in pharma, rare disease, healthcare systems, and biomedical advertising. I am working with the team again! If you are looking for a small group of talented, focused, knowledgeable professionals, please talk with us.
Board Advisor: FastFocus
FastFocus is a rapid creative testing platform designed to help brands increase speed-to-decision without increasing risk. Based in Prediction Market Science, its accuracy and affordability accelerate business growth, shape product development and enhance advertising and branding efforts. The FastFocus goal is to move valuable ideas forward faster. Link.
Freelance Creative Director/Copywriter/Team Leader
One of the pleasures of freelance is collaborating with an assortment of brands, companies, and people. I currently work on a variety of projects, from TV and Print, to Social and Experiential. Sometimes I’m the team leader, sometimes I’m a humble writer. In all cases, I bring decades of experience and lots of curiosity. I enjoy strategy, visual design, storytelling and branding as much as wordsmithing and the fine details of execution. In the work world, nothing makes me happier than seeing a brand produce measurable impact.
Executive Director: The Friedman Family Foundation
This grant-making organization is working to improve the lives of kids ten to sixteen through knowledge of the sea, the marine ecosystem, and sustainable, responsible fishing.
Some examples of my creative work.
Here are just a few campaigns from my creative career. More work at steve-diamond.com
23andMe Campaign
Allen Edmonds Campaign
Pie Insurance Campaign
Mercari Campaign
How I can help you:
I can work with you directly as a Copywriter or Creative Director or as a Marketing Lead—or as a hybrid of all three.
I am lucky to know a talented network of individuals who work well together. We can function as a small agency, a big agency, or simply as extra marketing talent working within your organization.
I can create big campaigns or small campaigns or individual pieces, in any medium. Web, social, OOH, print, e-mail, CTV, Digital Video, radio, or TV.
I can develop strategies and creative briefs for you. I can help you build brand platforms and marketing communication plans. I can also partner with top designers to create brands and brand identity from scratch.
Brand positioning and messaging are among my professional passions. I can help you ideate and iterate for testing. Or I can be a sounding board—my years of experience have proven that my gut is as good as any sample group.