Nils Leonard, co-founder of Uncommon Studios, discusses his personal background, the journey into advertising, the importance of surrounding oneself with inspiring people, the challenges and rewards of starting Uncommon Studios, the impact of their work, and the future of the studio.
Surrounding oneself with individuals who inspire and challenge you is crucial for personal growth and success.
Creating work that goes beyond winning awards and demonstrates a genuine impact on the world is essential.
Building a thriving company culture that prioritizes challenge, respect, and inclusivity fosters high performance and empowers everyone to contribute.
Deep dives
The Importance of Surrounding Yourself with Inspiring People
Surrounding oneself with individuals who inspire and challenge you is crucial for personal growth and success. The speaker emphasizes the impact of being in the orbit of inspiring people and having them enter your orbit. This mutual exchange of energy and creativity fosters a culture of continuous improvement and ambition.
The Pursuit of Making Work That Matters
The podcast episode discusses the value of creating work that goes beyond winning awards and demonstrates a genuine impact on the world. The speaker recounts their journey in the advertising industry and the shift in mindset from simply creating award-winning work to making a real difference in people's lives. They emphasize the power of being ambitious and pursuing work that becomes a reference point and resonates with others.
The Benefits of Cultivating a Thriving and High-Performing Culture
The podcast explores the importance of building and nurturing a thriving company culture that fosters high performance and open communication. The speaker highlights the significance of hiring the right people who share the company's values and vision. They emphasize the need for a culture that prioritizes challenge, respect, and inclusivity, creating a supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute and where ideas can flourish.
The Power of Creating Meaningful Stories
Nils Leonard, co-founder of Uncommon Studios, believes in the importance of creating stories and meaning in design work. He discusses how their rebranding project for a major entertainment property focused on incorporating a story into the design, rather than just making it visually appealing. By discovering the 'control triangle' concept and emphasizing the world game, their rebrand became more than just a logo, it became a meaningful narrative for people to connect with.
Scaling Creativity and Moving into the US Market
Uncommon Studios recently received investment from Havas, which was well-received in the industry. Nils Leonard attributes this positive response to their focus on creativity and their refusal to follow conventional models. They scale their business based on creative impact and leverage partnerships with clients who share their ambition. As they prepare to enter the US market, Nils views it as a moment of change and opportunity, where their unique perspective and meaningful branding can make a significant impact.
Nlis Leonard is co-founder of Uncommon Studios and while visiting Dublin he took time out to talk to That's What I Call Marketing, we met up at Windmill Lane, where the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Cranberries, U2, AC/DC and Van Morrison recorded. And what an apt location because this episode is Rock and Roll from start to finish, we talk about how Nils started, lamb and mint sandwiches, his time at Grey, curiosity, why it matters to matter and so much more. Check out this episode and hear about:
Nils Personal Background and Creative Influences
The Journey into Advertising
The Importance of Surrounding Yourself with Inspiring People
The Importance of Passion and Ambition
The Role of Creativity in Business
The Challenges and Rewards of Starting Uncommon Studios
The Importance of Diversity in the Creative Industry
The Impact of Uncommon Studios' Work
The Future of Uncommon Studios and Expansion into America
Creativity and Inspiration
Thanks to Core Creative for hosting us in Windmill Lane. To IAPI and the Marketing Society for bringing Nils to Dublin. This show is in partnership with The Indie List www.theindielist.ie