Björn Kusa — Portfolio
Björn Kusa — Portfolio

About

 

I am a creative leader and problem solver. I make things (mostly ads) in the intersection of entertainment, media and tech.

Art direction, strategic writing, PR-ideas, communication solutions, cultural experiences and surprises. New things that happen through invention, risk taking, rule breaking, fun and always… Through putting in hard work.

Reach me via www.linkedin.com/in/13jorn
or phone 0705.88.56.65

 
 

Experience

Creative Director
Mar 2023 - Mar 2025
Bonnier News - Stockholm

Creative Director in the Bonnier News Brand Studio. Driving the creative level of external advertising and branding efforts. Leading creatives, creative work and strategic work to ensure our clients get the most value for their money and helping Bonnier News expand our capabilities into more creative areas.

 

Creative
Sep 2021 - Jan 2023
New Normal - Stockholm

Copywriter and conceptual creative working with clients such as Djurskyddet Sverige — Läkare Utan Gränser — GodEl — Svenska Kyrkan — Fonus — Fairtrade — MTR Tech and Länsförsäkringar Fastighetsförmedling.

 

Senior Creative
Apr 2021 - Aug 2021
OKTO - Stockholm

Senior Art Director (contract). Worked on brands such as Swedish Match — Oatly— Bodystore and Elon

 

Innovation Director
Feb 2019 - Jul 2020
NORD DDB - Stockholm

Creative Lead (Copy and Art) on Stockholm Gas — Mentimeter and Karün Sunglasses. I also worked as the agency’s Innovation Director where I helped McDonald's — Google — Elkjøp, and Skanska explore and expand digital capabilities. I provided guidance on how to innovate in an increasingly hard to navigate communications industry. I worked on new business projects, both successful ones and some less so.

 

Associate Creative Director
Nov 2016 - Oct 2018
Archrival - Portland, OR

Associate Creative Director and led creative projects for adidas and Red Bull where we created experiences that connect brands to people through cultural insights, problem-solving, innovation, and design. Together with adidas, I pitched and won multiple new business efforts to get colleges like University of Washington and Georgia Tech to join their NCAA program.

 

Senior Art Director
Oct 2015 - Oct 2016
AKQA - Portland, OR

Senior Art Director on Nike, creating interactive experiences that help people around the globe reach their full athletic potential. I also worked on all new business pitches that occurred during my time there.

 

Senior Art Director
Jul 2013 - Oct 2015
360i / Dentsu - New York, NY

As a Senior Art Director I led creative on campaigns for Oreo — Oscar Mayer — Kahlúa and P&G's Downy. Everything from global digital initiatives with social- and influencer marketing built in, to branded content and well-aimed innovative campaigns on new and upcoming platforms. Other clients: Vikings on HISTORY Channel — Feeding America — Stella Artois — Hanes — Lean Cuisine and Ben & Jerry's.

 

Art Director
Mar 2010 - Dec 2012
Åkestam Holst - Stockholm

I worked as an Art Director and created integrated advertising work for Pepsi — Audi — Carlsberg — ATG (Swedish Horse Racing) — The Swedish Post and The Heart Pharmacy. Pro bono work for Save The Children and SOS Children's Villages. 360-work including (but not limited to): Interactive, mobile, film, print, service development, pr composing and more.

 

Interactive Creative
Sep 2009 - Mar 2010
Crispin Porter + Bogusky - Boulder, CO

Interactive Art Director, I worked on Microsoft, Dominos and Burger King.

 
 

Awards & honors

 

Webby Awards, 5-Word Speech.
On stage at the #webbys
“Help More Blind People See.”

 
 

Kycklingstipendiet.
Motivering: “Hoppet om en frälsare är något reklambranschen delar med kyrkan. Sällan har vi skådat en så stark kandidat. Du har fått blinda att se – och bilförare att upptäcka faror i beckmörker. Din talang för att använda teknologi på ett både nyskapande och relevant sätt är precis vad branschen behöver. Grattis Björn Kusa!”

 
 

Lovie Awards, Declaration of Lovie.
“DATA! Skall byggas utav kärlek.” (with Alex Picha)

 
 

Awards 2009 - 2024

Augmented Reality Webby Winner, Webby Awards (Pepsi)
People’s Voice Winner, Webby Awards (Save The Children)
Official Nominee, Webby Awards (Stockholm Art Week)
Official Nominee x 2, Webby Awards (Pepsi)
Mobile Bronze Lion, Cannes Lions (Pepsi)
Press Finalist Award, Cannes Lions (Audi)
Media Finalist Award, Cannes Lions (Carlsberg)
Nomination & In Book, D&AD Mobile Marketing (Pepsi)
Silver Pencil, One Show Entertainment (Pepsi)
Shortlist x 3, One Show Interactive (Carlsberg & Pepsi)
Gold, Lovie Awards (Pepsi)
Gold, Lovie Awards (Pepsi)
People’s Lovie, Lovie Awards (Pepsi)
Silver, Lovie Awards (Pepsi)
Silver, Lovie Awards (Pepsi)
Bronze, Lovie Awards (Stockholm Art Week)
Shortlist, Lovie Awards Mobile Innovation (Audi)
Finalist Award, TED | Ads Worth Spreading (Pepsi)
Gold, Swedish Golden Egg (Djurskyddet)
Silver x 2, Swedish Golden Egg (Djurskyddet)
Silver, Swedish Golden Egg (The Heart Pharmacy)
Silver, Swedish Golden Egg (Pepsi)
Finalist Award, Swedish Golden Egg (Pepsi)
Finalist Award, Swedish Golden Egg (Save The Children)
Silver, New York Festivals (Save The Children)
Silver, New York Festivals (Playground Outdoor Store)
Shortlist x 3, New York Festivals (Pepsi)
100W, 100Wattaren (Djurskyddet)
100W, 100Wattaren (Swedish Post)
50W, 100Wattaren (Playground Outdoor Store)
Shortlist, 100Wattaren (Save The Children)
Shortlist, 100Wattaren (Djurskyddet)
Silver, Nya Uppslag (Audi)
Bronze, London International Awards (Pepsi)
Shortlist, London International Awards (Pepsi)
Official Nominee, FAB Awards (Pepsi)
Silver, Epica Awards (Playground Outdoor Store)
Bronze, INMA Global Media Awards (Region Västernorrland)
Bronze, Epica Awards (Carlsberg)
Finalist Award, Cresta Awards (Pepsi)
Finalist Award, Cresta Awards (Carlsberg)
Shortlist, Tomorrow Awards (Pepsi)
Bronze, Best App Ever Awards (SOS Children’s Villages)
AdForum, Greatest Hits (Stockholm Art Week)
Finalist Award, Forrester Groundswell Awards (Downy)
FWA MOTD – March 26 2013 (Stockholm Art Week)
FWA SOTD – September 6 2011 (ATG)
FWA MOTD – January 11 2012 (SOS Children’s Villages)
FWA MOTD – November 30 2011 (Pepsi)
FWA MOTD – April 11 2011 (Carlsberg)

Personal — Winner Kycklingstipendiet 2012
Personal — Feature in the Golden Egg book (No51)
Personal — Ranked #108 Business Super Communicator 2014 ;)

 

Agency awards

360i
MediaPost Agency of the Year 2013, 2014, 2015
Ad Age Agency A-List #3 2014, 2015
Shorty Awards Best Large Agency 2014
Adweek Digital Agency of the Year 2013
Mashable Digital Agency of the year 2013
Creativity, Creative Innovators Of The Year 2013

Åkestam Holst
International Small Agency of the Year, Ad Age 2012
Feature in the Creative Swedish Agencies 2012 Book
No #2 Direct Agency of the year 2011, Canneslions
Top12 Independent Agency, 2010 & 2011, Canneslions
Top10 Digital Agency 2011, Pencilrankings.com
Top10 Digital Agency 2010, Gunnreport.com