Joe Kayser
Chief Creative Officer, Y&R California
Joe joined Y&R in early 2011. He’s an ad guy who comes from the world of graphic design. He builds brands – sometimes from the ground up, sometimes one project at a time. Passionate about ideas that make their way into culture and create a conversation, Joe believes advertising and art aren’t separate pursuits. And that a good idea is art in and unto itself. He is known for his relentless craft when it comes to bringing an idea to life.
Joe’s career started in the graphic design business but then shifted to the ad world, where he started building his reputation at Saatchi & Saatchi. While at Saatchi he won the Margret Larson Award by being named Art Director of the Year by his peers in the San Francisco Advertising Club. He then moved to Hal Riney, Hill Holliday and finally TBWA\CHIAT\DAY\SF, where he was ranked one of the top 10 creative directors globally. The following year he helped adidas become the Cannes Advertiser of the Year.
Joe continued his creative success by helping launch Cutwater, a creative hot shop in San Francisco. He has been an architect of such brands as Jeep, Adidas, Leica, Google, LensCrafters, HP, Sprint, Disney, Persol and Nvidia. From Lions, Cubes, Clios, Pencils, Effies and Webbies, his work has won a pile of awards. But out of all his industry awards, he is proudest of one of his graphic design accomplishments early in his career, the Nutrition Facts Label that’s found on every food package in America. It won the Presidential Design Award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Joe is currently in charge of Y&R’s creative output on the West Coast, a place he calls home after being raised on the East Coast. Being out in California, he enjoys a different perspective on life and creativity. The possibilities seem endless. Which is a perfect place for a guy like Joe, who’s always curious.
