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Soulful

Full of or expressing feeling or emotion.

It has always been my objective as a Creative to make the audience feel something as they witness a visual, encounter an experience or listen to a story.

Creative

Marked by the ability or power to create, not imitate.

A creative is a maker of solutions to address a problem, no matter what form, visually representing  a theme, concept or story.

Passionate

Capable of strong excitement or feeling.

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Passion is ambition materialized into action. I put as much heart, mind, body, and soul, into something as is possible. Otherwise it's not worth it.

Visionary

One having unusual foresight and imagination.

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Do not let “we haven’t done that before” get in the way of “what if we did that?” This is the question that allows us to create something new, different, uncomfortable, and perhaps pioneering.

“Keep your feet moving. When you stop you’re done.”

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My Dad, Arthur Hayden Hays, was a championship HS football coach and Defensive Coordinator at Furman University who lived and taught me to embody these words.  This timeless wisdom was quoted during John Lewis's Eulogy an old African proverb: “When you pray move your feet.” No matter what: keep learning, keep pushing, keep loving, keep living, keep your feet moving.

 

Whether playing football at Furman University, playing music semi-professionally here in Portland, or running marathons. No matter what: keep learning, keep pushing, keep loving, keep living, keep your feet moving.

 

My goal is to actively engage the consumer. We must exceed their expectations by listening and responding to their needs. Whether art, design, music or other platforms, we must keep things moving forward. I believe this is the future and I want to be a part of it.

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Me and Dad.  Atlanta Constitutional Peachtree Road Race 1991

Justin Hayden Hays

503.807.3204 | justin.hays@jhays.co | Portland, OR 97225 | www.linkedin.com/in/justin-hayden-hays | http://www.jhays.co

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Global Creative Director

Creative evangelist and storyteller with a record of success innovating novel marketing strategies and above- and below-the-line campaigns that achieve and exceed goals for marquis global brands. Utilize retail, experiential, digital, and social platforms to build brands, launch products, elevate connectivity and consumer engagement, and capture market share. Contribute as part of cross-functional leadership teams that develop brand strategy, set goals, and address business challenges. Balance consumer insights, market trends, user experience, and creative influence to design winning initiatives that deliver consistent messaging, foster positive consumer journeys, and strengthen brand DNA. Build high-performing teams through open communication and motivational leadership.

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Core Competencies:

Strategic Planning & Execution • Creative Direction • Cross-Functional Collaboration • Consumer Insights & Trends

Team Building & Leadership • Digital & Social Content • Activations & Experiential Events • Project Management

Interactive Consumer Journeys • Budget Administration • 365 Marketing Strategies

Executive Performance History

ASICS                                                                                                                                                                   2022

Creative Director, Global Design; Boston, MA

​Led a global team of digital designers, copywriters, and user experience (UX) developers collaborating with marketing to develop strategic plans and create content and assets for global campaigns, including the 2022 ASICS Ekiden Race and Gel Nimbus “Nature Bathing” product launch.

 

Nike Inc.                                                                                                                                                     2010 - 2020

Creative Director, Brand Experience; Nike APLA, Beaverton, OR - 2019-2020

Oversaw a 3-person team; collaborated with Nike Direct to design and produce digital consumer engagements

and retail touch points focused on a seamless online-to-offline (O2O) experience across Asia Pacific Latin America (APLA) region.

  • Increased O2O consumer conversion by 35% through unique and consistent consumer experiences.

  • Redesigned retail initiatives for 400 locations; created compelling consumer journeys to drive engagement during COVID-19.

  • Advised 14 APLA regional teams on creative direction of local projects and executions.

  • Designed consumer experiences for new store openings in Seoul, Bangkok, Mexico City, and Buenos Aires

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Senior Creative Director, Nike APLA, Beaverton, OR - 2016-2019

Managed a $2M budget and an 11-person design team that oversaw digital, retail, consumer engagements, and activations for all 6 brand categories across 15 APLA markets. Advised category marketing, brand communications, media, and Nike Direct leaders on brand and seasonal strategies.

  •  Increased O2O consumer conversion by 35% through unique and consistent consumer experiences.

  •  Redesigned retail initiatives for 400 locations; created compelling consumer journeys to drive engagement   during COVID-19.

  •  Advised 14 APLA regional teams on creative direction of local projects and executions.

  •  Designed consumer experiences for new store openings in Seoul, Bangkok, Mexico City, and Buenos Aires.

  •  Created digital, video, retail, and interactive content for Just Do It campaign for 2018 Winter Olympics in Korea.

  •  Established a streaming platform for Rebels on Air, a streaming podcast sponsored by Nike Sportswear that   provided a forum for consumers to interact with influencers, artists, musicians, and other talent.

  •  Built interactive app, and produced digital assets and physical consumer experiences for Battle Force, including   country-specific live basketball, hip hop, and art competitions and events.

  •  Designed campaigns showcasing the soccer teams that were competing in the 2019 Women’s World Cup.

  •  Innovated branding strategies in Japan; engaged professional runners to participate in a “city attack” to promote   the Marathon Grand Championships; and launched a women-led Nike Hakone Ekiden campaign.

  •  Spearheaded creative direction for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics multi-media campaign.

  •  Designed assets for Tokyo Zoom Innovation Summit; introduced interactive gaming and product testing     innovations.

  •  Conceptualized narrative to introduce $6M Toyosu Sports Park, a 100% sustainable and inclusive park with   mainstream and adaptive equipment in Tokyo.

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Design Director, Nike do Brasil, Sao Paolo, BR, 2014 - 2016

Managed a 4-person design team and $1.5M operating budget to design and deliver compelling content for brand strategies and campaigns that resonate with local consumers.

  • Contributed creative expertise as part of the leadership team that devised strategic plans, resulting in a 13% increase in local market share.

  • Produced 365 campaign for the 2014 World Cup, including interactive, consumer engagement; online broadcast and simulcast; merchandise; consumer 3-on-3 competitions; and sponsored events.

  • Commissioned Brazilian artist, Muti Randolph, to create an interactive consumer experience that promoted Nike.com during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

  • Created experiential concept and digital content for the 2016 Women’s Victory Race and Brazil National Team Innovation Summit.

  • Designed athlete-centered campaigns to launch the Brazil National Team and Corinthians Football Club.

  • Collaborated with the Brazilian government to launch Nike.com Garages, which was instrumental in creating the largest global running club.

  • Designed digital content, interactive experiences, and community engagement platform.

 

Art Director, Global Running, Beaverton, OR, 2011 - 2014

Partnered with marketing, footwear, apparel, and product innovation directors to develop and execute Nike Running above- and below-the-line brand strategy, including seasonal campaigns and product launches.

  • Led creative direction for 12 product innovations, large-scale events, and annual campaigns for Nike Women’s and Global Running, including the Nike+ relaunch, Nike+ Membership Services and Nike Flyknit Innovation launches, Pegasus 30-year Anniversary, and 2012 London Olympics.

  • Produced Nike Innovation Summit 2013, to introduce Nike Free Flyknit and future product launches

 

Design Director, Brand Jordan, Beaverton, OR, 2010 - 2011

Led a 4-person design team that generated seasonal, global campaigns, including retail, print, and video content for the 2011 Air Jordan 26 sneaker launch and Jordan NBA All-Star weekend event.

 

Wieden + Kennedy                                                                                                                                    2005 - 2010

Creative Director (2009 - 2010) / Art Director (2007 - 2009) Shanghai, China

/ Studio Artist, Portland, OR (2005 - 2007)

Hired to manage the newly acquired Starbucks account. Earned increasing levels of accountability and oversight of Nike relationship. Led teams that designed and produced on-brand, 365 campaigns for Nike China, including Basketball, Football, Running, and Tennis. Partnered with clients, media and digital agencies, studios, designers, and other stakeholders to understand brand messaging and objectives to develop strategies and deliver results that achieved goals.

  • Conceptualized and created first-of-its-kind campaigns, marketing strategies, experiential consumer engagements, innovative media buys, 3D billboards, and apparel executions, including Nike Pro & Nike Running launches in China, LeBron James MVP Campaign, Beijing Olympics, 2010 Asian Games, Shanghai Masters on-court Nike Tennis experience, Kobe Mentu TV Unscripted Series, and Nike Basketball Training Program.

  • Earned Spikes Asia Integrated Bronze Spike in 2009, and ONE SHOW Silver Pencil in 2008, for Kobe Mentu, Television Unscripted Series.

 

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EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Bachelor of Arts

Studio Art, Furman University, Greenville, SC June 1995

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Bachelor of Arts

Studio Art, University Of Georgia, Cortona, Italy Italy December 1994

INTERESTS

Upright Bass, Electric Bass, Cycling, Running, Snowboarding ,Pottery, Illustration, Painting, Photography

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Furman University Football 1991-1993

  • 2003 New York Marathon

  • 2002 Chicago Marathon

  • 2008 ONE SHOW Silver Pencil: Kobe Mentu, Television Unscripted Series

  • 2009 Spikes Asia Integrated Bronze Spike : Kobe Mentu

  • Promax - 1999 Gold Medallion In House-Holiday/Seasonal Promotion: “Portland Postcard”

  • Telly Awards - 1999 Bronze Medallion Finalist - Seasonal Promotion: “Portland Postcard”

Images and content created by Justin Hays. Do not use, alter, or copy any of the content from this site.

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