Info
About
Jonathan Santana is a globally awarded and internationally recognized Creative Director. His experience spans from creating successful multi-channeled international campaigns, to Super Bowl ads, to breathtaking experiential art and technology installations and performances. His body of work covers multiple brands from the automotive, alcoholic beverage, tourism as well as the fashion and financial industries - to name just a few.
Having studied Advertising & Design at the University of South Africa, Jonathan began his career at BBDO Johannesburg where he spent 7 years, helping pitch and win Cell C, a Mobile Network Carrier, working on General Motors, Opel and Isuzu, as well as winning among many other awards the Cannes Grand Prix and a D&Ad Yellow Pencil for a bank.
That led him to join TBWA/Paris working on Nissan Europe, winning further Cannes Lions and helping the agency receive Cannes Agency of the year for the 4th year running. He later swapped the Gauloises and cafe noisettes for the fish and chips of London, working at Saatchi & Saatchi on Toyota Europe, Visa Europe and Guinness EMEA, creating a 12ft sculpture housed in Ireland’s biggest tourist attraction The Guinness Storehouse. Making a fun Pan European campaign for VISA’s 2010 World Cup sponsorship. And during that time also taking over the reigns from Global Creative Director, Bob Isherwood, to lead the then 21 year old event, the “New Director’s Showcase”, into the future. In doing so receiving cultural and industry recognition for pushing the boundaries of art, technology and creativity.
He then went on to work at Mother London, and New York offices, working on IKEA, and leading the Stella Artois account as Global CD, launching a new world wide platform, and also creating a social frenzy in the US for a Super Bowl campaign that brought back iconic characters the Dude Jeff Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) and Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker). He has also helped pitch and win the Lee jeans account for the agency.
Jonathan has worked with some of the coolest creative and scientific minds around, from Professor Richard Dawkins to Warp artists Jamie Lidell, Chris Clark and Oneohtrix Point Never, world renowned fashion photographers Richard Burbridge and Miles Aldridge, as well as a host of other wonderfully brilliant and talented people including a Turner Prize Nominee artist.
He has been featured by the likes of Dazed, Vice, Creative Review, Wired, It’s Nice That, The Guardian and Huffington Post, and he has also won awards at all the major advertising shows including D&Ad, Cannes and One Show.
Currently a Creative Director at Lucky Generals New York, Jonathan is helping establish the successful London based agency in the US.
Worked at
Lucky Generals, New York
Creative Director
Mother, New York
Creative Director / Global CD
Mother, London
Senior Creative / Creative Director
Saatchi & Saatchi, London
Senior Creative / Creative Director
TBWA, Paris
Senior Creative
Net#work BBDO, South Africa
Art Director
Clients
Captain Morgan - US
Klarna - US
Celebrity Cruises - Global
Stella Artois - Global
IKEA - UK
Guinness - EMEA
Absolut Vodka
Toyota - UK & Europe
Nissan - Europe
Honda - UK
VISA - EMEA
TK Maxx - UK & Europe
General Motors - South Africa
Cell C - (Mobile Network Carrier, South Africa)
Nedbank - South Africa
Childline - South Africa
...plus many, many more.
Awards
Cannes Lions
1 Grand Prix
1 Titanium Shortlist
1 Gold
2 Silver
2 Bronze
5 Shortlist
D&Ad
1 Yellow Pencil
1 Graphite Pencil
4 Wood Pencil
One Show
1 Silver
3 Merit
ADC
1 Merit
Clio Awards
1 Gold
2 Silver
5 Bronze
Young Guns
1 Gold Bullet
1 Bronze Bullet
Chairman’s Choice Award
LIA
1 Gold
2 Silver
1 Bronze
New York Festival
1 Silver
British Arrows
3 Bronze
Eurobest
1 Bronze
Meribel Ad Festival
1 Cristal
Creative Circle
1 Gold
1 Bronze
Loeries
7 Gold
6 Silver
5 Bronze