What does it take to be a great creative? Johannes Leonardo's Jan Jacobs
Jan Jacobs co-founded Johannes Leonardo in 2007 with his colleague Leo Premutico after the two worked as executive creative directors together at Saatchi & Saatchi New York, where they both helped create Tide’s famous Super Bowl spot ‘Talking Stain.’
The Drum recently caught up with Jacobs to find out what he thinks it takes to be a great creative.
Jacobs said aside from the usual traits, he thinks creatives often do their best work when they are in the right environment, something that he said people don’t often think about.
He cited Wieden + Kennedy London’s ‘The Power of Dreams’ campaign for Honda as an example of a creative team that found themselves at the right agency at the right time and was able to create great work for the client.
The full interview can be viewed above. See what his colleague Leo Premutico had to say when we asked him the same question.
Other episodes in the series
Episode 1
‘It’s about asking a lot of questions’: Deutsch’s Winston Binch on what it takes to be a great creative
The Drum recently caught up with Winston Binch, Deutsch North America’s chief digital officer, to find out what he thinks it takes to be a great creative.
Episode 2
‘Be a producer’: RPA’s Sarah Bates on what it takes to be a great creative
To Sarah Bates, creative director at RPA in Los Angeles, being weird is perfectly fine. In fact, it’s pretty normal and desirable — especially those “non sequitur adventures” that make a person interesting in a creative field.
Episode 3
‘Distill the brief’: The Mill’s Phil Crowe on what it takes to be a great creative
Are there bad briefs? That’s likely up for all kinds of debate but, to Phil Crowe, ECD of The Mill in Los Angeles, it’s less about the brief and more about the interpretation of the brief.
Episode 4
Saturday Morning leaders on being a great creative
It’s not difficult to be inspired by Saturday Morning, the movement for peace founded after a spate of police shootings against African-Americans including Philando Castile, Alton Sterling and others.
Episode 5
Lola MullenLowe Madrid's Pancho Cassis on what it takes to be a great creative: 'It's not about ideas anymore'
The Drum caught up with Pancho Cassis, executive creative director and copywriter at Lola MullenLowe Madrid, to find out what he thinks it takes to be a great creative.
Episode 6
Colle+McVoy’s Laura Fegley: 'Being a great creative is all about endurance'
Laura Fegley, ECD at Colle+McVoy in Minneapolis, treads a path of undeniable success.
Episode 7
‘Mind numbing patience’: Kirk Kelley, HouseSpecial CCO on what makes a great creative
Browsing through the work of Portland’s HouseSpecial can become a walk through a creative candy shop — starting with (pun kind of intended) iconic creativity for M&M's, including the well-received Candyman spot featuring Aloe Blacc and Zedd.
Episode 8
"Great creatives need a partner": OKRP leaders on becoming a great creative
What Does It Take To Be A Great Creative? is a video series that highlights the thinking of global creative leaders on specifics actions that can build a successful creative career in the industry. See what other creative leaders had to say in past episodes.
Episode 9
'Stick with your gut': Pereira & O'Dell's PJ Pereira on being a great creative
What Does It Take To Be A Great Creative? is a video series that highlights the thinking of global creative leaders on specifics actions that can build a successful creative career in the industry. See what other creative leaders had to say in past episodes.
Episode 10
Hunger, passion, curiosity: MullenLowe Singapore’s Shengjin Ang on being a great creative
What Does It Take To Be A Great Creative? is a video series that highlights the thinking of global creative leaders on specifics actions that can build a successful creative career in the industry. See what other creative leaders had to say in past episodes.