who – DENIS THIEL

HI I'm Denis

I’ve been working in marketing and design for more than 15 years. Before entering the creative industry, I worked as a tax clerk.

Not exactly the classic path into creativity. But it left me with something useful: ideas are great, numbers usually decide if they work.

Since 2020 the most important job in my life is being a dad. Everything else comes after that.

I currently live in the Cologne area and work as a Creative Director in a trade marketing agency.

Day job aside, I collaborate with companies, startups and founders who want to build, rethink or sharpen their brands.

Sometimes strategy. 
Sometimes visual identity. 
Sometimes campaigns. 
Usually a bit of everything.

I’m not great at being a people pleaser. Instead I prefer asking uncomfortable questions, challenging assumptions and finding solutions that actually match the problem.

Nowadays I also work with a growing group of very eager, and constantly changing, interns. OpenAI, Freepik, Kling, Perplexity, Seadance, Higgsfield and a few others that will probably exist by the time you read this.

They are fast, tireless and occasionally brilliant. But like most interns, they still need direction.

I grew up in a military and gastronomy family. Two places where you learn quickly how to deal with pressure, different personalities and chaotic situations — ideally without losing respect for the people around you.

In an industry that occasionally runs on ego, I try to keep mine at a healthy level. 
Big enough to care about the work. 
Small enough to stay curious.