Denis Thiel
300326 – 21:12
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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.
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