Creative direction, art direction, brand and marketing project leadership, and creative project support for work that needs clearer decisions before it goes public.
I work with founders, hospitality brands, marketing teams and creative studios when brand or creative work needs clearer direction before it goes live.
That can mean shaping the idea, building the brief, guiding the visual standard, managing reviews or checking the final output before clients, guests or the public see it.
Bring me in when the idea is strong, but the work is starting to lose shape. The rebrand has too many opinions. The shoot has no clear mood. The campaign has too many messages. The report, website or launch material does not yet feel ready.
I can step in as a creative director, art director, brand and marketing project lead or creative project lead, depending on where the gap is.
Relevant work includes Lairs Camps, Nomad Tanzania, Rivertrees Country Inn, Planet Lodges, Love Boo UK, Seissense UK, The School of St Jude, British School of Zanzibar, KILIFAIR and Adventures & Leisure Magazine.
Most engagements start with a focused phase. Ongoing support can follow where it adds value. See selected work or send a brief.
For rebrands, launches and active brand work that need clearer planning, stronger reviews and delivery from brief to final output.
I lead the project layer between founders, marketing leads, agencies, designers, writers, photographers, vendors and internal teams. My role is to turn the brief into a workable plan, keep decisions moving and protect consistency across digital, print, web, social and partner-facing materials.
Best fit for:
For campaigns, shoots, launches and brand projects that need one clear idea before people start producing.
I shape the story, tone, audience, visual world and final use of the work. This gives the team a clearer route before design, content, photography or production begins, so the final result feels connected across channels.
Best fit for:
For visual work that needs stronger mood, references, styling, composition, layout and image direction.
I guide the look before production starts. This can support photoshoots, campaign visuals, editorial layouts, brand refreshes, content sets or presentation materials. I set the visual standard so the team can produce work that feels clear, polished and on brand.
Best fit for:
For creative work with too many moving parts, feedback rounds, files, versions, agencies, vendors or internal opinions.
I keep the work moving without letting it lose direction. This means clearer timelines, focused reviews, better feedback, stronger handover and final output that is ready to use, share or launch.
Best fit for:
Start with a clear review, set the direction before production, or bring me into live work when the project needs senior creative oversight.
The right choice depends on how much of the work is already moving.
For teams that need a clear outside read on what feels off before spending more time, budget or team energy.
For rebrands, shoots, campaigns, reports or launches that need a stronger brief before production starts.
For live work that needs senior review, clearer feedback and final quality control before approval or launch.
Best fit: founders, marketing leads, hospitality and tourism brands, safari lodges and camps, boutique hotels, restaurants, education teams, creative studios and agencies. Based in Tanzania. Available across East Africa and remotely. Email strategy@theascend.net or send the brief through the contact page.