Mirimar co-founder on how young creatives can find their originality

In partnership with Breaking and Entering Media, Ad Age is publishing the “Breaking and Entering” podcast on AdAge.com. Learn more about the show at Breaking-Entering.com. In the latest “Breaking and Entering Advertising” podcast episode, John McKelvey, co-founder and chief creative officer of Mirimar Creative Group, shares the agency’s journey and philosophy. Launched in 2019 with his brother Luke, Mirimar is a “proudly independent creative company” headquartered in Los Angeles. Mirimar is named after the street where the brothers grew up in Sydney and aims to create culturally significant brands through a hands-on, collaborative approach. “We work in tight partnership with a fantastic team,” McKelvey said, highlighting the trust and vision he shares with his brother. Key projects for Mirimar this summer included launching Speedo’s global brand campaign under the “Go Full Speedo” platform and securing the creative agency of record role for Rocket Companies, which will unveil new brand creative in early 2025. Before opening Mirimar, McKelvey worked at various agencies, including stops at TBWA in Sydney and Droga5 in New York, and started indie agency JohnXHannes with Hannes Ciatti. In just over three years, McKelvey and Ciatti’s shop won several Super Bowl campaigns—including the Emmy-winning Squarespace spot featuring John Malkovich—as well as Ad Age Small Agency of the Year. McKelvey and Ciatti split in 2019, forming Mirimar and Alto, respectively. For those just getting their start, McKelvey urges young creatives to explore various ideas and stay true to their unique voices, emphasizing that “quantity will create quality.” Reflecting on his career path and creative philosophy, McKelvey offers practical advice for young professionals, encouraging them to develop their voice while finding the right solution for each brand and brief. “Being yourself is the ultimate way to achieve originality,” he advised. Hear more about McKelvey’s work ethos and creative background in the episode above. Find more episodes on Spotify. Ad Age Marketer’s Brief podcast Listen here or subscribe via Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible Click here About Breaking and Entering Media Breaking and Entering Media is a leading platform dedicated to helping everyone better understand and break into the advertising world. Whether aspiring advertisers landing their first job, agencies winning their dream clients or production companies connecting with top agencies, Breaking and Entering bridges the gap and helps people pull off their ultimate “heist” in the industry. Founded in 2020, it quickly became a top resource for industry insights, strategies and expert advice. Consistently ranked as one of the top 5 advertising podcasts globally, Breaking and Entering exists to tell the stories that break down the advertising industry and empower its audience to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

Mirimar co-founder on how young creatives can find their originality

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