Join Chris as he sits down with James, Executive Creative Director at Arnold, to explore the art of building unforgettable brands. Inspired at 14 by a single Nike ad, James went on to shape work at legendary agencies like DDB, Fallon, and Goodby Silverstein.
In this episode, he shares the philosophy behind Arnold’s bold “brilliantly boring” campaign for PNC Bank, why the riskiest move a brand can make is being forgettable, and the lessons he’s learned from leading creative teams and iconic campaigns like Progressive’s Dr. Rick.
Whether you’re a marketer, creative, or simply curious about the ideas shaping culture, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.
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Show Highlights
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(1:38) James' Creative Journey
(3:45) The Power of a Commercial
(6:17) Finding Truth in Creativity
(7:50) The Role of Jealousy in Inspiration
(12:05) Building a Competitive Creative Team
(16:34) Progressive's Cultural Impact
(26:19) Brilliantly Boring: PNC's Brand Transformation
(43:45) AI as a Creative Tool
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About James Bray
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James’ career began on Madison Avenue, where he produced award-winning and memorable work.
Throughout his career, he has played critical roles at various agencies, leading teams at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, Fallon, and M&C Saatchi. James has worked with clients across industries, including Citibank, Netflix, Sprint, Reebok, Casamigos, and BMW, to name a few.
Now at Arnold, James has helped the agency garner many of the industry’s top awards across a wide range of clients while also driving transformative results for their businesses. He has led the creative vision for Arnold clients past and present, including Progressive, PNC Bank, Toast, Carl’s Jr. & Hardee’s, and Chewy.
~~Links~~
https://arn.com/
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