CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER, SELECT WORLD, NEW YORK NY
Hans leads Select World’s creative division for North America, building on its 25-year foundation as a global beauty, fragrance and fashion agency. Through a complete creative refresh, Hans is reenergizing and positioning Select World as an all-encompassing agency that can make any brand relevant and meaningful in today’s diverse culture. Previously, he was at Laird + Partners, where he served as executive VP and senior group creative director. Hans has been instrumental in creating bold and transformative work for numerous luxury and mass consumer brands in fashion and beauty, such as Donna Karan/DKNY, Bottega Veneta, Ermenegildo Zegna, Estee Lauder, Coty, Tommy Hilfiger and Lane Bryant. His message of body-positivity for Lane Bryant ignited a movement to not only accept plus-size women, but to celebrate them. This led to him being named one of Adweek’s Creative 100 and one of a handful of Top Creative Leaders Whose Ads Are Breaking Through Into Culture. Hans launched his career in 1993 as a Junior Designer at Donna Karan’s in-house creative agency, subsequently becoming Vice President of Advertising.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Born in Montreal, Canada, and live in Brooklyn
DID YOU GO TO DESIGN SCHOOL?
Parsons School of Design in New York with a year in Paris
LEFTY OR RIGHTY?
Righty
MORNING PERSON OR NIGHT OWL?
Night owl by nature and morning person by obligation (life as a parent!)
FICTIONAL OR HISTORICAL CHARACTER YOU IDENTIFY WITH?
Lando Calrissian
ARE YOU MUSICAL AND/OR DO YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
Enjoy music but can’t play it…unfortunately
FAVORITE BOOK?
Giovanni’s Room
FAVORITE MOVIE?
Moonlight
FAVORITE TV BINGE WATCH?
The Queen
FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM?
Instagram
FAVORITE FINE ARTIST?
Withfield Lovell
FAVORITE CHARITY?
The KANPE Foundation
FAVORITE FREE TIME ACTIVITY?
Art exploration
COLLECT ANYTHING?
Cameras
COLOR USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
Black
TYPEFACE USED MOST OFTEN IN YOUR DESIGN?
The brand dictates the right typeface
DOES PRINT HAVE A ROLE IN YOUR DESIGNS?
Rarely. But when it does it’s to create contrast
DESIGN MENTOR/INSPIRATION/HERO?
Tibor Kalman
GREATEST STRENGTH/WEAKNESS AS A DESIGNER?
Strength is emotion weakness is emotion
ADVICE TO A YOUNG DESIGNER JUST STARTING OUT?
Find your voice and your purpose
IF YOU WERE NOT A DESIGNER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
A filmmaker
A MANTRA OR SAYING YOU LIVE BY?
It is better to fail in originality than succeed in imitation – Herman Melville
