A Creator’s Mindset for Modern Brands
approach
I believe in building with and for the audience. I push brands to behave less like institutions and more like creators—curious, human, and open to co-creation. It means leading with point of view, not perfection to create space for customer and creator contribution. Instead of waiting to be invited into culture, I craft work that earns its place, shaping content and experiences as invitations—designed to resonate, respond, and evolve.
see work
→
149M+
Impressions - Xbox Year in Review
$230M
Revenue lift - Microsoft 365 Attach Campaign
20%
Engagement increase - Xbox CRM
me
Dan V.
Creative Director and Tinkerer
story
Creative Director with 15+ years shaping brand storytelling and systems for Xbox, Microsoft, and T-Mobile. I build creative cultures where insight and experimentation drive award-winning work—bridging emotional storytelling with scalable systems and emerging technology.
skills
Brand Storytelling & Narrative Systems
Human-Centered Design
Creative Team Leadership
Multi-Channel Campaign Development
Emerging Tech & GenAI Integration
Figma & Design System Implementation
Cultural & Community Engagement
experience
AAF Seattle - Board of Directors
T-Mobile Studio - Sr. Manager, Creative Direction
Indigo Slate - Group Creative Director (Microsoft 365)
Wunderman Thompson - Group Creative Director (Xbox, Minecraft)
Razorfish - Creative Director (Microsoft Windows, Mozilla)
Isobar - Associate Creative Director (EA Sports, Adidas, Dolby)
highlights
Xbox Year-in-Review: Turned player data into personalized storytelling, earning 4 Gold Addys
T-Mobile 5G Adventure: Designed immersive B2B experience integrating AI-enhanced workflows
Microsoft 365 Attach: Used insight-led storytelling to boost attach sales 18%
education
Empowering Marketing with AI, Certification, (UW)
Design Thinking for Innovation, Certification, (UVA)
Advertising and Copywriting, The Creative Circus,
BA, Journalism and Political Philosophy, University of Wisconsin
awards
4x Addys Gold Winner, Xbox Year-in-Review
Effie's Gold, "The Win" Campaign for EA Sports
OMMAs, Adidas "In the Game" TV/Social integration, Dolby "Update Theater" Social Innovation
Mi6 Awards, EA Games
One Show, Cambridge Technology Partners
Telly Awards Gold, T-Mobile for Business 5G Adventure
see work
→
holler
(415) 336-1154
dan@danvanderhei.com
A Creator’s Mindset for Modern Brands
approach
I believe in building with and for the audience. I push brands to behave less like institutions and more like creators—curious, human, and open to co-creation. It means leading with point of view, not perfection to create space for customer and creator contribution. Instead of waiting to be invited into culture, I craft work that earns its place, shaping content and experiences as invitations—designed to resonate, respond, and evolve.
see work
→
149M+
Impressions - Xbox Year in Review
$230M
Revenue lift - Microsoft 365 Attach Campaign
20%
Engagement increase - Xbox CRM
me
Dan V.
Creative Director and Tinkerer
story
Creative Director with 15+ years shaping brand storytelling and systems for Xbox, Microsoft, and T-Mobile. I build creative cultures where insight and experimentation drive award-winning work—bridging emotional storytelling with scalable systems and emerging technology.
skills
Brand Storytelling & Narrative Systems
Human-Centered Design
Creative Team Leadership
Multi-Channel Campaign Development
Emerging Tech & GenAI Integration
Figma & Design System Implementation
Cultural & Community Engagement
experience
AAF Seattle - Board of Directors
T-Mobile Studio - Sr. Manager, Creative Direction
Indigo Slate - Group Creative Director (Microsoft 365)
Wunderman Thompson - Group Creative Director (Xbox, Minecraft)
Razorfish - Creative Director (Microsoft Windows, Mozilla)
Isobar - Associate Creative Director (EA Sports, Adidas, Dolby)
highlights
Xbox Year-in-Review: Turned player data into personalized storytelling, earning 4 Gold Addys
T-Mobile 5G Adventure: Designed immersive B2B experience integrating AI-enhanced workflows
Microsoft 365 Attach: Used insight-led storytelling to boost attach sales 18%
education
Empowering Marketing with AI, Certification, (UW)
Design Thinking for Innovation, Certification, (UVA)
Advertising and Copywriting, The Creative Circus,
BA, Journalism and Political Philosophy, University of Wisconsin
awards
4x Addys Gold Winner, Xbox Year-in-Review
Effie's Gold, "The Win" Campaign for EA Sports
OMMAs, Adidas "In the Game" TV/Social integration, Dolby "Update Theater" Social Innovation
Mi6 Awards, EA Games
One Show, Cambridge Technology Partners
Telly Awards Gold, T-Mobile for Business 5G Adventure
see work
→
holler
(415) 336-1154
dan@danvanderhei.com
A Creator’s Mindset for Modern Brands
approach
I believe in building with and for the audience. I push brands to behave less like institutions and more like creators—curious, human, and open to co-creation. It means leading with point of view, not perfection to create space for customer and creator contribution. Instead of waiting to be invited into culture, I craft work that earns its place, shaping content and experiences as invitations—designed to resonate, respond, and evolve.
see work
→
149M+
Impressions - Xbox Year in Review
$230M
Revenue lift - Microsoft 365 Attach Campaign
20%
Engagement increase - Xbox CRM
me
Dan V.
Creative Director and Tinkerer
story
Creative Director with 15+ years shaping brand storytelling and systems for Xbox, Microsoft, and T-Mobile. I build creative cultures where insight and experimentation drive award-winning work—bridging emotional storytelling with scalable systems and emerging technology.
skills
Brand Storytelling & Narrative Systems
Human-Centered Design
Creative Team Leadership
Multi-Channel Campaign Development
Emerging Tech & GenAI Integration
Figma & Design System Implementation
Cultural & Community Engagement
experience
AAF Seattle - Board of Directors
T-Mobile Studio - Sr. Manager, Creative Direction
Indigo Slate - Group Creative Director (Microsoft 365)
Wunderman Thompson - Group Creative Director (Xbox, Minecraft)
Razorfish - Creative Director (Microsoft Windows, Mozilla)
Isobar - Associate Creative Director (EA Sports, Adidas, Dolby)
highlights
Xbox Year-in-Review: Turned player data into personalized storytelling, earning 4 Gold Addys
T-Mobile 5G Adventure: Designed immersive B2B experience integrating AI-enhanced workflows
Microsoft 365 Attach: Used insight-led storytelling to boost attach sales 18%
education
Empowering Marketing with AI, Certification, (UW)
Design Thinking for Innovation, Certification, (UVA)
Advertising and Copywriting, The Creative Circus,
BA, Journalism and Political Philosophy, University of Wisconsin
awards
4x Addys Gold Winner, Xbox Year-in-Review
Effie's Gold, "The Win" Campaign for EA Sports
OMMAs, Adidas "In the Game" TV/Social integration, Dolby "Update Theater" Social Innovation
Mi6 Awards, EA Games
One Show, Cambridge Technology Partners
Telly Awards Gold, T-Mobile for Business 5G Adventure
see work
→
holler
(415) 336-1154
dan@danvanderhei.com