There are creative challenges in every project. One is never really more important or difficult than the next. Finding the creative energy at the beginning of each project is an ever changing process. It might come swiftly and with ease, but it can also take days of banging your head against a wall, and going to bed unfulfilled and disappointed in the day’s work. When I partner with an agency, we want to make the most creative content we can. In most cases there are so many people that need to approve these things, by the time we go through the layers at the agency, up the chain of clients, and finally to legal and network approvals, the end result is sometimes not what we had in mind. The discovery of working with other creative people to try and elevate the project is always surprising, and I often find myself missing the people that went on the journey with me. When you truly connect with something, the reward is there and the struggle was worth it. I’m currently working on a feature documentary, and I’m in the rough cut stage. In both worlds all I want to provide is beautiful work. Now is the time to be creative; it’s a magical and perfect moment of struggle and bliss. I’m connecting with my characters in a way that no one else can. I learn something from each of these struggles, and I take it with me to the next. There is always a next time, and a new reason to walk away smiling.
Editor
Fluid
Adam Gloo Joins Barbarian As Chief Creative Officer
Digital agency Barbarian has named Adam Gloo as its chief creative officer.
With over a decade of creative leadership experience, Gloo has shaped standout work at agencies including VML, 360i/Dentsu Creative, and most recently, SPCSHP (formerly Big Spaceship). During that time, he led teams that developed award-winning campaigns for brands such as Starbucks, Oreo, HBO, Absolut, Vanguard, and Google.
“Great creative work isn’t just about emotional connection--it must also provide real value to audiences. There’s too much noise in the market, and I’m not interested in adding to it,” said Gloo. “At Barbarian, my goal is to foster an environment where smart, unexpected ideas can thrive, and where technology and creativity combine to produce truly standout work. I’ve admired Barbarian since I started in this industry, and I am honored to now share the responsibility of leading it forward.”
Gloo brings a unique perspective to creative leadership, placing a high premium on both the power of curiosity, and the value of clear communication. He believes that curiosity is crucial to maintaining a technological and cultural edge, and that communication has the power to either drive a project forward, or grind it to a halt. Rather than implementing wholesale changes across the agency, he is focused on breaking down barriers to innovation and ensuring that technology serves as a catalyst for Barbarian’s creative work.
“Adam brings the kind of creative leadership that doesn’t just push out work--it pushes brands forward,” said Jeff Blackman, managing director at Barbarian. “He understands how to merge technology and creativity in a way that makes people care and inspires action. His vision will help us break through the... Read More