After announcing their intention to deliver solutions-based creativity to clients and to attract an industry-leading creative thinker, GSD&M Idea City has recruited and entrusted their top creative post to industry powerhouse Mark Taylor.
A six-month search focused on finding a creative leader who could help drive the purpose of Idea City — to be a destination for visionary ideas that make a difference for clients and communities. Taylor’s track record of solutions-based innovation reflects a creative philosophy that goes beyond traditional advertising in addressing client challenges.
Taylor comes to GSD&M Idea City from Crispin Porter + Bogusky where his work as creative director won wide critical acclaim. His accomplishments include the re-creation of the King and the interactive-sensation Subservient Chicken for Burger King, the launch of the MINI, and work for Miller Highlife, Nike and VW among many others. Taylor’s work for IKEA won the Grand Prix and his contributions to the BK XBox campaign helped win the Titanium Grand Prix at Cannes. During a period as co-creative director at Fallon, Minneapolis, Taylor led the creation of the innovative Brawny Academy. Overall, Taylor is one of the industry’s most highly recognized creative leaders.
“For more than 36 years our agency has been dedicated to growing our clients’ businesses,” said Duff Stewart, president and COO of Idea City. “In Mark Taylor we’ve found a creative leader who embodies our client-focused heritage and understands the vision of Idea City — to become the best in the world at delivering visionary ideas that make a difference.”
At Idea City, Taylor will lead a creative team that has produced some of the advertising industry’s most memorable work — from taglines “Don’t mess with Texas,” “Ding! You are now free to move about the country” and “These guys are good,” to highly acclaimed pro bono work including “I am an American” immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and work for the Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina and the Asian tsunami. Current Idea City clients include Southwest Airlines, BMW, Mastercard, John Deere, AT&T, Kohler, PGA TOUR, AARP, American Red Cross, Hallmark, Yellowpages, Yellowpages.com, NCL, Lennox, World Market and the United States Air Force.
“I’ve always admired the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit behind an agency that has made such a mark so far from Madison Avenue,” said Taylor. “They’re mavericks and have built their agency by adding value as true business partners with their clients. GSD&M Idea City has big dreams and is one of the great agencies and I’m honored to have the opportunity to be a part of it.”
Taylor will begin working with Idea City at the end of March.
About GSD&M Idea City
Through 36 years of helping grow some of the world’s most successful brands, GSD&M Idea City has become a leading national marketing communications and advertising company using the power of Purpose-based Branding and Dynamic Collaboration to create a destination for visionary ideas that make a difference for our people, our clients, our country and the world. For more information go to www.IdeaCity.com. Idea City is part of Omnicom Group, Inc. (NYSE: OMC).
