I’m Steven Townsend. I grew up at the skatepark, devouring street culture and learning to fall– hard. It was a world filled with art, violence, hip-hop, punk, playing in punk bands, sneaking out, sneaker drops, sex, video games, anime, art films, and lots and lots of Thrasher Magazine.
I earned a BA in English Lit and an MFA in Screenwriting from USC. West Side ad agencies (72 and Sunny, Saatchi LA, ChiatDay) taught me how to make things that influence culture. Wrote some Super Bowl spots, and one cracked Admeter top 10.
Now I craft creative narratives and engines that launch, grow and evolve global brands. I build creative teams and creative tools. I use Sora, Runway, Midjourney, Claude, ChatGPT, and AI agents — not for gimmicks, but to boost speed, iteration and evolution. I lead design & copy squads and challenge marketers to make work that people might actually care about.
Gimme a shout: steventown@gmail.com
[See My Work]
RESUME
Over 15+ years in entertainment and streaming marketing, I've built my reputation on transforming brands into household names by combining cutting-edge AI for creative development with deep human understanding of what makes audiences tick. I'm passionate about using data and emerging tech to create those buzz-worthy brand moments that get people talking and, more importantly, watching. Whether it's predicting the next viral trend or personalizing creative at scale, I thrive on pushing the boundaries of what's possible in marketing while keeping everything grounded in authentic storytelling. I've led teams that don't just execute campaigns—we create cultural phenomena that turn casual viewers into devoted fans, especially in the fast-moving, highly competitive world of streaming where standing out isn't optional.
CORE COMPETENCIES
Creative Strategy & Vision Integrated 360° Campaign Development Gaming & Entertainment
Marketing Cross-Functional Team Leadership
Brand Identity & Copywriting Global & Regional Campaign Management Data-Driven Innovation & AI-Enhanced Creativity Concept to Execution Management
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Freelance Creative Director, Radicalness Feb 2021 – Present
Strategic Campaign Leadership: Develop and execute integrated brand campaigns for high-profile clients including Supercell, Activision, and Amazon. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with C-suite executives, marketers, and creative teams to deliver innovative, data-driven strategies that resonate globally
Creative Director, Sid Lee Aug 2019 – Feb 2021
Integrated Marketing Execution: Led multi-channel campaigns for major brands such as Netflix and The North Face, integrating digital, social, experiential, and broadcast mediums. Strategic Collaboration: Worked closely with cross-functional teams to align creative vision with regional market dynamics and business objectives
Freelance Creative Director, Deutsch LA & Ace Content Jun 2019 – Aug 2019
Global Campaign Innovation: Crafted compelling copy and creative strategies for integrated campaigns, ensuring brand cohesion across diverse digital and social platforms
Group Creative Director, Ayzenberg Jun 2018 – May 2019
Leadership & Team Management: Oversaw creative, art, and copywriting teams for global campaigns across multiple Microsoft lines of business, ensuring cohesive digital and social messaging.
Creative Director, TBWAChiatDay LA Nov 2015 – Jun 2018
High-Impact Campaigns: Directed creative strategy and execution for global brands including Peak Games and Apple, driving innovative marketing and content strategies that engaged diverse audiences. Brand Storytelling: Developed comprehensive campaigns that aligned creative messaging with brand objectives and market insights.
Associate Creative Director, Saatchi LA Aug 2014 – Oct 2015
Integrated Campaigns: Crafted and executed creative concepts and copy for Toyota’s global campaigns—including three Super Bowl commercials—ensuring compelling storytelling and brand integrity.
Freelance Creative, 72andSunny & Innocean Jan 2014 – Aug 2014
Destiny “Become Legend” Campaign: Played a pivotal role in the global launch campaign for Activision's Destiny, developing high-impact copy and creative strategies that set a new standard for gaming campaigns. Creative Execution: Delivered innovative advertising solutions for high-profile clients such as Sonos, Google, and Skylanders, aligning creative vision with global market trends.
Co-Executive Producer, Go Go Luckey May 2013 - Jan 2014
Produced "Raising McCain" for Pivot Network and "Loredana, Esq." for the Sundance Channel
Freelance Producer, NBC Universal Sep 2009 - Apr 2013
Created and co-executive produced "Gallery Girls" on Bravo and E! networks, and provided creative services for NBC Universal, Lionsgate Television, and YouTube Writer/Story Producer, Pie Town Productions June 2008 - Sep 2009 Worked on HGTV's popular show "House Hunters"
EDUCATION
Professional Credential, Artificial Intelligence: Business Strategies - UC Berkeley Haas
MFA in Screenwriting - University of Southern California
BA in English - Brigham Young University
SKILLS
Top AI Creative Tools: Claude, ChatGPT, Runway, MidJourney, and Sora. Adobe Creative Suite, Google Suite, Advertising, Creative Direction, Branding, Content Development, Public Relations, Copywriting, Marketing, Retail Marketing, Marcom, Marketing Communications. Fluent in Spanish.