Viv Griffiths has been a creative director for over 25 years, working across a wide range of global brands both in the UK and abroad, picking up awards for his work here and in New York.
He leads Influential’s branding briefs and is passionate about creating rational and emotional connections between people and brands.
Here, he shares his top three influences…
The person that has inspired my working career the most, and why?
It was a creative team that inspired me, Pete Thornton and Pete Jones, from J.Walter Thompson (JWT), the former global advertising agency. As a junior, they took time out of their busy schedules every day to teach me and offer me guidance. They worked with me to show me how to craft ideas, communication and art direction. I owe the lads a huge amount. Even 40 years later, we are still mates and run ideas past each other over curries and jazz gigs.
The place that has inspired my working career the most, and why?
When I was starting off, I was lucky to get a six-month placement at JWT in Manchester back in the early 80s. Their creative department was wall to wall talent, oozing with flair and creativity. From my very first day, I became acutely aware of how good everyone was and I wanted to be just as good as them.
I threw away everything I had in my portfolio and started again. I saw the pride and respect the creative teams had in the work they had produced, so I worked incredibly hard to craft a portfolio of work that I was proud to show around. Grinding and grafting away to do so landed me my first job and so began a career doing what I love most.
I’m lucky to have since worked on brands such as The United Nations, Renault, BMP Paribas, the NHS, American Airlines, and Liverpool Capital of Culture, amongst many others.
The thing that has inspired my working career the most, and why?
My wife and I moved into an old farm in Wales and it completely changed the way I live my life and how I view my work. No neighbours, amazing views, complete peace and a million miles away from living in a city. If I ever need to be motivated, I just walk outside the door and look around. There is so much inspiration to be taken from my surroundings.
I love making stuff and so I have a workshop which I disappear into. I think all creatives have a need to make stuff. Doing something creative outside of my day job keeps me fresh and I arrive at so many other ideas when I’m either painting, doing something with wood or tinkering on the motorbikes.
