+ Creative Direction
Freelance creative direction in London
I’m Joe Durr, a freelance creative director based in London, UK. I help ambitious brands find a distinctive creative voice and carry it through every touchpoint — campaigns, content, launches and live experiences — with the speed and directness only an independent can offer.
What I do
Senior creative leadership, plugged straight into your team. I take work from first brief to final delivery — setting the idea, directing the craft and protecting the standard throughout.
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Creative direction, end to end
Concept, creative strategy and direction across campaigns, brand platforms and product launches — one accountable creative lead from brief to delivery.
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Art direction & campaign design
Directing photography, film, motion and design so every asset lands the same idea — across paid, social, print, OOH and environments.
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Partnership & sponsorship creative
Turning partnerships into brand fame — as with Darktrace x McLaren, using a Formula 1 platform to build global recognition.
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Embedded leadership
Interim or fractional creative direction inside in-house teams and agencies — steadying ships, raising bars, mentoring designers.
Selected work
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Darktrace x McLaren →
Leveraging an F1 partnership to build brand recognition — campaign creative and trackside presence.
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Audemars Piguet x Marvel →
Launching an ultra-luxury watch collaboration with global campaign moments.
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Darktrace rebrand →
Rebranding a multibillion-pound AI company from strategy to rollout.
How it works
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01
Discover
A short, sharp immersion in your brand, audience and ambition — what needs to be true for the work to succeed.
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02
Define
The idea, the creative strategy and the plan: what we make, why it will work and what it takes to deliver.
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03
Direct
Hands-on direction of design, film, photography and production partners — keeping the craft high and the idea intact.
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04
Deliver
Launch-ready assets, guidelines and a team that knows how to keep the standard after I step away.
A London creative director, working worldwide
I’m based in London and work on-site with teams across the city — from Soho agencies to in-house brand teams in the City and East London. Being freelance means you get senior creative direction without the layers: one person, directly accountable, embedded exactly as much as you need.
Most of my work is for brands in London and the UK, but I collaborate with companies worldwide — remotely or on location. Recent projects have spanned cybersecurity, luxury watchmaking, banking and sport.
Frequently asked questions
What does a freelance creative director do?
A freelance creative director provides the senior creative leadership an agency would — setting the idea, directing design, art direction, film and production — but works with you directly, on a project or embedded basis. You get accountability and speed without agency overheads.
How do you price creative direction projects?
Either a day rate for embedded and interim roles, or a fixed project fee for defined briefs such as a campaign or launch. After a first conversation about scope I’ll always give you a clear written quote before anything starts.
Do you work with agencies as well as brands?
Yes. Alongside direct-to-brand work I take on white-label and overflow creative direction for agencies and studios in London — pitch support, campaign leadership or covering senior capacity.
Do you only work in London?
No — London is home and where I work in person, but I direct projects for clients across the UK, Europe and worldwide, remotely or travelling as the work requires.
Let’s talk
Have a brief — or half of one? Tell me where you’re trying to get to and I’ll tell you honestly how I can help. Based in London, working worldwide.
