My source of dopamine and I
(if you’re on your phone, scroll down to read the part that matters)
dudubalestra@hotmail.com
External Validation
2023
2022
ADC Europe | Bronze (Interactive & Mobile): Angel’s Souls
ADC Germany | Bronze (Brand Building/Social Media): Angel’s Souls
ADC Germany | Bronze (Digital Experience/Real Time Advertising): Angel’s Souls
ADC Germany | Merit (Innovation/Use of Media): Angel’s Souls
ADC Germany | Merit (Digital Experience/Game): Angel’s Souls
The One Show | Merit (Gaming: Innovation in Gaming): Angel’s Souls
The One Show | Shortlist (Gaming: Brand Integration/Placement): Angel’s Souls
The One Show | Shortlist (Gaming: Innovation in Lockdown): Angel’s Souls
2021
Eurobest | Bronze (Health): Angel’s Souls
Eurobest | Bronze (Social & Influencer): Angel’s Souls
Comm Awards | Silver (PR: Online & Social): Angel’s Souls
Comm Awards | Bronze (Digital: Entertainment & Games): Angel’s Souls
AdStars | Bronze (Partnerships): Angel Souls
AdStars | Crystal (Pivot): Angel’s Souls
NY Festivals | Bronze (Health: Live Experience): Angel’s Souls
NY Festivals | Finalist (Health: Direct): Angel’s Souls
NY Festivals | Finalist (Health: Social Media): Angel’s Souls
Cannes Lions | Shortlist (Media): Angel’s Souls
The Caples | Bronze (Radical New Strategy): Angel’s Souls
The Caples | Silver (Non Profit): Angel’s Souls
The One Show | Merit (Social Media): Angel’s Souls
The One Show | Shortlist (Experiential & Immersive): Angel’s Souls
ADC Global | Shortlist (Branded Content): Angel’s Souls
ADC Global | Shortlist (Innovation/Direct): Angel’s Souls
2020
The One Show | Shortlist (Branded Entertainment): Whopper Diamond
Gerety Awards | Shortlist (Online Video): Whopper Diamond
NY Festivals | Finalist (Audio/Radio: Under 60s): smart Memory Test
NY Festivals | Finalist (Audio/Radio: Best use of Medium): smart Memory Test
NY Festivals | Finalist (Print: Automotive): smart Bad Parking
NY Festivals | Finalist (Social/Environmental Good: Best Use of Film): Whopper Diamond
Lürzer’s Archive | Featured: smart Bad Parking
2019
Eurobest | Shortlist (Print): smart Paranoia
Epica | Bronze (Copywriting & Storytelling): smart Paranoia
Clio | Shortlist (Film Technique): Volkswagen Pranks
Lürzer’s Archive | Featured: smart Paranoia
ADC Germany | Shortlist (TV spot): Volkswagen Pranks
ADC Germany | Shortlist (TV Campaign): Volkswagen Pranks
NY Festivals | Finalist (Film Craft: Art Direction): Volkswagen Pranks
NY Festivals | Finalist (Film Craft: Best Original Music): Volkswagen Pranks
Webby Awards | Honoree (Video ad Shortform): Volkswagen Pranks
Die Klappe | Shortlist: Volkswagen Pranks
Spotlight | Bronze (Audience Awards TV & Cinema): Volkswagen Pranks
2018
Cannes Young Lions | Gold in Cannes (Print)
Cannes Young Lions | Winner from Germany (Print)
2017
Eurobest | Shortlist (Print): Harvey Nichols Dead Rare
Campaign BIG Awards | Shortlist (Retail): Harvey Nichols Dead Rare
Campaign BIG Awards | Shortlist (best in Print): Harvey Nichols Dead Rare
Lürzer’s Archive | Top 10 ads 2017: Harvey Nichols Dead Rare
Lürzer’s Archive | Cover: Harvey Nichols Dead Rare
Lürzer’s Archive | Print of the week | Harvey Nichols Dead Rare
Lürzer’s Archive | Featured: Harvey Nichols Dead Rare
The Drum | Ad of the day: Harvey Nichols Dead Rare
2016
Lürzer’s Archive | Print of the week: Harvey Nichols Visa Forms
Lürzer’s Archive | Featured: Harvey Nichols Visa Forms
Cannes Young Lions | Shortlist | UK
2015
Cannes Young Lions | Shortlist | UK
2014
Cannes Young Lions | 2nd place | UK
El Ojo de Iberoamerica Young Talents | Shortlist
Who are you?
A recruiter? CD? CCO? CMO? Someone who randomly ended up here and have no clue what these acronyms mean?
The good news is, whoever you are, I created hyperlinks to make your life easier so you find quickly what you’re looking for (how about that for funnel strategy, eh?).
The bad is if you are one of the acronyms above you probably have a boring meeting today that you can’t escape from, so you might as well enjoy two fun minutes reading the below.
Who am I?
Uff. Deep question. I’m a Creative Director, Copywriter, Content Creator, Comedian. And sometimes people call me another word that also starts with “C”.
Yup, you guessed it right: “Charismatic”
As an advertiser, I’m better at creating labels than identifying with them.
Am I traditional? I guess. Social led? Probably. A PR creative? Why not? What about a Comedy writer? You bet.
Some might say that if you’re not a specialist, then you’re a generalist. (But you see, even if you run away from a label, you end up with another one)
Some think that unless you focus on one thing, you’re “just average” on all things.
Would that mean that this film I wrote kinda sucks? Or that this social activation is pretty shit? Or this local culture idea is “meh”? Or the way that I announce my baby to the world is not worth even a giggle?
I will let you be the judge of all it. That’s why you’re here after all.
Truth is I don’t like labels, because I rather see myself as someone constantly learning, transforming and evolving.
I mix the ingredients I collect along the way to come up with a fresh new recipe for the brief I have on the table.
Speaking of, here’s some UGC content that shows just that.
I’m addicted to writing ideas that deliver simple points. Which explains why on earth I’m smoking that damn pen, in case you’re wondering.
What do I do?
I come up with ideas from scratch. In all formats. And where there needs to be copy, I write the hell out of It. Snappy copy. Long copy. Poetic copy. Emotional copy. Make-you-think-twice copy. Almost no copy. Sometimes I don’t even write copy, just break an existing word by pressing a spacebar. And for those who think puns have no place in advertising I say: hold my Kreuzbeer.
Then I present the ideas to the client. I will get so involved selling a script that sometimes it feels like I’m acting in the ad. Hold on…was that me acting in my own ad? Hell yeah. it was. And here too…though this one isn’t an ad, just a comedy sketch I dragged even my family into.
And when the ideas are sold, I find ways to produce it. If I have budget, I will find the best partners available to pull it off. If I don’t, I will find the best partners available to pull it off.
I love doing pitches. Even better when I get to win them. Sometimes with a small agency, sometimes with a bigger one. Sometimes with one dude.
(I also have tons of manifestos to share. But for that, you have to ask nicely)
That’s how I roll.
And I bring along a lot of fun and good energy along the way :)
I see life through very light-hearted lenses, which is why I make fun of myself. Of celebrities I admire. Of spiritual leaders I genuinely respect. And even you, why not? (I mean, you might have won gold in Cannes, but Christ won gold at his fucking birth).
so…let’s go for a coffee? I’ll have a chai-latte.
With oat milk, of course.
Write me: dudubalestra@hotmail.com
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Where have I been?
Freelance (Senior Copywriter/Creative Director), remote | 2023 - current
Germany: Jung von Matt/NERD, la red, Jung von Matt/SPORTS Grabarz & Partner, Scholz & Friends, Foundry, adam&eveBerlin, MRM/McCann, Dreamscope,
UK: Ruffle, draftLine
US: GUT
France: BETC
Gorillas (Freelance ACD + Copy Lead), Berlin, 2023-2024
DDB Germany (Creative Director), remote | 2022-2023
Freelance (Senior Copywriter/Creative Director), remote | 2021-2022
Germany: DDB (5x), Grabarz & Partner (4x), MediaMonks, The Goodwins (2x), GetYourGuide, Shopify, Accenture Song, Jung von Matt,
UK: Mother, Atomic, Ogilvy, Wieden+Kennedy, Forever Beta, We Are Social, Ketchum, Haygarth, HMD Global
BBDO Germany (Senior Copywriter), Berlin | 2019 - 2021
Grabarz & Partner (Senior Copywriter), Hamburg | 2017-2018
Freelance (Creative) | London | 2017
Geometry, Saatchi & Saatchi, Y&R, VCCP
Adam & Eve DDB (Creative) London | 2014-2017
Placement | London | 2013-2014
Atomic, Krow, Forever Beta, Havas, M&C Saatchi, JWT, Adam & Eve DDB
Babel (Jr Copywriter), São Paulo | 2012
Mood\TBWA, (Intern Copywriter), São Paulo | 2011-2012
Grupo Rai (Jr Copywriter), São Paulo | 2011
RMG Connect (Intern Copywriter), São Paulo | 2011
Guiropa Comunicação (Intern Copywriter), São Paulo | 2010
Where have I patronised students at?
Miami Ad School Europe | Teacher, Concept III, Berlin | 2021
Escola Cuca | Teacher, Copywriting Online Course, São Paulo | 2019
Miami Ad School Europe | Teacher, Copy Technique, Hamburg | 2018
School of Communication and Arts | Tutor, London | 2016
Where have I spent money studying only to find out the best schools were my internships lunch breaks?
Escola Cuca | Creative Copywriting, São Paulo, 2012
Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado | Bachelorship in Social Communication and Advertising, São Paulo | 2007-2011
What clients have I worked with?
Automotive | Volkswagen, BMW, smart, SEAT, Porsche, Ford, Audi, Hertz, Thrifty
Retail & Restaurants | Burger King, Gorillas, Waitrose, John Lewis, Lidl, Mediamarkt, Subway
Food & Drink | Wall’s Ice Cream, Lipton Ice Tea, Skittles, Kinder Bueno, Nutella, Marmite, Airwaves, Desperados, Fosters, John Smiths, Fosters, Erdinger, Singleton, Powerade
Travel | GetYourGuide, City of Ravensburg, lastminute.com, Deutsche Bahn, Jetblue, Virgin Atlantic
Healthcare & NGO | Save One Person, Project Três, NSPCC
Technology | Nokia, Amazon, Phillips, Playstation
Home | Amazon Ring, IKEA
Beauty | Sunsilk/seda. got2b
Luxury | Harvey Nichols
Entertainment | Prime Video
Telecommunications | Deutsche Telekom
Newspaper | Diário de São Paulo
Sports | Nike, Powerade
Finance | Halifax, Aviva Insurance, Shopify, bitpanda