Creative Direction / Brand Leadership / Brand Strategy

Gary M. Smith

I define what a brand stands for and make it unmistakable across every consumer, partner, and employee touchpoint.

APPROACH

I establish the strategy and standards, build governance systems that make it operational, so that every creative execution is true to that strategy.

WHAT I DO

01

Enterprise Brand Strategy and Integration

Building and recalibrating brand platforms at scale, from positioning to architecture, across complex organizations.

 

02

Brand Standards and
Stewardship

Establishing and evolving brand standards, creative toolkits, and governance models that protect integrity while enabling scalable execution across partners, product categories, and retail environments.

03

Brand Marketing and Activation

Leading how brand and franchise strategy come to life in market through campaigns, product creative, packaging, retail expression, and measurable execution across channels and partnerships.

Case Studies

Synchrony

From Invisible Infrastructure to Consumer Meaning

Synchrony had scale, systems, and institutional credibility. What it lacked was a unifying brand platform that could translate infrastructure into meaning. I built the brand strategy, operating processes, and governance standards that allowed brand to function as an enterprise discipline. The work ensured consistency across business units while giving leadership a framework to evolve without fragmentation.

DC Comics

From Location-Bound Event to Scalable Participation

Comic-Con is one of the most concentrated fan experiences in media. Its power comes from presence. But presence does not scale.

 

I helped reframe the experience from a physical event into a participatory brand system. Rather than replicating the format in real time, we extended the meaning of the event into a scalable model that preserved energy, community, and narrative continuity beyond San Diego.

VSYN+

Visualizing the Inclusive Future of Streaming

VSYN+ began with a business idea, not a brand. The concept was clear: a streaming platform centered on the ASL community. What did not exist was positioning, identity, or cultural authority. I developed the name, brand architecture, and identity system to establish credibility within Deaf culture while remaining legible to a broader audience. The platform had to be authored from within, yet expandable beyond its origin. The brand became the bridge.

Ergobaby

From Product Conviction to Brand Platform

Ergobaby had loyal customers and strong product belief. What it lacked was a brand architecture that could translate that conviction into scalable growth. I built a brand platform that unified product, voice, and community. Then I structured the tools and standards that allowed internal teams and advocates to carry the story forward without diluting it.

CultureSpace

From Interior Provider to Culture Architect

Formerly CBI Group, the company operated as a workplace design and contract interiors provider. What it lacked was a brand narrative that reflected how it actually worked: culture first, space second. I led the full rebrand, including naming, positioning, and identity. The new name, CultureSpace, reframed the business around its core belief that workplace environments shape organizational culture. The brand gave the company a clearer point of view and a stronger platform for growth.

SELECTE CLIENTS

logo_07_disney
logo_05_ergobaby
boom
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logo_04_dc
logo_10_microsoft
logo_11_own
logo_09_playstation
logo_08_abc
logo_03_hasbro-1
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logo_nissan

MY JOURNEY

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
La Visual, 2023 – PRESENT

INTERACTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
TBWA\\Chiat\\day, 
2002

FOUNDER/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
AT PLAY CREATIVE, 2006 – PRESENT

CREATIVE DIRECTOR,
MAGNET INTERACTIVE, 1999 – 2002

EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR,
MRM/Mc CANN, 2004 – 2023

DISNEY ONLINE
Art Director, 1995-1999