Daniel Barak
Global executive creative director
Daniel Barak
Global executive creative director
"Cognitive flexibility and innovation have brought Daniel unprecedented achievements at an exceptionally young age."
- Forbes
Daniel Barak is an internationally acclaimed creative leader currently serving as R/GA’s first Global ECD, working across the network’s entire client portfolio and partnering with the Global CCO to deliver stellar creative output that grows businesses and builds reputation.
Described by Forbes as the industry’s next generation, and named by Business Insider and Forbes as one of the 30 most creative people in advertising for 2 consecutive years, he has won over 200 awards including an Emmy nomination, AdAge Creativity Innovators award, Fast Company Innovation by Design, and multiple Grands and Golds at Clios, Cannes Lions, One Show, Effies, ANDYs, LIAA, NYF, D&AD, Webbys, among others.
In the past, Daniel helped build and transform the creative department at Saatchi LA, where he led creative excellence for Toyota. He also served as VP, Creative Director for Deutsch LA, where he oversaw the non-traditional and innovation work for Volkswagen and Target.
Career highlights:
• Helped Verizon dive into the Metaverse for Super Bowl LV and reunite 40 Million fans with a replica of Raymond James Stadium built in Fortnite.
• Hacked TikTok’s most famous feature to create #DoritosDuetRoulette, a shoppable challenge with over 10 Billion views.
• Helped Verizon launch the new iPhone 13 in the Metaverse with a mixed reality treasure hunt created by artists FriendsWithYou and Grammy-nominated singer Halsey.
• Showed the world what a blind Paralympian sees when she skis for Toyota's Global Olympics Campaign.
• Helped ACE Content launch 'Rewind Nature', a vintage, eco-friendly clothing collection and Emmy-nominated branded content series for The North Face & REI in partnership with National Geographic.
• Helped Disney launch Star Wars Galaxy's Edge with the world's first Snapchat hologram lens.
• Pioneered the use of Artificial Intelligence in advertising for Volkswagen USA.
• Had 2 different projects permanently archived at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
• Launched an innovative tool that allowed people to read articles online 3 times faster.
• Helped Saatchi & Saatchi LA launch Toyota's global Olympic campaign, win AOR duties for ASICS, launch a short film series for Toyota, and harness the industry to save shelter animals by hacking Getty Images.
• Earned Deutsch LA a spot on Ad Age’s ‘Most Innovative Companies', as well as the #6 spot on the ‘Agency A List'.
• Earned McCann Worldgroup the title '#1 Network For Good' by the Gunn Report.
daniel@daniel-barak.com
Awards & recognition
Awards & recognition
AdAge A-List #2 (R/GA), 2022
Campaign US Digital Innovation Agency of the Year (R/GA), 2022
Fast Company Innovation by Design, 2021
Campaign US Digital Innovation Agency of the Year (R/GA), 2020
Emmy Nomination, 47th Daytime Emmys,
Short Format Daytime Program, 2020
Forbes: 30 Under 30, 2017
Business Insider: 30 Most Creative People In Advertising, 2017
Business Insider: 30 Most Creative People In Advertising, 2016
Clio Awards 2022, Experiential/Digital - Gold
Clio Awards 2022, Television/Digital - Gold
Clio Awards 2022, Live Entertainment - Silver
Clio Awards 2022, Experiential/Events - Silver
Clio Awards 2022, Live Entertainment - Bronze
Clio Awards 2022, Virtual/AR - Bronze
Clio Awards 2022, Fan Driven - Bronze
Clio Awards 2022, Partnerships - Bronze
Clio Awards 2022, Social Media, Silver
Clio Awards 2022, Digital/Games - Silver
Clio Awards 2022, Direct/Social - Bronze
Clio Awards 2021, Digital/Mobile - Silver
Clio Awards 2021, Innovation - Silver
Clio Awards 2021, Partnerships - Silver
Clio Awards 2021, Branded Entertainment - Bronze
Clio Awards 2021, Experiential - Bronze
Clio Awards 2021, Social - Bronze
Clio Awards 2019, Integrated Campaign, Grand Prix
Clio Awards 2019, Sponsorships, Grand Prix
Clio Awards 2019, Innovation, Gold
Clio Awards 2019, Public Relations, Gold
Clio Awards 2019, Single Platform, Gold
Clio Awards 2019, Medium Innovation, Silver
Clio Awards 2019, Social Video, Silver
Clio Awards 2019, Social Post, Silver
Clio Awards 2019, Innovation, Silver
Clio Awards 2019, Digital/Mobile, Bronze
Clio Awards 2019, Branded Content, Silver
Clio Awards 2014, Branded Content & Entertainment, Gold
Clio Awards 2014, Innovative Media, Silver
Clio Awards 2014, Music: Innovative Media, Silver
Clio Awards 2014, Music: Film, Silver
Clio Awards 2014, Digital, Bronze
Effie Awards 2013, Innovation, Gold
Effie Awards 2012, Digital Marketing, Gold
Creative Circle 2014, Digital, Gold
Creative Circle 2014, Microsite, Gold
LIA 2021, Branded Entertainment, Silver
LIA 2021, Gaming, Bronze
LIA 2012, Best Use of Social Media, Bronze
New York Festivals 2019, Social Media & Influencer, Silver
New York Festivals 2019, Film / Products & Services, Silver
New York Festivals 2019, Best Use of Influencer, Silver
New York Festivals 2019, Avant-Garde/Innovation, Bronze
New York Festivals 2019, Corporate Image, Bronze
New York Festivals 2019, Mobile Platforms, Bronze
New York Festivals 2019, Sports Events, Bronze
New York Festivals 2019, Collaborations & Partnerships, Bronze
New York Festivals 2019, Events, Bronze
New York Festivals 2019, Events & Stunts, Bronze
New York Festivals 2012, Innovative Use of Media, Bronze
New York Festivals 2012, Social Networks, Finalist
New York Festivals 2012, Politics / Government, Finalist
The Lovie Awards 2014, Gold
The Lovie Awards 2012, Finalist
W3 Awards 2012, Social Media, Gold
Eurobest Awards 2012, Bronze
Eurobest Awards 2012, Finalist
Eurobest Awards 2012, Finalist
The Communicator Awards 2015, Gold
The Communicator Awards 2015, Gold
The Communicator Awards 2012, Gold
The Communicator Awards 2012, Gold
The Communicator Awards 2012, Gold
Epica Awards 2012, Gold
Cresta Awards 2012, Gold
Prague International Advertising Festival 2012, Silver
Prague International Advertising Festival 2012, Finalist
Golden Drum 2012, Silver
Golden Drum 2012, Silver
Golden Drum 2011, Silver
Golden Drum 2011, Silver
The Bees Awards 2012, Social Media, Gold
The Bees Awards 2012, Innovation, Finalist
The Lorie Awards 2012, Social, Silver
Google: The Creative Internet 2010, Featured
Google Creative Sandbox 2015, Featured
Google Creative Sandbox 2012, Featured
AWWWARDS 2015, Site of the Day
Cannes Lions 2022, Entertainment for Music, Bronze
Cannes Lions 2022, 2X Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2021, 7X Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2019, Entertainment, Bronze
Cannes Lions 2018, PR, Gold
Cannes Lions 2018, PR, Silver
Cannes Lions 2018, Social & Influencer, Bronze
Cannes Lions 2018, Mobile, Bronze
Cannes Lions 2018, Mobile, 2XShortlist
Cannes Lions 2018, Digital Craft, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2017, Film Craft, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2016, Direct, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2016, Cyber, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2016, Branded Entertainment, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2014, Branded Entertainment, Gold
Cannes Lions 2014, Film Craft: Direction, Gold
Cannes Lions 2014, Film Craft: Script, Gold
Cannes Lions 2014, Best Use of Digital Marketing, Gold
Cannes Lions 2014, Cyber, Bronze
Cannes Lions 2014, Titanium, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2014, Branded Entertainment, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2014, Branded Entertainment, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2014, Branded Entertainment, Shortlis
Cannes Lions 2014, Branded Entertainment, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2013, Mobile, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2012, Cyber, Shortlist
Cannes Lions 2012, Direct, Shortlist
One Show 2024, Merit
One Show 2022, 2X Merit
One Show 2021, Gaming, Silver
One Show 2021, PR, Silver
One Show 2021, Social, Bronze
One Show 2021, Interactive, Bronze
One Show 2021, 7X Merit
One Show 2019, Social Channel, Silver
One Show 2019, Craft / Use of Visuals, Silver
One Show 2019, Influencer Marketing, Merit
One Show 2019, Influencer Marketing / Episodic, Merit
One Show 2018, Websites, Merit
One Show 2016, Sound Design, Bronze
One Show 2016, Branded Entertainment, Bronze
One Show 2016, Websites, Merit
One Show 2016, Website Design, Merit
One Show 2016, Products & Services, Merit
One Show 2016, Innovation - Websites, Merit
One Show 2016, Innovation - Advertising, Merit
One Show 2016, Innovation In Direct, Merit
One Show 2016, Microsites, Merit
One Show 2016, Use of Technology, Merit
One Show 2014, Interactive Video, Gold
One Show 2013, Interactive Advertising, Merit
One Show 2012, Best Use of Social Media, Bronze
Webby Awards 2024, Best Use of Augmented Reality, Winner
Webby Awards 2024, 2X Nominees
Webby Awards 2023, Best Audience Integration (Metaverse), Winner
Webby Awards 2023, 3X Nominees
Webby Awards 2022, Agency of the Year
Webby Awards 2022, Best Launch, Winner
Webby Awards 2022, Promotions, Winner
Webby Awards 2022, Games, Winner
Webby Awards 2022, 4X Nominees
Webby Awards 2019, Best Cause Related Campaign, Winner
Webby Awards 2019, Native Advertising / Social, Winner
Webby Awards 2019, Webby For Good, Special Selection, Winner
Webby Awards 2019, Brand Strategy, Honoree
Webby Awards 2019, Best Influencer Endorsement, Honoree
Webby Awards 2018, Best Use of Photography, Winner
Webby Awards 2018, Best Cause Related Campaign, Honoree
Webby Awards 2016, Best Use of Online Media, Winner
Webby Awards 2016, Digital Campaigns, Nominee
Webby Awards 2016, Best Homepage, Honoree
Webby Awards 2016, Technical Achievement, Honoree
Webby Awards 2016, Best Use of Motion Graphics, Honoree
The Webby Awards 2014, Best Editing, Winner
The Webby Awards 2014, Music, Nominee
The Webby Awards 2014, Best Use of Interactive Video, Nominee
The Webby Awards 2014, Experimental & Innovation, Honoree
The Webby Awards 2012, Best Use of Social Media, Nominee
ANDY Awards 2021, Gold
ANDY Awards 2016, Creative Technology, Gold
ANDY Awards 2016, Direct, Finalist
The A-List Awards Hollywood 2016, Interactive, Gold
AICP 2021, Experiential, Winner
D&AD 2024, Gaming & Virtual Worlds, Graphite Pencil
D&AD 2021, Experiential, Wood Pencil
D&AD 2014, Digital Marketing, Wood Pencil
ADC 2022, The Metaverse, Silver
ADC 2022, Social, Silver
FWA 2015, Site of the Day
FWA 2015, Adobe's Cutting Edge Project of the Week
FWA 2015, Site of the Day
FWA 2015, Mobile of the Day
FWA 2015, Adobe's Cutting Edge Project of the Week
FWA 2014, Mobile of the Day
FWA 2013, Site of the Day
verizon
Fortnite stadium
verizon
Fortnite stadium
- WALL STREET JOURNAL
Amidst the pandemic, Super Bowl LV had few fans in the stands, few visitors to Tampa, and few parties at home. So we built a replica of Raymond James Stadium in the Fortnite metaverse — remaking the Big Game, in the world's biggest video game.
All in all, 40 million fans showed up, played NFL-inspired games, watched primetime livestreams on Twitch, and met their favorite NFL players in the stadium — avatar-to-avatar — making this THE single most visited stadium in Super Bowl history.
Verizon & Pepsi - Halftime ultra pass
Verizon & Pepsi - Halftime ultra pass
- Rolling Stone
Despite the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show being the greatest celebration of West Coast hip hop in history (in a stadium just a stone’s throw away from where the sub-genre was born, no less), there was no way for local fans, for whom it arguably mattered the most, to score a ticket.
So, Pepsi and Verizon created Ultra Pass: an immersive experience that used eleven 360° 8K cameras along with America’s most reliable 5G network to let half a million fans virtually gatecrash the stadium… past the VIPs in the stands… and onto the stage itself.
TOYOTA & Paralympics@SeeLikeMenna
TOYOTA & Paralympics@SeeLikeMenna
- BBC NEWS
As the Official Mobility Sponsor of the Paralympics, Toyota was on a mission to change the world's perceptions of Paralympic athletes.
@SeeLikeMenna is an Instagram experience that lets you see the world through the eyes of Menna Fitzpatrick, a visually impaired Paralympic skier with only 3% vision. Using data from Menna’s medical records, we partnered with the Royal National Institute for the Blind to replicate exactly what Menna sees in a way that was disruptive to Instagram.
We brought people along on Menna’s journey as she became Britain’s most decorated Winter Paralympian of all time, while changing the way we see Paralympians. The campaign was discussed on hundreds of television segments worldwide and sparked global conversation.
Volkswagen - Unleash Your Rrrr
Volkswagen - Unleash Your Rrrr
- Business Insider
The Golf R runs on the power of your voice. Make car sounds just like when you were a kid and the Golf R magically reacts.
Volkswagen needed to launch the Golf R, its top performance model designed to bring back the fun in everyday driving.
Our problem was that as we grow up, driving becomes more functional and less fun. So to launch it, we went back to when we had the most fun with cars – as kids, imagining ourselves as racecar drivers.
Make screeching sounds and the Golf R drifts. Roar and it accelerates. Every sound you unleash triggers a different maneuver. To pull this off, we built the world’s first Artificial Intelligence brain that translates human emotions and car sounds into a virtual test-drive. Unleash Your Rrrr was the first campaign to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence and deep machine learning to create the next generation of personalized ads.
To launch the campaign, Police Academy’s Michael Winslow Vrooms like a pro.
To be the face of the campaign, we got the “king of sound effects,” Michael Winslow, and unleashed a cinematic trailer where Winslow powered the Golf R with his epic car sounds.
We launched a social media campaign to get everyone
revved up.
We partnered with Top Gear host and Fast&Furious stunt driver, Tanner Foust. To leverage his fan base of hundreds of thousands of car enthusiasts, we launched the campaign by hacking his own twitter account, introducing Rrrrrrr online. the reveal was the video above, where Tanner vrooms like the pro race-car driver that he is.
The Amanda Foundation - Getty Images Hack
The Amanda Foundation - Getty Images Hack
- Mashable
HOW SAATCHI & SAATCHI LA AND GETTY IMAGES HARNESSED THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY TO HELP RESCUE ANIMALS
Launched on National Dog Day 2017, the collaboration is a unique collection of stock photos portraying dogs and cats that are up for adoption at the Amanda Foundation. While 100% of the licensing dollars go to support the nonprofit.
Shot by Christopher Nelson specifically for the project, and with the industry’s needs in mind, the collection holds over 60 beautiful Hi-res images, and took a couple shooting days to complete.
By using the Amanda Foundation Collection, every agency, art director, or designer can now donate and save these animals by simply doing their job.See the full collection on Getty Images - Here.
Toyota - Anthology Films
Toyota - Anthology Films
- The Drum
Directed by award-winning director Vania Heymann, the two films are part of The Anthology Series and explore the theme of time travel while on the road. Each of the spots takes a different sci-fi influenced concept, toying with time in surreal ways while utilizing Toyota vehicles as the setting for the stories.
Inspired by Charlie Brooker's dark comedy series Black Mirror, the films mark a tactical step into branded content specifically designed for audiences at the cinema.
IADA - Drugs Set Your Timeline
IADA - Drugs Set Your Timeline
- Forbes
'Drugs Set Your Timeline' is the first campaign to use Facebook's new timeline as a medium. Launched by the Israel Anti-Drug Authority, the campaign communicates the hazards of drug abuse in an innovative way.
Our challenge was to create a fresh conversation on the effects
of drug abuse, and to break down the wall of apathy that surrounds our audience regarding anti-drug campaigns.
So we opened a new Timeline for a fictional "Adam Barak" and divided it into 2 sections. using the split screen layout, Adam shows a year in his life with and without drugs, demonstrating to our audience what their Timelines are liable to look like if they
got addicted.
Sony Legacy - Like a Rolling Stone
Sony Legacy - Like a Rolling Stone
- WIRED
The interactive video is the song's first official video. It allows viewers to use their keyboards or cursors to flip through 16 channels that mimic TV formats such as game shows, shopping networks, and reality series. People on each channel, no matter what TV trope they represent, are seen lip-syncing the lyrics.
The full credit for this masterpiece goes to director Vania Heymann. It was produced and co-written by Natan Schottenfels.
Disney - Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
Disney - Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge
- BuzzFeed
Volkswagen x Discovery Channel - Sharks Rescored
Volkswagen x Discovery Channel - Sharks Rescored
- Billboard
Sharks Rescored is a conservation initiative that uses music to change our perception of a species we've been taught to fear.
Ever since Spielberg's "Jaws," menacing music has become synonymous with footage of sharks. But in an interactive experience created by Deutsch L.A., VW asks what if the music were different. In partnership with Discovery, composer J. Ralph and marine biologist Luke Tipple, it created a new score for sharks and recorded it at Abbey Road Studios with an orchestra featuring Grammy Award-winning violinist Josh Bell.
In the Sharks Rescored interactive experience, fans control the music experience with their eyes using eye-tracking technology, to see shark footage scored with both menacing music and the new score. Toggling between both scores, the experience highlights how music influences our perceptions of sharks.
We teamed up a respected marine biologist, Luke Tipple, with an Oscar-nominated composer, J. Ralph, to create a new soundtrack that changes a 40-year-old stigma. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the London Symphony Orchestra, the new 6 minute score premiered in our documentary during Shark Week.
Listen to the full score in the video above.
Target - Share the Force
Target - Share the Force
- Fast Company
Target’s Share the Force is the first-ever collection of Star Wars memories, allowing fans to become a real part of the star wars universe to be archived forever at Lucasfilm. Target needed to give 147 million Star Wars fans a reason to shop with them instead of their competitors, who sell the exact same toys.
How? By proving that Target loves Star Wars as much as the fans do. Share the Force celebrates Star Wars nostalgia and archives 38 years of Star Wars culture in an immersive WebGL website, visualizing and personalizing what this franchise really means to 3 generations of fans. With over 3 million memories viewed, Share the Force generated over 3 billion media impressions. Dominated share of voice at 53%. Over $30MM in earned media. A 3:47 avg. time spent on site. It drove a 587% lift in brand conversation And a 12% sales increase which lead to Target being the #1 marketshare, beating out Walmart, Amazon and Toys’R’Us.
WEB EXPERIENCE
Our immersive web experience visualizes user-generated content in an interactive WebGL universe featuring vast explorable galaxies. Fans can upload their own memories to the ever-expanding universe via social media.
Each memory receives it’s very own galactic coordinates and is grouped in a galaxy with similar memories from other users, showing how fans are all connected by the Force.
SOCIAL
We engaged with Star Wars fans through a series of targeted online videos on Youtube and Facebook - earning over 11 million views. We created custom Snapchat geo-filters, in-store
Periscope broadcasts, Facebook posts, Twitter polls, Vine videos, Buzzfeed articles, and even custom invitations for social media and celebrity influencers, inviting everyone everywhere to #ShareTheForce for an effortless submission to the experience.
Various Clientsother projects
Various Clientsother projects
- Business Insider
I tried to create a new medium on mobile. A new kind of mobile images.
In this experimental project I've created a static JPG image that when zoomed-out on an iPhone,
creates animation inside the image. You know, just to see if there's potential. (2013)
- National Geographic
Every second, a garbage truck’s worth of textiles are put into landfills or burned. If nothing changes, CO2 emissions from the fashion industry are predicted to increase nearly 50% by 2030. In an effort to raise awareness of this growing concern within the industry, The North Face and REI joined forces with National Geographic to launch REWIND NATURE, a series that spotlights changemakers who are taking a step forward to reverse the damage we’ve caused to our planet, and bring to light actionable ways to make small changes that have a big impact. The initiative was inspired by The North Face’s Eco Heritage Collection, the brand’s most iconic jackets now created with 100% recycled materials. (2020)
Created and produced by ACE Content.
More than 30 artists were selected to interpret their favorite scenes for each show, replacing a traditional ad campaign. The campaign occupies Israel’s largest shopping center, converting it into a huge art gallery. People were invited to explore the art works, buy a poster with a "Like", and learn about HBO series using their smartphone. (2014)
- THE NEXT WEB
This is the latest incarnation of the iconic Beetle Jeans model. With a jeans-inspired interior and denim-like convertible top, it brings street style to the road. Social video and print campaign.
- THE INSPIRATION ROOM
"It's said that this generation is one of the worst when it comes to concentration; They are all about TL;DR (too long, didn't read).
This innovative new banner demonstrates the speed of a new mobile network by helping internet users read content up to 3 times faster." (2014)
- CREATIVE BLOQ
Fans got a chance to interview ESPYs 2013 host, Jon Hamm, in this interactive video.
ESPN host Stuart Scott chats up the “Mad Men” star, while fans can pick the questions they want to hear answered. (2013)
Watch it here >
- THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
"In this world, we have piano applets, piano dashboard widgets, piano iPhone apps, we even have actual pianos. And someone still felt the need to make a YouTube video that plays piano keys depending on what part of the timeline you click." (2009)
- DANIEL TOSH (Tosh.0), COMEDY CENTRAL
"A medley of YouTube-themed ditties. We can’t wait to see what else they come up with." (2010)
- TIME MAGAZINE
"Hopping on the cultish adoration for all things zombies, Canada pop star Guinevere allows fans to select the weapon for her to use to kill the undead in her interactive music video “Ran For My Life.” The options give the viewer a sort of macabre choose-your-own-adventure through a zombie outbreak."
Watch it here >
- THE NEXT WEB
"A brilliant new video campaign for the OCD Foundation is spreading awareness about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder by enticing viewers to click play to watch the video over, and over, and over again." (2011)
- ADWEEK