Iain S. Thomas co-founded Sounds Fun, a creative technology studio focused on emergent culture, emotional inventions and intelligent experiences. 

At his previous role as Global Head of Innovation for Virtue Worldwide, Iain’s projects included leading the Coca-Cola Creations work and projects like Backup Ukraine, a platform dedicated to the digital preservation of Ukrainian sculptures and cultural landmarks using 3D scans, which has garnered global acclaim.

More recently, he and Sounds Fun have worked with Microsoft and Intel to realize The Art of AI, a creative exploration of technology with several fine artists, including OpenAI’s first artist in residence, Alexander Reben. 

Iain, along with Jasmine Wang and the AI GPT-3, authored the book What Makes Us Human?, a profound exploration of spirituality. Appearing in Malcolm Gladwell’s nonfiction book club, The Next Big Idea, it’s been translated into numerous different languages. 

It’s no surprise that Iain’s writing has found internation acclaim, as he studied Copywriting at Red & Yellow. Today he’s a best-selling author and artist that’s been quoted and referenced by everyone from Stephen Spielberg and Harry Styles to the British Royal Family, and world famous for work that uniquely intersects technology, storytelling and culture. It’s part of what makes him a sought-after voice in both the creative, marketing and tech worlds.

His contributions to the creative and technological fields have earned him accolades such as the Columbia University Breakthroughs in Storytelling Award, as well as more than a hundred other awards including Grand Prix and gold awards from prestigious platforms like the Cannes Lions, The One Show, the Clios, and every other major creative festival.

If you’re looking for a career as creative and successful as Iain’s, take his simple piece of advice to heart: “Nine out of 10 things I do fail, which is why I do 10 things.”

Chris Gotz is the National Creative Director at OFyt, an agency packed with global experience and talent from the streets that creates fresh, involving, indigenous South African marketing solutions.

Chris began his career studying Copywriting at Red & Yellow, before joining JWT in Cape Town, He then moved on to Hunt Lascaris AMC in Johannesburg and won his first Loerie Grand Prix for launching YFM, South Africa’s first black youth radio station.

In 2000 Chris moved down to Ogilvy & Mather Cape Town, creating campaigns for Volkswagen, SAB, Mondelez, Audi and many others. In 2008 Chris was appointed Executive Creative Director of the agency. Under Chris’s leadership Ogilvy and Mather Cape Town has been ranked the number 1 creative agency in South Africa for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

The agency has set new standards in the industry for digital and integrated work, with the 2012 “Be the Coach” campaign for SAB being the most awarded work of 2012, winning for both effectiveness and creativity.

In 2013 Chris was appointed Chief Creative Officer to the Ogilvy & Mather South Africa group. Ogilvy & Mather South Africa brought home 10 Cannes Lions in 2014, including the Grand Prix for Radio for the Lucozade radio campaign.

Paula puts her Creative Magic & Commercial Logic to work each and every day as the Managing Director of Digitas Liquorice, Publicis Groupe’s digital specialist agency. Her career began after studying Copywriting here at Red & Yellow, and she’s put those crucial strategic thinking skills to good use.

Paula with her teams have won multiple golds at Loeries, and her more than two decade long career in digital marketing has seen her co-create the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Youth Action Council and Front Row programme. She’s also served as the CEO of the IAB SA, Head of Innovation at Ogilvy Cape Town and Managing Director of Gloo Cape Town.

When she’s not heading up the premier interactive advertising agency within Publicis Groupe, Paula also sits on the IAB SA Research & Measurement Council, heading up the IAB SA Online Adspend Report.

Paula has been an instrumental part of South Africa’s advertising industry, fueled by her passion for building brands and creating consumer-engaging experiences. Her advice to students looking to launch their creative career? “Always follow the energy. If it feels exciting, interesting, scary, or energised, then lean in and say yes. Your contribution counts!” 

Dan graduated as an art director and graphic designer from Red & Yellow in 2001. His first job was to launch Hyground alongside the school’s founders and South African advertising legends Brian Searle-Tripp and Bob Rightford. In 2003 Dan founded SALE, the creative arm of both Amperzand (now OFYT) and Grey Cape Town.

A few years later in 2007 he moved to London, before joining Wieden + Kennedy Delhi in 2008 as Creative Director. He spent four years living in India, working on iconic cult brands and global blue chip projects in the London and Amsterdam offices.

Dan returned to Cape Town in 2012 to join King James as Creative Director and Head of Integration, winning a number of local and global awards. In 2015 he opened Arcade Africa, bringing a new model to the creative communications industry in an era where the worlds of marketing, entertainment, information, media and technology had collided.

Dan joined Have You Heard as Group Executive Creative Director in 2018. His work has always focused on two things: putting brands at the centre of popular culture by being authentic to the unique role only they can play within it. 

One of Dan’s favourite career highlights includes winning gold at the Loeries for creative effectiveness, silver at One Show for typography and a slice at D&AD for copywriting, and being part of the team that rebuilt Royal Enfield into a global icon – including getting to design the livery of the new Thunderbird.

Get inspired with his advice for young creatives: “There’s no escaping death, taxes and constant change. Cultures, communities, trends and technologies will come and go, but when it comes to connecting with people, nothing will ever replace the power of an insightful idea – or the people who have the sensibility and passion to uncover it. Robots don’t have feelings. So, when you judge your work, first ask whether it has something to say. Something that hasn’t been, or just needs to be, said. Something that can shift perspectives and make other humans go ‘aha’. Then, make sure they listen. Craft the heck out of it, until it’s ready to be delivered in the most provocative, interesting and entertaining way.”

If you’re looking for someone who embodies the combination of Creative Magic & Commercial Logic, look no further than 2001 Red & Yellow graduate Jason Harrison.

Jason Harrison is a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer of M&C Saatchi Group South Africa, which recently rebranded to Up&Up Group South Africa. He’s one of the most trusted leaders when it comes to the business of advertising, with more than two decades of industry experience under his belt. Jason’s grown Up&Up Group South Africa from a start-up to 300-person strong business that produces work for top blue-chip clients like Standard Bank, Lexus, Astron Energy, Nando’s, Takealot Group, Heineken International, Namibia Breweries, Mweb, Yardley, Continental, Best Drive, and PepsiCo. 

Before launching M&C Saatchi Group South Africa, Jason spent six years in London working on Ogilvy Action’s third-largest client globally, BAT, looking after agency hubs in London, Dusseldorf, and Moscow as European Communications Director. He was also a member of the international leadership team fulfilling various global and regional roles, with a specific focus on the disciplines of Global Travel Retail, Shopper Marketing, Product Innovation, and B2B HoReCA engagement.

Jason’s been an integral part of the leadership team that has led to Up&Up Group becoming the fastest growing and most successful marketing communications groups in the country, winning Financial Mail AdFocus Awards Agency of the Year in 2015 and again in 2019. He has also helped the agency win Partnership of the Year with Nando’s in 2020 and Takealot.com in 2021, and secured wins at Cannes, D&AD, One Show, and the Loeries.

Speaking about what drives him, Jason’s answer is simple: “My education taught me about the power of creativity. It’s a super power that’s transformed how I think about the world and how I think about problems. It’s something that rests in all of us. It’s something I’ve learnt at Red & Yellow and it’s something I use every day.”

Jonathan is a writer who has a passion for creative strategy. Together with his belief in the power of ideas and his Copywriting qualification from Red & Yellow, his career has led him to become the Chief Creative Officer at Saatchi & Saatchi South Africa.

He’s led local, regional and global campaigns for top local and international brands, including Multichoice, Castle Lager, Coca-Cola, P&G, Distell, Hyundai, Old Mutual, Mondelez, MTV, KFC, GSK, Exclusive Books, Burger King and more.

Jonathan has won awards across categories at most major local and international ceremonies, including Grand Prix and Golds. He has campaigns that spawned catchphrases, parodies and political cartoons – as well as the South African commercial with the most YouTube views. He has judged at Cannes, Loeries, Dubai Lynx, Smarties, LIA and has also served on the SA Creative Circle. 

His creativity doesn’t stop at words though. Jonathan describes himself as a lifelong musicaholic, and has served as musical advisor to the Loerie Awards, as well as judge at The Music+Sound Awards and the South African Music Awards. He has composed and produced award-winning music for advertising and short films, and worked with industry stars like Hugh Masekela, Lira, Mandoza, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and many more. 

Part of Jonathan’s creative mission is simple: “Always do work that makes culture, makes waves and makes a difference.”

What can studying art direction at Red & Yellow help you achieve in your career? Just ask Jonathan Deeb, the multi award-winning Chief Creative Officer at BBDO Germany.

In his early career Jonathan was short-listed as Most Admired Creative Leader in SA by industry peers, and named the No.1 Executive Creative Director in SA at The Africa and Middle East Loeries Awards.

His work as CCO of FCB Johannesburg, the country’s second-largest agency at the time, saw him work for brands like Barclays and Coca-Cola. This work spanned not only the continent but the globe, with some Coca-Cola campaigns shared in over 120 countries and voted among the brand’s most loved.

At BBDO today, Jonathan and his team lead the creative work for both local and global brands, including Porsche Brand and Motorsports, Lidl, Siemens home appliances, Bugatti and E.ON. 

Jonathan’s judging experience includes serving on panels at Cannes, The One Show, and chairing a panel at The Loeries. He is also the proud co-founder of ‘Find New Words,’ a movement advocating for more respectful language toward the LGBTTQQIAAP+ community. Driven by a passion for creativity and meaningful change, Jonathan continually pushes the boundaries of brand storytelling.

Nicky Greenwall studied art direction here at Red & Yellow, and after graduating worked in creative teams at TBWA Hunt Lascaris, The Jupiter Drawing Room and TBWA Gavin Reddy. This experience led her to launch an outstanding career in television and media. 

In 2009, Nicky founded Greenwall Productions, which has developed and produced a number of entertainment related television shows across Africa. These include The Showbiz Report, The Style Report, The Close Up, The Big Picture, Inside Art and the celebrity talk-show ScreenTime With Nicky Greenwall.

Over the course of 14 years, she produced more than 350 hours of television content for eTV and eNCA. She has reported live from The Academy Awards and The Cannes, Rome and Venice Film Festivals and has conducted one-on-one interviews with Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, Forrest Whitaker, Hugh Grant, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Campbell, Desmond Tutu, Brian May, Idris Elba, and Jim Carrey amongst others.

In 2016 she produced and directed the ten-part documentary series The Beautiful People which was released internationally in 2018 (locally on Showmax in 2020), and nominated for awards in both London and Los Angeles. Nicky also works alongside her partner Robin Fryer in his business Twenty Model Management as Creative Director. The agency works with high-end fashion brands including Gucci, Burberry, Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein to name a few.

Today Nicky is also pursuing a successful career as a fiction author. Her debut novel A Short Life, published by Penguin Random House, was released in 2024. 

“Red & Yellow was, for the most part, ‘simulated reality’. I never felt like a student. I felt like I actually worked there.” Her advice for young creatives? “Don’t stand on ceremony. Do what makes sense to you.”

David Moffatt started his career in business development and account management at Generator New Media, having studied Marketing at Red & Yellow.

Today he is a creative business leader with extensive experience in digital marketing and advertising, study abroad education, mobile gaming, e-commerce, and motion graphics.

In 2020, David founded Fierce, which provides agile-access to digital-first specialists on a project managed basis. Fierce has partnered Audi South Africa, Volkswagen Group Africa, Capitec Bank, Santam, and various international brands and agencies.

Prior to Fierce, one of David’s favourite career achievements include founding Hellocomputer, a full-service digital agency. It was the first digital agency to independently win the Grand Prix Loerie Award, and was also twice recognised as Digital Agency of the Year. David led the agency to prominence as an innovative and results-driven partner for major clients such as Vodacom, Toyota, South African Tourism, Cell C, Pernod Ricard, Investec, and Coca-Cola. Hellocomputer was acquired by IPG, a New York Stock Exchange-listed company, in 2012 and is now part of the FCB group of companies.

Having an entrepreneurial mindset is something that guides David’s professional career, and he’s no stranger to overcoming obstacles. “I’m proud to have guided my latest start-up, Fierce, beyond its four-year milestone, despite its launch during the COVID pandemic. Fierce has partnered with Audi South Africa, Volkswagen Group Africa, Capitec Bank, Santam, and several international brands and agencies.”

If you’re looking to lead a career like David’s, he recommends keeping an open mind and being willing to learn no matter what level of success you achieve. “Having absolute certainty about anything – especially your career – is exceedingly rare. Embrace a growth mindset and dive in, figuring things out along the way. As Red & Yellow wisely puts it, be a sponge!”

Dorcas began her career as an Advertising Manager at LeoBurnett, having studied marketing and advertising communications at Red & Yellow. She then pivoted into change management and communications, starting off at Satreno Africa and making her way to Coca-Cola in 2018

Dorcas enjoyed a long career with Coca-Cola in her role as Sustainability Director: Africa. Throughout her time there, she positioned the company as a thought leader in business sustainability as well as a trusted partner in international development, leading both the ESG initiatives and the Coca-Cola Foundation’s CSR programme. 

Today you’ll find Dorcas in the role of Global Director for Programs at the New York based guarantee fund called Shared Interest. Here, she aims to expand financial inclusion of small businesses in Africa by providing banks and MFIs with partial credit guarantees.

Dorcas’s career is an example of how studying marketing and advertising communications at Red & Yellow can put your career into action on a global scale, and give you the tools to pivot across industries.