Our Crew / Nick Darken

Nick DarkenCreative Director

Nick graduated from RMIT with a BA in Design starting his career in the middle of an Australian recession. His first job was with an integrated Melbourne agency run by a “visionary” who once instructed him “Please wash my car”, before spending Nick’s unpaid pension contributions on a new BMW then going bankrupt. But Nick did learn how to lick and stick as well as wax on and wax off. (If you are reading this Margaret, Nick thinks you were ahead of your time. Yet certifiable).

Moving to Sydney in 1995 he landed at DDB Sydney, the then Campaign Brief Creative Agency of the Year. Under British Creative Director Garry Horner (ex CDP), Nick learned his craft on big accounts like McDonald’s, Microsoft and Wrigleys. He also learned he wanted to crack London.

At the end of 1998 Nick bought a (very cheap) one-way ticket to the UK, flying 30 hours with Air Tours in a seat that didn’t recline, with a 6 inch thick portfolio under his feet. He knew then he better not screw it up for it was a long way back. Nick did stints at TBWA Simons Palmer (Playstation, Cadbury’s, Virgin Money, Blockbuster) M&C Saatchi (Qantas, BA), Euro Wnek Gosper (Microsoft, Peugeot, expedia.co.uk) and a place that had the Beefeater account whose name he’s tried to forget.

In 2000 Nick arrived at an 18-person Wieden & Kennedy London at the same time as the management team that changed the agency’s fortunes: Creative Directors Tony Davidson, Kim Papworth and Managing Director Amy Lawson. Nick was part of the pitch team that won the Honda account and created the much documented Honda Book of Dreams. In the following 3 years Nick created award-winning integrated campaigns for Honda, Nike Run London and Nike women’s wear.

In 2004 Nick consulted for St.Luke’s (BT, Clarks), Grey, CHI, Gyro Worldwide (Puma) and directed a music promo that aired on MTV for a band that probably didn’t deserve to be on MTV.

At the end of 2004 Nick joined a 6-person Albion as Creative Director, convinced as was Jason, that an agency was needed who were genuinely capable of doing integrated without 23 partner agencies to screw it all up.

Email: nickd@albionlondon.com
Skype: nickdarken