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Philip NEUFELDT
Creative Director | ESTÉE LAUDER
Philip is a creative mind with more than 10 years of experience in building strong brand identities while ensuring brand consistency to multi-cultural audiences. Raised in Germany, after studies in Italy and the US, he spend most of his career in Paris as an Art Director in Publishing first at L’Optimum magazine and later Jalouse. For the last 3 years now Philip is the Creative director of the brands Smashbox & Glamglow at the Estee Lauder companies, for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia & India) region. Nurturing a deep understanding of the consumers in a digital age and a passion for storytelling through Video and Photography, Philip combines strong analytical and executive skills to develop locally relevant creative strategies across all consumer touch-points.
influences
questionnaire
1. What was your very first job?
My first job ever, was right after my military service in Germany as an usher at a Cinema in the city center of Munich, 6 months later, I went to the university to study.
2. Please describe, in your own words, what your job is and what work it entails.
As a Creative Director my role is to translate the essence of a brand in various cultures. More practically, I ensure brand consistency and local relevancy on all consumer touch points for the markets in Europe/Middle East/Africa/Russia & India. This includes all projects related to : store design, social media, e-com, visual merchandising, and lots of local campaigns that include photo & video production
3. How did you discover that the creative world was right for you? Was there a time in your life that you credit to this discovery? What was there train of events that brought you to where you are today?
As a child I wanted to be a painter, later an architect, later a film director… When I was 16 I met a girl who was studying graphic design, I think it’s the first time ever I heard that this job existed and it sounded fantastic to me. I enrolled into a faculty of design & art in Italy and had the best time ever being finally surrounded by like minded people and studying something I was truly passionate about. I left Italy for an American girl, settled in Paris and started working as a in house Art Director for a fashion brand. Then I freelanced» as an art director in publishing and at the same time started a career as a portrait and fashion photographer. 3 years ago some head hunters persuaded me to come to Estee Lauder and I’m having a great time there since.
4. In your constantly growing and expanding industry, how do you find inspiration to keep your work fresh, innovative and relevant?
I’m lucky to have a lot of creative friends and to live in a very creative city. But I find also inspiration in Social Media, Exhibitions, Movies, Music, really everything
5. If you had to pick one piece of work or project that you are most proud of, more for the creative work and innovation it required, rather than its recognition or industry “success,” what would it be?
It would be the Usain Bolt Cover story I art directed for L’Optimum magazine with the photographer Ralph Mecke. It was some really tough negotiations over many months with his sponsors to persuade them not to shoot him exclusively in sportswear. We ended up creating some truly iconic images.
6. What social media artist/account are you most influenced by?
So Many… Currently :
https://www.instagram.com/jackdavisonphoto/
https://www.instagram.com/robbiel1/
https://www.instagram.com/christopherandersonphoto/
https://www.instagram.com/lachlanbailey/
https://www.instagram.com/magnumphotos/
https://www.instagram.com/aigaeyeondesign/
https://www.instagram.com/tmagazine/
https://www.instagram.com/studio_jackson/
https://www.instagram.com/jennysaville/
7. Which creative disciplines do you commission most, and are most interested in seeing more of? (ie photo, film, social, experiential, vr, etc)
Mostly video and photo production, and always looking for more interactive experiences for our stores.
