Lee Clow
Lee Clow is widely considered to be one of the most brilliant art directors of the past several decades, and perhaps one of the greatest of all time. He was referred to as “advertising’s art director guru” by Adertising Age, a reputable advertising magazine. Clow was born in Los Angeles, California in 1943. It wasn’t long before his potential as an artist was recognized by a grade-school teacher admiring his attention to detail in his first drawings. With support from his family to continue his artistic exploration, Clow continued to draw and paint, and eventually attended Santa Monica City College, receiving a two year degree. After a brief stint in the Army via the draft, Clow then pursued further education at Long Beach State College, taking classes in Design.
Not wanting to leave his native California and his typical California-boy persona, he eventually stumbled upon Chiat/Day, a young aspiring design firm of only 30 employees that fit his ideal. In January of 1973, after a persistent battle to be hired, Clow finally got his wish. He worked his way steadily up the ladder from there, eventually becoming President, Chief Creative Officer and Senior Art Designer for Chiat/Day/Mojo.
Lee Clow held firmly to his Californian roots for his entire life, seldom leaving the state and never truly leaving the mindset. His work attire of sandals and cutoffs served not to show his disinterest, but his comfortability in a work place that he was the king of. For similar reasons, he admired Walt Disney.
Disney was a man who never gave up on the chance of success, and worked to achieve more until the day he died. Clow similarly believed in his ability to succeed, and matched Disney’s artistic vigor in all of his work.
Lee Clow’s most successful work came in the form of a revival campaign for Apple. He is probably most famous for his work (and genius) behind the creation of Apple’s “1984” advertisement. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8 This 60 second spot won many awards and propelled Lee Clow and Chiat/Day into the limelight. Considered to be one of the great masterpiece’s of advertising, this commercial was made with a budget of $900,000. Worth every penny. Also created by Clow was the new slogan “Think Different.” Although grammatically incorrect, it clearly gives a message and an attitude to Apple that helped re-identify the brand and give life to what had been lack-luster advertisement.
His other work includes advertising for Energizer (The Energizer Bunny), The Taco Bell chihuahua, and California Coolers, as well as more recent work for Nissan and Pedigree Petfoods. Today he is currently the Chairman and Global Director of TBWA\Worldwide, and was formerly its Chief Creative Officer.
Lee Clow is an inspiration to artists and revolutionary thinkers to this day, and perhaps offers his best advice in these words:
“Never give up…There’s no telling how far you’ll go”
Zach Bluett
