About

Statistically speaking, you're probably straight.

If so: hello & welcome. If not: haaaay & welcome.

I'm Shane Smith. I live in Chicago and work in advertising because I believe it can be better—sharper, funnier, bolder, more human. I like when things get weird, when rules get bent, and when people who don't usually get the spotlight suddenly do (and look damn good in it).

I'm obsessed with culture: studying it, absorbing it, translating it. Over the last decade, I've built work at the intersection of high-end craft and disruptive strategy—from firefighters selling burgers to nuns as brand ambassadors for a bank. I’m a hands-on creative that’s done everything from concepting campaigns platforms, to coming up with brand identities, to shooting social content on my iPhone. I got into this industry to make great work and have a great time doing it.

By day: I'm an Associate Creative Director and Art Director. By night: I'm a photographer, writer, amateur queer historian, vinyl collector, film lover, and distinguished member of the Beyhive.

If you're thinking, "This person seems like a fun, smart collaborator I'd like to work with," you're right. Let's talk. And if not, well, let’s pretend this never happened.

Expertise & Impact

Leadership & Vision

• Partnering creatively with writers, strategists, and producers to shape the work from the brief upward.

• Mentoring multi-disciplinary teams and elevating their output through every phase of the project.

• Presenting and selling work with clarity and confidence to C-suite clients and internal stakeholders.

• Owning complex workstreams and brand standards for national and global clients.

• Giving clear, constructive feedback that pushes the craft without breaking the spirit.

Craft & Execution

• Building distinct visual worlds and brand systems that scale across every platform.

• Directing film and photo shoots end-to-end to ensure the vision comes to life exactly as planned.

• Directing vendors, editors, and photographers to maintain visual consistency and high-level craft.

• Developing social-first concepts that feel native to the culture, not the algorithm.

• Creating decks that tell a story, because a good idea deserves a great narrative.

The "In-The-Room" Reality

• Turning briefs into strong creative territories that solve actual business challenges.

• Maintaining craft through endless rounds and real-world constraints.

• Balancing multiple parallel deadlines with genuine professional calm.

• Translating client notes into smarter, more innovative solutions.

Bonus Features

• Overly opinionated about lighting

• Can turn any dinner into a softcore therapy session

• Has an innate sense for what the moment needs (usually martinis)

• Impressively good at identifying fonts you’ve never heard of

• Has never met a room I couldn’t rearrange

• Understands not all ice cube shapes are equal

• Known to cry over a perfectly cooked meal