Hi. I’m AJ Scherbring. I’m a Creative Director and writer working in Minneapolis, MN.
In today’s modern world, the big idea is more important than ever, because ideas need to be bigger than ever before. Bigger than just TV or a website or a line, logo and call to action. Ideas need to fit into the lives of consumers, no matter when and where that may be. So for the last 17 years I’ve worked to create and expand powerful ideas to be bigger, work harder, and become more than just ads, but connected experiences that people love and live.
Experience
TARGET // LEAD ACD - ROUNDEL // 2020-PRESENT
Lead the overall brand development of Target’s unique $1.5B media agency ROUNDEL, including brand identity, experiential, DTC, social and digital work. Developed process and creative / production approaches that optimized work across ~500 clients and over 150k pieces of creative per year. Align enterprise goals of business to Target brand standards and creative quality, guide strategy and innovation across channels, and foster connections and collaborations between global teams while driving truly integrated client and brand success.
PERISCOPE // VP, Director of Digital Creative // 2019 - 2020
Integrated creative lead to connect agency work across channels including brand and digital video, web, mobile, social, emerging tech, IoT, AR/VR and product. Clients include Essentia, Cargill, Toro, Arctic Cat, JCPenney, Target, PEMCO, Schwans, Google
PERISCOPE // Creative Director // 2017 - 2019
Developed disruptive and immersive brand engagements and integration across channels, including video, web, print, branded content, CRM, social and event. See above client list.
MIRUM // Creative Director // 2013 - 2017
Developed and led brand creative and digital content creation, including video, web, mobile, app, 1:1 and emerging tech for Listerine, Mazda, American Family Insurance, Rolex, Royal Caribbean, Intercontinental Hotels, UnitedHealth Group, and Johnson & Johnson
OLSON // Senior Copywriter // 2010-2013
Concepted, wrote, shot, recorded, produced and post-produced for brand, digital, 1:1 and event work for clients like Amtrak, University of Minnesota, Pei Wei, Target, Best Buy and Belize Tourism.
Plus various other agencies where I learned the craft of writing, the art of selling, and the challenges of happy hours and holiday parties.
Fluent in: creative, design, copy, production, development, strategy, business, presentation, client, client dinners and some Spanish
Contributions
SXSW Interactive Festival // Panel Speaker
Invited to conduct panel discussion on the topic of 24/7 internet connectivity and the social/physical/mental affects of constant connection on people and brands.
Minneapolis College of Art and Design // Adjunct Faculty // 2011-2014
Constructed and conducted senior-level writing course for ad/marketing track with focus on creative integration and brand systems across channels
Owen and Alex Scherbring // Children // 2013, 2015
Two sons, currently 9 and 7, who are independent, smart, artistic, independent, athletic, funny, independent, and also independent. They lead and support me through life, teaching me patience, priority, perspective and occasionally how to remove raisins from noses.
Recognition
While shiny trophies are fun, I’m most proud when work makes its way into culture. So in addition to being awarded on a local, regional and national level, my work has also been featured in:
Webby Awards
The Super Bowl
The New York Times
Advertising Age
The Atlantic
Good Morning America
AdWeek
The Wall Street Journal
AdFreak.com
CollegeHumor.com
bestadsontv.com
iTunes Top Downloads