+44(0)7903458598
SHIRRA SMILANSKY
Exec Creative Director and Immersive Experience Producer
CREATIVE DIRECTION
A METHODICAL APPROACH
Immersive experience, installation and exhibit design for global consumer brands are Shirra's forte. Creating innovative brand experience concepts, combining real world interaction with tech and set design to create ‘live brand experiences’ where interactivity creates storytelling, education and engagement through every touchpoint. Shirra's proprietary methodologies (BETTER, IDEA & SET MESSAGE) provide systematic frameworks for the creative and strategic development processes.
PRODUCTION
PRODUCTION AND INSTALLATIONS
Immersive installations, set design, creative production and experiential exhibit production. Managing internal creatives, partners and freelancers covering all types of project formats from pop-ups, to roadshows and installations. Innovative technology from Arduino and Rasberry Pi to motion sensors, pressure sensors, 3d mapping and more. Excellent finish, creative set design is crucial for generating organic content, triggering social sharing, education, brand love and notoriety.
DESIGN MANAGEMENT
DISRUPTIVE PRODUCTION DESIGN
From 3D design and render management, to experience design for complex interactive installations and immersive 20+ metre-tall structures, design & build ideas made to provide huge wow factor. Innovative production methods, and fabrication techniques create stand-out. From CAD's and floorplans, to moodboards and material selection; production ideas are always designed for maximum impact and finish without breaking the bank, and while staying compliant to H&S regulations, and location requirements.
ABOUT SHIRRA
A CREATIVE DIRECTOR, INTERACTIVE INSTALLATION DESIGN SPECIALIST, AUTHOR, CONTENT PRODUCER, IMMERSIVE EXHIBIT CURATOR, METAVERSE & COMMS EXPERT
A specialist freelance creative and production lead across real world immersive environments, exhibit curation, digital, events and activations. A heavyweight creative lead - also skilled deck maker, copywriter, exec producer and marketeer, regularly working with leading brands across FMCG, food drinks, cosmetics and more to develop experience led big ideas and immersive spaces.
Creative planning and direction through storytelling experiences that sit centrally in the integrated marcomms strategy. She provides fresh, engaging creative for creative experiences and through-the-line campaigns. Also a seasoned and award winning exec producer, creating immersive environments, interactive installations, cultural experiences, immersive theatrek, exhibitions, art shows, pop-ups and campaigns globally
With over 20 years experience, Shirra founded experiential studio; Electrify 360, specialising in IRL experiences and Metaverse brand activation, having previously worked also founded Blazinstar where she ran the creative studio and client projects till 2013.
Often designing and delivering creative workshops and talks for brands such as The LEGO Museum, Frieze art fair, Asahi, Peroni, Meantime Brewery, adidas, Financial Times Life & Arts, L'Oreal Luxe and YSL and many more. Consulting projects on various future oriented creative and immersive installation oriented topics, she likes to inspire clients to develop ideas and strategies which are both immersive and interactive first to maximise the benefits of combining live brand experiences, tech and multi sensory art installations.
Shirra is also the first UK author to have written a book on Experiential Marketing, her book titled ‘Experiential Marketing, a Practical Guide to Interactive Brand Experiences’ 2nd edition, was recently updated and re-written for its 10 year anniversary, and sells in all major booksellers across international markets.
Once a Visiting Professor at the London Metropolitan University, she was awarded an honorary title having helped them develop the first Master’s degree on Experiential Marketing in the UK “Experiential Meets Digital”. She has been a guest speaker on BBC radio, alongside other global media channels, and writes regularly for publications such as Marketing Week.
The book is published by Kogan Page, Europe’s leading independent business publisher. Shirra has flown around the globe host workshops and seminars for global brands and events agencies, teaching the BETTER and SET MESSAGE planning methodologies that she speaks about in her book.
A creative marketer, writer, strategist, music expert and entrepreneur – Smilansky is a recognised player and pioneer in events and non-traditional marketing fields such as Experiential Marketing and the Metaverse.
CV HIGHLIGHTS
KEY WORK EXPERIENCE & TRAINING
EXEC CREATIVE DIRECTOR
ELECTRIFY 360
MAY 2013 - ONGOING
Strategy: creating and applying strategic frameworks both proprietary agency models and bespoke methodologies designed for clients comms planning during consulting work. Creative: creative team mgmt, creative direction, art direction, set design, idea generation, innovation, specialising in live brand experiences, physical / tec
integration, digital strategy, and amplifying real world experiences through social media and ATL channels
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
BLAZINSTAR
JANUARY 2005- MARCH 2013
Line managed various teams and the creative studio. Ran the studio which was responsible for all agency and client conceptual work, 2D/3D design, marcomms planning, digital production and management.
CREATIVE COMMS MANAGER
ARNOLD KLP
APRIL 2002 - JANUARY 2004
Ran all creative and communications for a boutique guerrilla marketing and youth marketing division of KLP Europe; Frontline Street Media. Campaigns were specialised in engaging youth audiences and niche groups with non-traditional media.
EVENTS MARKETING DIRECTOR
TUNNEL NYC
JULY 2000 - JANUARY 2002
Head of curating events and guerrilla marketing at Tunnel and Limelight nightclubs in New York City. Responsible for creative event concepts, street team distribution, fly-posting campaigns, events management and creative branding for one off and regular nightclub events and sponsor activations.
EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS
Visiting Professor on 'Experiential Meets Digital' Masters Degree at London Metropolitan University - CIM Professional Diploma in Marketing, Pts: Marketing Planning and Marketing Communications. Central St Martins - Fashion Folio Pt 1
TESTIMONIALS
WHAT'S BEING SAID ABOUT SHIRRA AND HER BOOK...
'A very clearly written and inspiring guide (Shirra's book), demonstrating a unique approach to integrated marketing that carefully explains the methodology in a concise and effective manner.'
HAMISH MILLAR, MARKETING MANAGER, PERNOD RICARD UK
'You did awesome work for us as creative director and production designer on the Panasonic shoot, great job and the video now has millions of likes!'
TOM BOGDA, EXEC PRODUCER, HMX MEDIA
'Thank-you for the recent talk and creative planning model you delivered on creativity at our adidas leadership summit 17, everyone was truly inspired and will be taking your creative framework forward.'
TONY COOKE, HR DIRECTOR, ADIDAS GROUP
EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO INTERACTIVE BRAND EXPERIENCES - LAUNCH PARTY, SENSES@ SKETCH
