Azsa West is a globally recognized creative leader, artist and film director moving between the worlds of advertising, fashion, entertainment, and culture.
Raised in a small, haunted surf town by skaters and a graphic designer who believed in auras and aliens- Azsa went on to study photography and illustration at California College of the Arts and “the internet” at Hyper Island before joining W+K 12, Wieden+Kennedy’s legendary experimental creative school.
For over two decades, Azsa creatively led some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Nike, Jordan, Levi’s, Instagram, Netflix and more, across four W+K offices globally. She served as ECD of Anomaly Berlin, worked in entertainment marketing at CAA, and ultimately became Chief Creative Officer of Wieden+Kennedy Portland.
As CCO, Azsa helped lead the agency to Ad Age Creative Agency of the Year and a Cannes Lions Titanium Grand Prix, and was named one of Adweek’s Creative 100.
Today, Azsa works independently, flexing between film directing, building creative departments, leading projects from the ground up, and joining teams when they need an experienced creative partner.
Azsa’s work has been highly regarded, awarded and featured in publications such as, New York Times, Vice, Hype Beast, Ad Busters, Nowness, Huffington Post, Forbes, Creativity, AdAge, Girls Like Us, Its Nice That, Put A Egg On It, CMYK, Good Magazine, Wall Street Journal and Fast Company.
Clients include SKIMS, Instagram, Rimowa, Netflix, Amazon, WNBA, Nike, Air Jordan, Heineken, Trolli, Door Dash, Magic Leap, Coke, Google, Disney, Canada Goose, Burbery, Shiseido, Zalando, Sony, l’Occitane, Secret, Old Spice, Target, P&G, Ace Hotel, Laika Studios, Beautiful People, Cole Haan, Nordstrom, Athleta, Air BnB, Happy Dance, Lord Jones, Corona, GoPuff, Tik-Tok, Hinge and MTV.
Say hi: magicalshapes@gmail.com
EDUCATION
WIEDEN + KENNEDY 12
ART DIRECTION / COPY WRITING / IDEATION
HYPER ISLAND
OXFORD FOR ALIENS
CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
PHOTOGRAPHY / ILLUSTRATION
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
PHOTOGRAPHY / FILM / GAY STUFF
WORK
2006-2007
WIEDEN + KENNEDY 12 PORTLAND, OR. USA
ART DIRECTOR, COPYWRITER -MTV, GOOD MAGAZINE, ACE HOTEL
2007-2008
FREELANCE USA, DE.
DESIGNER, ILLUSTRATOR, CREATIVE
2008-2011
WIEDEN + KENNEDY PORTLAND, OR. USA
ART DIRECTOR , COPY WRITER - NIKE, LEVI’S, LAIKA, EA, GIRL EFFECT, TARGET
2011-2014
WIEDEN + KENNEDY NEW YORK, NY. USA
SR. ART DIRECTOR - AIR JORDAN, HEINEKEN,TARGET, SOUTHERN COMFORT
CREATIVE DIRECTOR - NIKE CANADA
2014-2015
CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY LOS ANGELES, CA. USA
CREATIVE EXECUTIVE, AGENT - COCA COLA, SPRITE, BURBERRY TOMORROWLAND, CANADA GOOSE
2015-2016
WIEDEN + KENNEDY SHANGHAI, CHINA
CREATIVE DIRECTOR- NIKE, AIR JORDAN
2016-2018
WIEDEN + KENNEDY TOKYO, JAPAN
CREATIVE DIRECTOR- NIKE JAPAN, NIKE KOREA, AIR BNB, SHISEIDO GLOBAL, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE
2018-2021
WIEDEN + KENNEDY PORTLAND, OR. USA
CREATIVE DIRECTOR - SECRET, INSTAGRAM, TROLLI, MAGIC LEAP, P&G, HAPPY DANCE, LORD JONES, TRAVEL OREGON, GOPUFF
FILM DIRECTOR -W+K STUDIOS
2021-2022
ANOMALY BERLIN, DE.
EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR - SONY, RIMOWA, L’OCCITANE, DIAGEO, NESPRESSO, GOOGLE, ZALANDO, TIK TOK, GAGGENAU, HINGE
2022-2025
WIEDEN + KENNEDY PORTLAND, OR. USA
CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER - NETFLIX, SKIMS, DOORDASH, VISA, AMAZON, OLD SPICE, TRAVEL OREGON, EA, HP, OMEN, CORONA, TURBO TAX, MLB, ALLSTATE, HINGE, WNBA, NATIVE, ANCESTRY, ELY LILLY
2025-PRESENT
INDEPENDENT PORTLAND & LA
CCO / ECD / CD / CREATIVE / CONSULTANT
2020-PRESENT
WTBR SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
FILM DIRECTOR
EXHIBITIONS
2006 THE POISON SNAKE, HOLOCENE, PORTLAND, OR.
2007 BRAND LAND, POWELL’S CITY OF BOOKS, PORTLAND OR.
2007 FAIL HARDER, WIEDEN + KENNEDY GALLERY, PORTLAND, OR.
2007 GROUP SHOW WITH COLORS MAGAZINE, POMPIDOU, PARIS
2008 GROUP SHOW, READING FRENZY, PORTLAND, OR.
2009 QUEER GAZE, FONTANELLE GALLERY, PORTLAND, OR
2010 LESBIAN ART SHOW, FONTANELLE GALLERY, PORTLAND, OR
2011 EVERYTHING MATTERS ALL OF THE TIME, THE CLEANERS GALLERY AT ACE HOTEL, PORTLAND, OR.
2012 NATURE STUDY ON LONESOME ISLAND, PUBLICATION STUDIO, PORTLAND, OR.
2012 OUT 24, SPACE ON WHITE GALLERY, NEW YORK, NY.
2012 THE BEGINNING OF THE END, SWORD + FERN, PORTLAND, OR.
2013 COSTELA MAGAZINE GROUP EXHIBITION WIEDEN + KENNEDY, SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
2013 BLANKET, LESLIE-LOHMAN MUSEUM, NEW YORK, NY.
2018 TEXT ME, W+K TOKYO GALLERY, TOKYO, JAPAN
2018 AXIOM SELECTION 2, ART & SCIENCE LAB BY AXIOM, TOKYO, JAPAN
2018 THE TV OVER THE BAR, THE BEARDED TIT, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
2019 PRIDE EXHIBITION, THE HOXTON, PORTLAND, OR.
2021 LESBIENNALE, ELC, BRUSSELS, BELIGUM
SHINY THINGS
CANNES TITANIUM SILVER LION: INTEGRATED CORALINE CAMPAIGN
CANNES CYBER LION: CORALINE CAMPAIGN
CANNES SILVER LION : CORALINE
CANNES SILVER LION CYBER: CORALINE
CANNES BRONZE FILM LION: LEVI’S “LEGACY”
CANNES BRONZE FILM LION: LEVI’S ”O PIONEER”
CANNES BRONZE LION EXPERIENTIAL EVENT: AIR JORDAN “THE EXPLOSIVE GAME”
CANNES ENTERTAINMENT LION SHORT LIST : NIKE KOREA "RUN IT"
CANNES ENTERTAINMENT AGECNY OF THE YEAR 2023: WIEDEN+KENNEDY PORTLAND
CANNES DAN WIEDEN TITANIUM GRAND PRIX: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
CANNES GOLD DIRECT USE OF BROADCAST: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
CANNES GOLD BRAND EXPERIENCE & ACTIVATION: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
CANNES SILVER SPONSORSHIP & PARTNERSHIP: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
CANNES SILVER PR SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
CANNES SILVER MULTI PLATFORM SOCIAL INFLUENCER: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
CANNES SILVER SOCIAL INFLUENCER REAL TIME RESPONSE: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
CANNES SILVER SOCIAL: NETFLIX “SPOILERS”
CANNES BRONZE DIGITAL & SOCIAL DIRECT: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
CANNES FILM CRAFT SHORTLIST: NETFLIX “YOU’RE NOT READY”
CANNES SOUND DESIGN SHORTLIST: NETFLIX “YOU’RE NOT READY”
ONE SHOW SILVER: INTEGRATED CORALINE CAMPAIGN
ONE SHOW SILVER CYBER: INTEGRATED CORALINE CAMPAIGN
ONE SHOW SILVER CYBER: CORALINE
ONE SHOW SILVER PROMO: CORALINE X NIKE
ONE SHOW MERIT INTEGRATED BRANDING: CORALINE
ONE SHOW SILVER ENTERTAINMENT: AIR JORDAN “THE EXPLOSIVE GAME”
ONE SHOW SILVER EVENTS: AIR JORDAN “THE EXPLOSIVE GAME”
ONE SHOW BRONZE: LEVI’S “LEGACY”
ONE SHOW FILM MERIT: AIR JORDAN "THE WINNING MOMENT"
ONE SHOW SILVER: NIKE "KOBE X TEMPLE OF DEADLY QUICKNESS"
ONE SHOW MERIT DESIGN : NIKE "KOBE X TEMPLE OF DEADLY QUICKNESS"
ONE SHOW BRONZE INTERACTIVE: NIKE "THE UNSTOPPABLE TRIBUTE"
ONE SHOW CRAFT SHORT LIST: INSTAGRAM “COEUR SUR TOI”
ONE SHOW BRONZE BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT: GOOGLE “YOUR LIFE WITH PIXEL”
ONE SHOW INDEPENDENT AGENCY OF THE YEAR 2023: WIEDEN + KENNEDY PORTLAND
ONE SHOW BEST OF INTEGRATED & SOCIAL, 7 GOLD, 1 SILVER, 3 MERITS: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
D&AD WOOD PENCIL IN ANIMATION: TROLLI “IT’S TROLLI!”
D&AD STOP MOTION ANIMATION SHORTLIST: TROLLI “IT’S TROLLI”
D&AD YELLOW PENCIL DIRECT INTEGRATED: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
D&AD GRAPHITE PENCIL MEDIA INTEGRATED: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
D&AD GRAPHITE PENCIL INTEGRATED LARGE ENTERPRISE: DOORDASH-ALL-THE-ADS SUPERBOWL
WEBBY AWARD WINNER: CORALINE
WEBBY’S PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: CORALINE
WEBBY WINNER BEST COPYWRITING : NIKE “HOCKEY IS OURS”
WEBBY NOMINEE MOVING IMAGE: INSTAGRAM “GET INTO WHAT YOU HEART”
WEBBY HONOREE BEST COPYWRITING: INSTAGRAM “GET INTO WHAT YOU HEART”
WEBBY HONOREE ADVERTISING, MEDIA & PR: HAPPY DANCE CBD “A HAPPIER PLACE”
AICP SHOW WINNER IN 3 CATEGORIES: LEVI’S “AMERICA”
AICP AWARD IN CINEMATOGRAPHY: LEVI’S “LEGACY”
AICP SHORTLIST IN 5 CATEGORIES: SECRET “I’D RATHER GET PAID”
ANDY AWARD EVENT SPECIAL EFFECTS: AIR JORDAN ”THE EXPLOSIVE GAME”
CLIO SILVER INNOVATIVE MEDIA : AIR JORDAN ”THE EXPLOSIVE GAME”
APA AWARD: NIKE "MR. SUN"
SPIKES SILVER FILM AWARD: NIKE "MR. SUN"
SPIKES SILVER BRANDED CONTENT AWARD: NIKE "KOBE X TEMPLE OF DEADLY QUICKNESS"
SPIKES SILVER BRAND IDENTITY AWARD: WASO “ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL COME FROM NATURE”
SPIKES BRONZE DESIGN AWARD: NIKE "KOBE X TEMPLE OF DEADLY QUICKNESS"
SPIKES BRONZE MUSIC AWARD: NIKE KOREA "RUN IT"
AD FEST BRONZE: NIKE "DON'T KNOW YOUR PLACE"
YOUTUBE AD LEADERBOARD GOLD: NIKE “IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE”
BRITISH ARROW AWARD BRONZE: SECRET “I’D RATHER GET PAID”
ADAGE A-LIST AGENCY OF THE YEAR 2020,2019,2018: WIEDEN + KENNEDY PORTLAND
ADAGE CREATIVE AGENCY OF THE YEAR 2025: WIEDEN + KENNEDY NORTH AMERICA
ADWEEK GLOBAL AGENCY OF THE YEAR 2025: WIEDEN + KENNEDY GLOBALLY
ADAGE CREATIVES YOU NEED TO KNOW
ART DIRECTORS CLUB 1x GOLD, 6 SILVER, 3 BRONZE: GOOGLE “YOUR LIFE WITH PIXEL”
JURIES
CANNES, D&AD, ONE SHOW, CICLOPE
PANELS
ADCOLOR, FACEBOOK CREATIVE LEADER SERIES, NEW LAND - HEY FUTURE!
ACCOLADES
ADWEEK - 100 LEADERS WHO FIGHT FOR GREAT CREATIVITY
PUBLICATIONS
NEW YORK TIMES, VICE, HYPE BEAST, FREE THE BID, ADBUSTERS, ADAGE, ADWEEK, MUSE BY CLIO, NOWNESS, YOUNG GLORY, GOOD MAGAZINE, IPSOS, CREATIVITY, FREE THE BID, YOUNG GLORY, CMYK, FADER, HUFFINGTON POST, FORBES, FAST COMPANY, IT’S NICE THAT, GIRLS LIKE US, THE DRUM, PAGE MAGAZINE, DESIGN SCENE, FOOD & WINE, THEM, THE CUT, ADWEEK 100.
ETC.
YEAR OF THE DOG, MAGICIAN, INFJ, AQUARIUS.
CONTACT
magicalshapes@gmail.com