The experience frontier

 

We’re at an inflection point — not just in marketing, but in how people relate to the world around them.

Attention is no longer the goal. Attachment is.

And the brands that will thrive are the ones that create experiences people want to step into — emotionally, physically, socially.

This isn’t theory.

58% of U.S. consumers now prefer spending on experiences over products, and they’re twice as likely to allocate extra funds to experience-based moments than material goods.

The numbers say what we already feel: people want brands that give them something to feel, to carry with them, to remember.

The next chapter of brand-building won’t be written by marketers alone — it will be co-authored with the people who live it.

Not just expressed, but experienced. Not just seen, but felt.

This isn’t a trend. It’s a shift.

From selling to shaping.

From directing the story to inviting others into it.

From brand as a delivered message to brand as lived moments.

This is a shift in mentality — not a shift in deliverables.

The most powerful brands aren’t just remembered — they’re relived.

This is the Experience Frontier.

 

All Experience. No Limits.

Experience is both what I build and what I bring. For 15 years, I've led creative solutions across industries, audiences, and formats — from CES stages to the world’s biggest moments in sports and entertainment: FIFA World Cup Trophy Tours, the Olympic Games, NBA All-Star, NCAA Final Four, Taylor Swift concerts and more. Whether shaping global activations or building deeper brand engagement across URL and IRL platforms, my work is driven by a belief: the best brands are the ones you can truly experience.

My capability isn’t tied to a single format — it’s the throughline between them. Strategy, concept, execution, leadership — I bring all of it.

I’ve led diverse teams across continents and disciplines. I craft vision, align stakeholders, unlock talent, and move big, complex ideas from abstract to activated.

And as the line between brand and audience continues to blur, I believe we’re entering a new era — one where the strongest brands will evolve into something deeper: experience brands. Not just seen or used, but felt, explored, lived in. The ones people grow with.

Brands I’ve Journeyed With

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Mark gage // Creative Leader & artist

In my role as Global Executive Creative Director, I spearhead creative strategy and leadership across global brand accounts, leading teams of Executive Creative Directors and multidisciplinary talent to deliver transformative brand experiences. I partner with senior agency leaders and key brand accounts to elevate engagement, ensuring that every expression resonates with consumers across digital and real-world environments.

I’ve been instrumental in defining our future-facing creative model by founding and developing the 4D Design Discipline. This initiative reimagined our approach to time-based and experiential media, cultivating innovative talent and streamlining processes that drive both artistry and commercial impact.

My leadership spans from nurturing high-performing teams to personally directing breakthrough creative work. With expertise that bridges traditional design, motion graphics, digital products, interactive and immersive environments, I transform complex ideas into emotionally engaging brand narratives that strengthen consumer connection and brand loyalty.

Recent highlights include:

  • Creative Lead for Experiential and Partnerships at Nissan North America

  • Creative Lead for the FIFA Men’s and Women’s World Cup Trophy Tours

  • Creative Lead for Abbott@CES Keynote

 

// Experience

Group Executive Creative Director
GMR Marketing // 03.25 - Present

Executive Creative Director
GMR Marketing // 02.24 - 03.25

Sr. Creative Director
GMR Marketing // 04.22 - 02.24

Director of Marketing
Canni Hemp Co // 08.18 - 01.22

Creative Director
GMR Marketing // 07.16 - 04.22

Art Director
GMR Marketing // 02.15 - 06.16

Art Director
JWD-Creative // 04.11 - 02.15

Director/Owner
DADO // 06.11 - 04.16

// Education

BFA, Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design // 2011

 

// leadership

I am an educator, a Design Thinking advocate, and I lead from the front.

 

// Tools

Ps, Ai, Ae, Pr, Id
Blender, Cinema 4D
Unreal Engine 5
Logic Pro X

So… What’s UP?

I’m always excited to meet people who share my motivation to create new and vibrant worlds. If that’s you, then please feel free to reach out.