Justin Ryan Kaplan – Creative Director

JUSTIN RYAN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

HERE’S SOME

WORK

All
Video

“More Than a Memory” | AI Music Video Spec | Coming Soon

“Summer Nights” | AI Music Video Spec

Creativity is intelligence having fun.

Albert Einstein

JUSTIN R KAPLAN

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Full Bio

As an award-winning Creative Director, filmmaker, and artist, I bring 15 years of experience as a creative professional across diverse roles and industries.

Growing up in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, I spent most of my childhood with my twin brother, exploring the outdoors, making small crafts and watching movies from the local tape rental. As technology made its way to the forefront, I made my way in front of the new family PC. Technology ignited a spark in me and opened a creative door that hadn’t existed before. Mostly just amazed that the piece of art I whipped up on Kid Pix or Print Shop, had somehow made its way into my hands. During the years that followed, I continued to pursue hobbies and school activities in art and entertainment, and spent most of high school in athletics, choir and theater. Here I found a surprising amount of success for a nerdy, introverted kid.

Following college, I moved to NYC where I began my career interning at Greencard Pictures and American Management Association. On my off days and nights I worked countless freelance projects, including commercials, music videos and films.

Over the following years I built my network as I worked closely with some of the industry’s best. I began to develop diverse skillsets and unique perspectives. In addition to growing my foundation of knowledge, I started to gain an appreciation for the art of leadership. I began to realize that success was not only a coming together of hard work and talent but also of your team and those you learn from. I thrive in a hands-on culture where no two work days are the same and live and work by my motto “IMAGINE a way, CREATE a thing, INSPIRE the world”. It truly encapsulates what I love.

Throughout my career as a visual communicator, I have contributed and represented clients from independent artists to large agencies and corporations. Regardless of the industry, client, or medium, I’ve always found the greatest enjoyment in chasing the problems and needs no one’s quite solved yet. I strive to build a trust with clients that can facilitate and nurture new ways, ideas and stories.

My work has been featured in festivals, events and media outlets including The NY Times, NBC Universal, AP, Time Out, J14, Substream, Gaylord Properties, Barnes & Nobles, MTV, and Walt Disney World. I currently work from coastal Wilmington, NC as a Creative Director helping to build organizations and produce large events and conferences worldwide.

"I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Justin for the past decade on a variety of creative projects. Justin consistently delivers exceptional results by meticulously planning projects and ensuring every detail aligns with the client's vision. One project involved building a user interface for a complex login and attendance system. Justin's ability to bridge the gap between design and functionality resulted in an intuitive interface that seamlessly integrated the client's creative vision with the technical requirements. His leadership and understanding of various mediums empower him to inspire teams and translate abstract ideas into impactful campaigns. Justin is a true creative powerhouse who is constantly pushing boundaries. His passion for innovation extends to his ongoing exploration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool in the digital creation landscape. This dedication to continuous learning positions him at the forefront of creative direction. I highly recommend him to any company seeking a visionary and inspiring Creative Director."

Ian M. Burke - Slack | Salesforce

“I had the pleasure of working with Justin for three years, him being my creative team director. He was respected by everyone at the company as he always delivered much more than was expected. He hired me to be on his creative team and immediately took me under his wing. His dedicated drive to get things done and his spark of excitement in providing what the client asked for gave me a great model to work by. He not only mentored me in the creative field, but he demonstrated strategy gracefully in juggling multiple projects at once. He took on any and every challenge with passion and has always been willing to share and teach effortlessly. He is very creative and pragmatic, from inception to completion of every project. As a colleague, Justin was a complete pleasure to work with as he has a generous spirit and humorous outlook. He is one of the most good-natured people I have ever had the pleasure of working with and he made me smile every day, even when deadlines were looming and opportunities were just a vision away. His enthusiastic personality made each day even better than the day before."

Lauren Heckman - Novant Health

"I worked closely with Justin during our time together at YCC. I was consistently blown away with Justin’s exceptional talents across an array of areas. Justin possesses an innate ability to translate abstract concepts, (many that were very off the wall coming from me) into visually stunning and compelling projects. His ability to take instruction, his team's ideas and feedback in to account, while making his own mark, coupled with a deep understanding of design principles, enables him to deliver solutions that exceed expectations. I was consistently amazed by his capacity to think outside the box produce “wow” factor work, even with some of the most mundane projects. Beyond Justin’s impressive creative skills, he is an outstanding team player and leader. He always fostered a collaborative environment, encouraging open dialogue and idea-sharing among team members. Justin is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that projects are not just completed but delivered at the highest standard. His passion for creativity coupled with his professional and fun-loving demeanor and expertise make him an invaluable asset to any organization. I hope for the day to have the opportunity to work alongside him again."

Haleigh Hughes - Apiture

“Justin worked for me at two different companies, serving as my assistant. Together, we managed day-to-day operations, with Justin focusing on the people and creative aspects of the store, both psychical and online. He played a crucial role in hiring and recruiting individuals who aligned with our brand image, showcasing strong merchandising and presentation skills. Justin's strengths lie in his excellent visual concepts and presentation abilities. Despite not always adopting an authoritative managerial style, he garnered respect from associates, influencing their behaviors through mutual respect. Justin left a positive impression on me and his coworkers, consistently receiving praise for his positivity and problem-solving skills. There were no reliability issues, and I would readily rehire him within our organization. One notable aspect of Justin's character is his adaptability to various roles and positions within an organization, making him a valuable asset. Any company would be fortunate to have him on board, benefitting from his versatility and positive impact."

Todd Dieter - State Farm

“If you're in need of a reliable pro, Justin's your guy. I've collaborated with Justin on a few short films now, and every time I've needed a First AC, he's been my first choice. He's got a solid handle on cameras, lenses, and all things gear-related. Plus, he's always on top of the latest techniques and equipment trends, which comes in clutch on set. Each day he arrives with a smile and a positive attitude that makes him a breeze to work with, especially when things get hectic. So if you're after a top-notch First AC who knows his stuff and is a pleasure to work with, Justin's your guy!"

Maria Grace Greco - Magilla Entertainment

“Justin is an extremely talented Creative Director. He is brilliant at creating eye catching graphics, script writing, film production and video editing, web site creation, publication production, trade show booth design, and more. He is always professional and very open to changing direction if needed. He is a team player and a pleasure to work with."