Dream Teams: How Casey and Zac Decide Which Rules to Break

Casey Clarke and Zac Nairn first met at the Sydney based indie agency, The Hallway. 

Well, actually that isn’t true. They met before working together, but only briefly. 

Oh, and Casey did find Zac on a dating app - but that's another story for another day. 

Today, they have two dogs, Neil and Lola. They are living in New Zealand, and are not only a creative duo but they are also a couple… so it seems like the dating apps really do work.

Normally when speaking to a creative duo, one will be the calm before the storm and the other is the storm itself. But for Zac and Casey, they are both the storm. Zac described their ability to get angry when necessary, and that they’ve learnt when to allow the other to express these strong feelings. 

There is an understanding held by the both of them that neither one “creative directs” the other. One is the writer and the other is the artist, and they work together when ideas arise. 

This ability to ideate together is something that the pair has developed over time. Casey and Zac both noted that some copywriter/art director duos like to go their separate ways, think of a few ideas and then come back to discuss. While that works very well for many, for Casey and Zac discussion from the beginning is the key to making their work great. 

“We’ve found what works best for us. We don’t want to wait too long to start a project, we validate, compare, and move past things quicker when we collaborate from the beginning,” Casey explained. 

Casey and Zac like to have rules when it comes to briefs. As exciting as an open brief can be, the rules are what makes pushing the envelope the most exhilarating. 

“We want rules. Even if we are going to break them, we want them there so we can push. Otherwise, we just don’t know where to stop,” Casey said. 

“It’s very hard to aim when you don’t have an objective. It’s also hard to convince people of your idea if they don’t have the same reference point to refer back to, ” Zac explained. 

According to Casey, Zac is very detail-oriented. He enjoys exploring his craft and won’t move on until he believes he’s gotten it right. Casey admires this dedication. Zac believes Casey has taught him that it’s okay to be wrong and that, sometimes, it is better to walk away from an idea and come back later with fresh eyes rather than trying to fix it then and there. 

Casey and Zac understand the importance of play when it comes to being a creative. Play can often get lost during the day-to-day movements of this industry. When moments like this bubble to the surface, Casey and Zac like to think back to one particular project as a gentle reminder to have some fun. 

“I remember getting the brief and going out to Sydney Park and we were running around placing Post-its on anything we could find, brainstorming ideas as we went along with this little game together,” Casey said.

“The ‘Post-its creative process’ serves as a really important leaping off point for us. When we feel like one of us is getting stuck, we will remind the other to remember to play,’ added Zac. 

During their time working as an art director and copywriter, Casey and Zac had their eyes set on Cannes. Their dedication not only to the work and to each other paid off when the couple brought home a win in the young lions category for a digital campaign.

“Winning Cannes was amazing. I mean, it forces you to understand that this isn’t just luck. We must be doing something right and to have someone confirm that on a global scale was insane. It’s like the Oscars for advertising, I couldn’t believe it,” Casey said. 

“I think going to Europe with a work partner is one thing, but to be able to go with your girlfriend as well and win, that was pretty awesome,” Zac said.