High Five: UNKNOWN Talent You Should Know About
Hey, High Five! I’m Ollie Scott, founder of creative recruitment company, UNKNOWN. We set up the company because we saw the same people going around to the same places and, arguably, seeing the same work. We knew the industry wanted diversity and differentiation, but maybe got stuck in some old habits. So here we are, shining the light on people that you might not know, but you totally should. This week, we’re kicking off with someone that lit us up in a big way. His name is Dean George. The best thing to come out of Hackney since London Fields Lido, as he puts it. Dean is a creative director. He’s also an editor in chief of his own culture magazine, GAUCHOWORLD. He’s worked at a bunch of places like adidas and TenToes, but more than anything, Dean has managed to make some of the best storytelling work I’ve seen in a long time...
GAUCHOWORLD Magazine
I’ll start with his magazine. GAUCHOWORLD exists because Dean saw the same fake stories about people from his community that seemed so un-relatable. Footballers heralded as Gods. Musicians painted as untouchable artists. But Dean knew the truth. He recognised these successful people as people. People with remarkable and relatable stories. So he told them, and now GAUCHOWORLD has a cult following of ambitious, hopeful and incredible humans. Here’s one of them in their frequent player series. Click here to check out their second issue, 'GROWTH'.
EA Sports - 'Win as One' with Phil Foden
Agency: Ten Toes
Dean got sick of seeing the way stories were told about footballers too, and that’s why his work with EA Sports is so clever. Look how beautifully Dean captured and created these films for three well-known - but also unknown - players. Particularly Phil Foden. Here’s 'Win as One'.
EA Sports - 'Powered by Football' with Jude Bellingham
Agency: Ten Toes
And watch how honestly he tells a Birmingham-based footballer playing for a German team, Dortmund in 'Powered by Football' with Jude Bellingham
'Love Always Wins'
Agency: Ten Toes
Production: Fresh Base Productions
Grade: Dan Moran Colour
Music & Sound: Brother Music
Here he captures the cocktail of compassion, openness and acceptance as the basis of better diversity.
UNKNOWN - 'UNTALENTED Podcast'
...and if you prefer to listen to stories, here he is on our podcast 'UNTALENTED'. Dean, Molly and I speak about what makes Dean different, what agencies can do to attract more Deans, and why strategists need to stay in their lane sometimes. What you don’t see in Dean’s work is who he really is, and it takes a certain type of soul to create this kind of work. Dean is kind, compassionate and cooler than most people that I know. We need more Deans in this world - maybe more than Hackney needs its Lido...
